Listening, a gifted role

L -  LOOK INTO THE EYE 

I  -  INSPIRE THE OTHER PERSON TO SPEAK

S - STAY FOCUSED TO EACH AND EVERY WORD 

T - TRY NOT TO INTERRUPT

E - EMPATHETICALLY DEAL WITH THE OTHER PERSON

N - NULLIFY YOUR FEELINGS.

There is a saying " The first law of love is to listen" . It is definitely true because when we listen, it makes the other person feel cared and more we listen, more the other person shares. When we take time to listen thoughtfully to each and every word and the unsaid word without phrasing our own response, we knowingly or unknowingly offer unconditional love and acceptance by acknowledging "you" are as important and valuable as "me".

Leaving back our ego which says we and our ideas are somehow right and being willing to give attention to others requires effort. This extra effort gives us rewards as we give others an opportunity to be heard. When we feel down or when we are excited we express ourselves with those who really listen to us without interrupting or judging us not with the practical bossy ones. Many a times there are cases where people go to psychologists just to get an opportunity to be heard . They pay and make sure that they are listened. More than the  advise they get, they get a feeling of well being when they feel they are listened . They go home lighthearted and refreshed. It is because when we  pour out our problem to someone, we will know what to do about it our self.

How can one become a better listener? It is hard yet worth to be. Willing to listen is not just enough . One must really listen. Only then the magic begins. True listeners are those who allow you to be yourself no matter what , even at your very worst. They laugh and get delighted with any manifestation of yourself may be good or bad because they know if you are bad tempered you are not always so .They do not love you just when you are nice, they love all of you. When a person is angry , they listen to his ache .When a person is sad , they listen to his pain and  this true listener becomes much more beloved.

Listening is gifted and a great role, but not talking. When we try to listen to people we love and to people whom we do not, miracles do happen. It is because of listening we love people at once and are loved by them.

Visit to Paajaka

Recently we had been to a holy place near udupi named "Paajaka". The name unfolds its meaning as the land of holy ponds(teerthas) created by Lord Parashurama.

When we started our journey we got to know about the meaning hidden in each letter of 'Paajaka' by my father in law. Let me share it with you readers too.
'pa' means jagatpalaka (protector of the world)

'aja' means the one who has no birth (janana) or death (marana ) and

'ka' means holy water.

Thus within the name lies its meaning.

After knowing this we decided to visit the holy teerthas too in addition to visiting the place 'Paajaka'.

One might have seen Paajaka but would have rarely been to all the four teerthas as they are located amidst lush green forests and rocky hilltops in 4 different directions around Paajaka.

We also got to know that these 4 teerthas were created by Lord Parashurama particularly in this place as there was no water in this hilly green terrain. To brief you , Lord Parashurama with his 4 ayudhas(weapons) parashu, dhanus, gadaa and ardachandrakruti baana created Parashuteertha, Dhanusteertha, Gadaateertha and Baanateertha respectively and each teertha resemble the shape of the weapon with which it is created. It is believed that taking holy bath in each of these teerthas has some positive effects.

Though we dint take bath in it and did 'prokshane' we were able to feel the sacredness of the divine teerthas. We were amazed by the sereneness of the placid atmosphere around and dint miss the chance of taking snaps . Below are the snaps of the four teerthas.

1. Parashuteertha

2. Dhanusteertha

3.Gadaateertha

4.Baanateertha

The antiquity here will make one feel solace. One who is spiritual will surely feel enduring devotion and piety and the rest will carry an everlasting memory of this hushed place.

Another place of prominance here is kunjarugiri or vimaanagiri. It seems that Goddess Durga in kunjarugiri is beautified with four teerthas.

kunjarugiri or vimaanagiri

 It is believed that after creating the four teerthas, Lord Parashurama installed Goddess Laxmi as Durga devi on top of the hill in kunjarugiri and has taken abode on the hill opposite to it. Hence paajaka is also known as "Kshetra of LaxmiNarayana"

When we visited hillocks of kunjarugiri, ,abodes of Shri Durga and Lord Parashurama, we could feel the  existence of God. My father in law told, as the hill appears like "kunjara" (Elephant)  this place is referred as "Kunjarugiri" . Also it is believed that all the gods and goddesses came by "Pushpaka vimaana" to shower flowers when Mother Durga was consecrated on the hill by Lord Parashurama.Hence the place is also known as "Vimanagiri" or "Durga betta". One can reach here by car or auto as there is a motarable road apart from steps. We can also find the "Parashurama Cave" on this hill which is said to represent the divine presence of Lord Prashurama even today. 

One more influencial place of Lord Parashurama here is the parashurama mandira situated on a single stone hill,opposite to Durga betta. It is said that this temple is the one and only temple of Lord parashurama. Below are its snaps

Paajaka kshetra , bestowed with nature's beauty is also famous as "Kulaguru Kshetra". since Jagatguru Sriman Madwacharya was born here on vijayadashami day of 1238 AD,770 years in the past.

The sacred association of madwacharyaru to this place makes Paajaka an important place in the religious orb.We can find supernal miracles of madwacharyaru in this place.

According to traditional narrations,  Sri Madwacharyaru was born after 12 years of rigorous prayer to Lord Ananteshwara by his parents Madhyageha bhattaru and vedavati . It is said  that a mentally challenged person had climbed dwajastambha in udupi and danced announcing Vayudevaru will take his 3rd incarnation  as Sriman Madwacharya in Paajaka and astonishingly Madhwacharyaru took birth after this incident and have showed many miracles.If I start to explain about the miracles of the life and times of Madwacharayaru this blog will not be enough.One has to visit this place in order to know more.

We visited the place where Madwacharyaru lived. Their family deity is worshipped here. It is now called "Sri Anantapadmanabha Mandira" as Sri Ananthasana Utsavamurthy of Udupi is placed in this temple. Below is the pic of the temple which was taken and also the pic of Lord Ananthapadmanabha given to us by aacharis.

We were awestruck  to see the historical evidences like the Aksharabyasa stone, Stone slabs to cover the vessels of milk and curd, the Tintrini vriskha, Banyan tree , Mark of child Madwa's toe where serpent Manimantha was slain etc. In the place of each and every archaeological evidence we can  find a board which describes the story behind. We read the stories and had a talk with the aacharis there and got to know more information.  

Inside the temple there is "Vasudevateertha", The holy pond created by Sriman Madwacharyaru with His Danda. This pond is believed to possess the sanctity of all the four teerthas. 

Vasudevateertha

Near to this temple in the south west direction there is "Sriman Madwa Mandira" where we can find the footprint and idol of  Madhwacharayaru. This idol was installed by Sri Vadiraja Swami

Sriman Madwa Mandira

Paajaka is a place of eternal inspiration to devotees. It is a place where one can find potent protection of Lord Parashurama, Goddess Durga and Sriman Madwacharyaru and also one can feel the divinity of the holy teerthas.

The shrine's divine atmosphere, green hillocks , sacred teerthas ,  Parashurama Cave , abodes of Lord Parashurama and Goddess Durga in kunjarugiri plus the concatenation of Sriman Madwacharyaru with this place distinguishes Paajaka from other holy places.

Please note that :

Paajaka is around 15 kms away from udupi. We reached there by catching a bus to subhashnagara from udupi main bus stand. It takes around 15-20 minutes to reach subhashnagara. From subhashnagara one can go to paajaka by rickshaw.

One can visit the 4 teerthas around paajaka by hiring a rickshaw from paajaka if there is no vehicle.

Apart from festival  days, ekadashi, dwadashi and other vratha days, we can put 'Hastodaka' for lunch on or before 12:30 pm within the temple premises. However the time may vary a bit depending on the number of people over there.

At present construction work is going on in kunjarugiri so devi darshana may not be possible as they will open 'garbhagudi' for just few minutes in the morning for pooja . We got to know that by mid of Feb 2013 construction work will complete. Please contact 0820-2559444,0820-2009009 for timings and other details.

Paajaka is now in control of Kaniyuru Mutt . Sri Vidya Vallabha Teertharu has taken the incharge of Kaniyuru Mutt.

For more information, Please contact the below address:

Sri pajaka kshetra, kunjarugiri
Udupi 574105
Contact Numbers: 0820 - 2559013, 0820 - 2009013
Mob : 9448952913

Route map for Paajaka Kshetra:

A-> Paajaka Kshetra
B-> Sri Durga Devi Temple

View Larger Map