Jan, Bharata Yatra 2009
This south indian tour has been fascinating for me. Usually I have seen Amma on US tours- somehow seeing Her near temples and holy rivers, seems more appropriate than in hotels and ballrooms… This time was the first time I accompanied Amma’s famous trips to Her favorite Bhavani river. Little did I realise the rich symbology that was to hit me.
I first thought that Bhavani was a simple river, whose banks have been sanctified by Amma each year. But somehow, I thought, if each time, Amma stops there, there must be something special there. I heard that Amma had said that many mahatmas had bathed in Bhavani river before, and that there were many subtle beings there..
but little did i know what was to hit me.. Bhavani was not just a river… turns out that it is a “sangamam” or confluence of three rivers…. just like the famous Prayag of North India, Bhavani was South India’s prayag.. I was told that it was a confluence of two rivers- Bhavani and Kaveri.
But it turns out, that just like the prayag of the north, there is a THIRD RIVER that meets these two rivers. The third river is supposed to be an underground river- a “subtle river”. I was excited when i heard that .. this was similar to Prayag of the north, where Ganga and Yamuna meet the underground river “Saraswati”.
Some locals were there, and I started talking to them. It was then that they told me the name of the third river that joins there…
The river is called…. yes… its called “AMRITA” !!!!!!
Wow! The symbolism blew me away.
More was to come..
Bhavani is not just the confluence of three rivers.. Right there, on the banks , overlooking the “sangamam” lies a beautiful beautiful Shiva temple. The Devi there is called “Bhavani” and the Lord is called “Sangameshwar”.
But right where near were we sat, there were many shiva lingams around. The whole place felt so mystic. I walked up to a nearby shrine for one of the Shiva lingams…
And I was again blown away—
The name of The lord there is “Amrita Lingeshwar”!!!! – The Lord of “Amrita”.
Amriteshwar He is called. In feminine case, it is called Amriteshwari. Wow.
Any doubts I had about Amma’s connection to the temple were gone..
The shiva Lingam called “Amritalingeshwar” is supposed to be crystallized Amrita, made by the sage Parasaras several thousand years ago. Thats what the old writing on the temple wall told me.
By then I was thoroughly overwhelmed. This temple was all about Amma- Amrita River, Amrita Lingam….
And finally I walked to another shrine of Lord shiva across from the Amrita Linga one. Thats called “Sahasralinga”- thats a thousand small shiva lingas put together to form one. But thats not what impressed me most- on the walls of that shrine, were written immortal lines in Tamil, from the great Saint Vallalar. It was all about compassion, and love for others. “Jeeva Karunya”, and non violence. It was written that the way to the “Supreme Grace light” was compassion and Love for others.
Thats what finally clinched it for me. Here we had this temple, overlooking the Amrita River, with a Shivalingam called ” Amritalingeshwar”, made of crystallised Amrita, – and the teachings on the walls were all about Love and compassion!
No wonder Amma keeps coming here- this was HER temple!!!!! This temple was all about Her! But yet this was several thousand years old. What a mystery!
Just as I was musing over all this, Amma came , and sat on the steps of the ghats.
We all crowded around Her and listened to Her bhajans, and saw Her go boating. Was She really only boating ? Or was She blessing subtle beings there? Was She with us, or was She elsewhere, enjoying and sanctifying again ,the temple that seemed to be all about Her? Who knows?
But as She sat there, on the steps, and looked up into the sky..and seemed to commune with someone unseen up there, I got a glimpse into how incredibly lucky I was.. Here I was, sitting near the Mother of The Universe, who seemed to become more and mysterious with each passing day…
– Bala
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thank you very much Bala for your touching knowledge of the Bhavani Rover and how it has to deal with Amma! 🙂
Bala, u have done a wonderful job for fetching the stories behind River Bhavani and AMMA…..Thanks a lot.
So beautiful, you are indeed blessed! Thank you so much for sharing!
Jai Ma!
thank you Bala! having been there twice before with Amma, I never really sought out the other temples or understood their significance. Now it makes me long to return there with our Beloved Amma.
Dear bala, this is a really wonderful information, no idea if any one can ever understand Amma, the Amriteswari. After reading this significant information I feel Amma is the whole universe. Thank you!
bala….beautifully rendered…….straight frm your heart!!!
thank you soo much for sharing this with us….
🙂
Namah Shivaya! Bala your post gave me goose bumps and brought the sting of tears to my eyes. I could barely contain my excitement. The entire time reading my smile was as wide as the rive itself. What a wonderfully rich and beautiful post. As a westerner there is no way this experience would have visited me. I would not have been able to read the old writing on the temple wall. I certainly would not have realized that Amriteshwar is Amriteshwari in feminine case. Really your post has blown me away! How very intriguing!Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!
Namah Shivaya Bala, thanks for sharing and narrating your experience so beautifully!
Namah Shivaya…Bala…Thanks for sharing this information with us. Now, I have to search where Bhavani river is located in South India.
Thank you so much Bala. Reading such articles reinforces our devotion in Amma, since I’m not physically with Amma. It is such a wonderful piece of information, that I can never forget. Thank you again.
Nice story Bala, thanks
very nice bala. You are truly blessed !
I could also be with AMMA near Bhavani River. Many of AMMA’s children asked Her, what’s the speciality of this river that makes AMMA always keep visiting her at least once in an year. AMMA’s answer was that many of the souls await Her presence there.
Another river, AMMA attends in Andhra Pradesh is Tungabhadra … one of AMMA’s children yet to post on the same river…
Thank you very much I am from toronto could anyone please provide me details about how to reach bhavani river and visit this temple…..I will be in kerala in feb please let me know..nearest station or bus routes…….Thanks
Some nice and wonderful explanation about mother bhavani river Mr.Bala. Though I attended couple of times of AMMA’s bhavani river trip, I haven’t got the picture like you got. Any way thanks, Namashivaya. Expecting more of this kind.
Bhavani river’s origin is in Kerala, in the Attappadi Reserve Forest of Palghat district
Check out this link for more info on Bhavani River
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavani_River
Here is a link which tells that the town Bhavani, where Sri Sangameswarar Temple is located, turns out to be actually the confluence of 3 rivers, Bhavani, Cauvery and the invisible Amrita, probably an underground river like Saraswati.
http://www.dinamalar.com/koil_english/19_sangamswarartemles_bhavani.asp
Namashivaya dearest balaji.. I’m so blessed to read the mystery behind amma and Bhavani river.. Thanks alot for sharing such a beautiful story..
Dear Bala. Thank you so much for posting valuable information. Amma Sharanam.
jai bhavani. jai amma,