Bakthapuri ~ Paranur

Paranur Sri Radhika Ramana Baktha Kolahalan Temple

BakthaKolahalan Temple - Vimanam

We enter the temple walking across the Vasantha Mandapam. This is a small Mandapam supported by four pillars. Sri Radhika Ramana Baktha Kolahalan gives Darshan to all devotees frequently in this Mandapam. SriSriAnna in his song "Thava Charanambuja Chayayaam ..." sings "Thava Divya Mandhire Sthambo Bavami Va" meaning "Will I not be one of the Pillars of your Temple" Yes, it will be desire of every devotee to be one of the Pillar of this Mandapam , because most of the functions of the Temple takes place in this Mandapam. Whenever Kolahalan comes out for a Purappadu it in this Mandapam that the Bridavalli

" Gopathiraja KulaNandana Gokulaesa ! Govathsa Poshana Hare Thava Hecharika !! Jeya Vijayi Bhava !! Jeya Vijayi Bhava !! Jaya Vijayi Bhava !! "

thunders roaring to the Sky. Many discourses are held in this Mandapam. SriSriAnna's 'Govindha Sathakam', 'Radhika Sathakam' and 'Yugala Sathakam' are sung in this Mandapam. During DivyaNaamaSankeerthanam Sri Baktha Kolahalan along with Sri Radha Devi comes to this Mandapam and takes his place in a beautiful Swing and with the Peacock feather in his hair fluttering in the air he listens to the Songs of the devotees and looks with grace at their Dance. Important functions like Rasothsavam, Nandothsavam and ThiruKalyanam starts in this Mandapam. At times Kolahalan desires to even have his Ekadasi Abishegam in this Mandapam. Above this Mandapam stands a beautiful Krishna with a flute in his hands along with Radha Devi near him who is holding a lotus flower in her hand. A cow is grazing behind them and a peacock is watching them with love. 

It is in this Mandapam that after the day's functions are over, SriSriAnna comes and stands looking with love at the devotees and all the devotees fall at his feet and pray. It is a daily routine in Paranur but one for which all the devotees wait eagerly.

Recently a big hall has been built over the Vasantha Mandapam and it extends up to the wall of Perumal Temple. The Hall is so big and can accommodate many devotees during festivals. This Hall is very colorful with lots of paintings all over. The ceiling is also beautifully painted with many Krishna Leelas like Rasam. The walls of Kolahalan temple are inscribed with the slokas of Sri Baktha Kolahala Sthothram. It is a wonderful Grantham wherin SriSriAnna describes about BakthaPuri, the Kingdom of Sri Baktha Kolahalan, his devotees and his uthsavams in simple words. Ashtagams by SriSriAnna like Guroshtagam, Radhikashtagam, Bakthakolahashtagam, Mangalashtagam are also Inscribed along the walls. The Dasavatharam are found just above the entrance to the Temple.

BakthaKolahalan Temple - The Inner Praharam

So having seen the Vasantha mandapam and the big hall around it we enter the Inner Sannithi of Sri Baktha Kolahalan Temple. Let us for a minute wait and thank Sathgurunathal for giving us this great opportunity of coming to this great place. Please be aware that only a fortunate few get to see Sri Baktha Kolahalan and without Guru Krupa it is next to impossible.

As soon as we enter the temple to our right we see Sri Bodendral. SriSriAnna considers Sri Bodendral as his Guru and all Premika devotees have great devotion on him. We pray to Bodendral to give us the Naamaruchi or the taste of Naama. SriSriAnna gives Naamam to many devotees in this Sannithi. At times Sapthaha Parayanam and Upanyasam also takes place here.

Crossing Sri Bodendral we enter the Praharam. The "Guroshtagam" is again inscribed along the walls. Every day as soon as the Prabodhanam and Pooja are completed the Guru Ashtagam is sung by the devotees. The paintings of Dasavatharam are also found along the walls of the Praharam. Walking around the Praharam we reach the Vaishnava Mandapam.

BakthaKolahalan Temple - The Vaishnava Mandapam

The Vaishnava Mandapam is along the right side of Kolahalan Sannithi. The Adhyayana uthsavam or Keerthanavalli uthsavam takes place in this Mandapam. Sri Baktha Kolahalan comes to this Mandapam and swinging in his swing he hears all the Keerthanavalli songs sung by SriSriAnna himself. Keerthanavalli is a Grantha which consists of Songs on Perumals of all the 108 Divyadesams. Before the song of each Divyadesam SriSri sings the corresponding DivyaPrabandam. Tears flow from his cheek and he is in a great Bhava. Sri Baktha Kolahalan comes for the uthsavam clad in the guise of Perumal. One wonders how little Kolahalan becomes a Big Perumal during the uthsavam. Sri Andal Kalyanam also takes place in this Mandapam. Apart from this during various uthsavams before the Abishegam a Kriya by Name 'Sthabanam' takes place amidst Veda chanting by the Paatasaala Students. Sri Ramayana Mama did all his Ramayana Parayanam in this Mandapam only. All the garlands and flowers used during Uthsavams are kept ready in this Mandapam. During each Dwadasi Small Homams like samhitha homam take place here. In a corner of this Mandapam a big Drum called in Tamil as Murasu is kept. It is played during Pooja and the sound thunders all over the Temple.  

We come out of the Vasishnava Mandapam and walk through the Praharam. Here we find a very big Mirror mounted on the wall. Sri BakthaKolahalan while coming out with Sri Radhai during Purappadu looks at his own image and enjoys his beauty through this Mirror.                        

BakthaKolahalan Temple - The Kolahalan Sannithi

So at last after going around Paranur and Going around Kolahalan Temple we come in front of Sri Radhika Ramana Baktha Kolahalan.

Here we are greeted by the Moolava Murthy, Thribangi in his stance, in the color of Clouds, playing his flute, Standing near a cow, Sri Muralidharan along with Sri Radhika Devi. His striking beauty and presence takes our heart. He and Radhika Devi are decorated in great style by SriSriAnna.

As our eyes search for Kolahalan eagerly, just below Muralidharan we spot him. Standing with his hands in his hips, smiling at us, along with the ashtasakis, ever ready to pour his grace to all his devotees, in a pose as if ready to go for a uthsavam, ever with a happy face is Sri Baktha Kolahalan.   

The beauty of this pose, the beauty with which he comes towards the devotees, the beauty with which he takes our  heart, the beauty with which he conducts all the uthsavams is enchanting. It prompted a loving devotee to sing the following song on Kolahalan. (click for 'Bamini' Tamil Font)

SriSriAnna too in his song "Pashyatha Deva Sigamani Meesam .. " also repeatedly says "See, See the way he stands...." So who is this Baktha Kolahalan, How did he come to Paranur, and how did he come to SriSriAnna ? Let us go into the Story of Sri BakthaKolahalan...      

BakthaKolahalan Temple - Story of Kolahalan

Only with the grace of SriSriAnna and Sri Baktha Kolahalan can we even attempt to tell the story of Kolahalan. The following story is not one of my imagination, it is a collection of information from various sources like SriSriAnnas books like VaishnavaSamhithai, SriSriAnnas Discourses and from childhood friends and devotees of SriSriAnna.

"In the country of Kurjara there lived a great yogi; one who practiced severe austerities, who lived with Brahmacharya & Courage, who won over his senses, who carried a staff,  wore the Tree Bark and Deer Skin,  who was lean due to his severe austerities, whose very presence radiated peace, who had a divine insight, who  was a Gnani, who won over anger, who was always meditating, who was a great exponent of Sasthra,  by Name Kaivalyaramar (Kevalram). This Mahathma took a vow to establish the degenerated  Sanathana Dharama  back to its original glory and strived hard for it. He lived nearly a hundred years before. A Gnani he was, he was not satisfied with this world. In this Country of Bharath people caught in the grasp of Kali were not prepared to hear about Dharma. So he was worried and in despair. He went to a cave in the Govardhan and started a severe penance for the sake of world peace and welfare.

Pleased by his devotion Sri Bakthakolahalan, with all the 32 Samudrika Lakhshnams in full,  his divine presence without an iota of worldly matter, as one who attracts the heart of Gopis, with all the 64 characters, with a beautiful face resembling the Monsoon Moon, with unsurpassed beauty, wearing golden bracelets in his lotus feet, with a divine look that cleans the miseries of all his devotees, with the kumkum spread over his breasts by the embrace of Sri Radha, being the source of all pleasant things, having the great character of 'Heroic Lover' , whose face resembles the beautiful moon by his smile, who stands with his legs crossed one over the other as per Sri Andaals song "Kandru Kunilaa erinthai Kazhal potri", as the child of Sri Nanda Gopan, with red lips resembling the Kovai fruit, wearing his peethambaram in his waist, attracting one and all, wearing lots of jewels studded with precious stones, with new fragrances emanating from himself, in the color of the blue cloud, wearing a golden chain in his waist, having both his hands on his waist, doing various dancing bhavas with his body beautifully bent in three places, as the god of the three worlds, with the peacock feather on his black hair, young in appearance, worshiped by Gods like Shiva and Brahma, resembling a boat that helps us cross the great ocean of Samsaara, capturing the hearts of even evil people by a glance of his gracious eyes which extend up to his ears, with  cheeks shining like a reflecting mirror, who enjoys all fine things, with Sri Radha by his side and with a flute in his hands , appeared before Kevalram yogi with the greatest of grace.

Blessed with the darshan of Sri.BakthaKolahalan in all his splendour Kevalram yogi was overwhelmed with joy and fainted. Sri Kolahalan lifted him and said " In this Kali yuga  Namasankeerthanam alone will save this world. You keep singing the name of god and make others also sing his name. I will be in this world in the form of a Archavathaara". Then Sri Baktha Kolahalan took  the beautiful form of a Archavathaara Moorthy to the joy of Kevalram yogi. 

The yogi took Kolahalan to river Yamuna and performed  Abishega. Being a great sage , each day he used to perform pooja for Kolahalan with flowers and fruits, happily singing his name and dancing in joy constantly thinking about his various leelas, living along the banks of river Yamuna. Kolahalan also went to Pandaripur and stayed there as the Uthsavamoorthy of Sri Pandarinathan for some time.   

According to the wishes of sage Naradha the great Baktha Prahladha took birth in the Madhva parampara in the name of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan. After the demise of his father he lived with his mother, begging for food in the Agrahara. Once Sri Kevalram yogi saw this boy, embraced him with great joy, gave him Sri Kolahalan and left. The boy with great joy constantly played with his Krishna and bound Kolahalan with his overflowing love. This lisping boy on the banks of river Kaveri was taught various concepts on Dharma by Kolahalan himself. By the grace of Kolahalan, he became one who mastered all sasthras, one who was a great yogi, one without any worldly desires,  one who had relinquishment, one who had conquered his senses and like Bagavan Sankara with the consent of his mother, a Sanyasi. He later came to be known as Sri Anadagiri Yogi. A great yogi and Gnani he was , he used to jump and dance through the streets like a mad man, with a thaala in his hands, shouting "Narayana Narayana", like sage suka, in a state fit for a Paramahamsa. People also called him as "Sivaprahasar". He was born in the Madhwa Parampara and he was given Sanyasam by Sri Brahmanandagiri. Like JataBharatha and Sadasiva Brahmendral Anadagiri Yogi wandered around in a ecstatic state. But even when in such a high state he regularly read Bagavatham and rendered Bagavatha Upanyasams. 

One one occasion he stayed in a small village called Sankapuri or Changanoor. This is the village in which Sri Periyavachan pillai was born. It is also the birth place of our beloved gurunathal SriSriAnna. SriSriAnna was a small child at that time. Sri Anandagiri yogi saw SriSriAnna and immediatly jumped in joy. He understood who SriSriAnna was. He immediatly came to SriSriAnna and gave him the Dwadasakshari Manthra. Though Sri Anandagiri Yogi did not give kolahalan to SriSriAnna directly he knew that Kolahalan will one day come to SriSriAnna. Till date the Pooja of Sri Kolahalan is performed with the Dwadasakshari Mantra. 

Sri Anandagiri Yogi finally reached the lotus feet of Kolahalan in Thiruvaiyar. It is also his Native place. Even today we can have darshan of his Brindavan behind Sri Thyagaraja Swamigals Brindavan. 

After that Sri Kolahalan was with one Sri Swaminatha Iyer of Tanjore for some time. After him Kolahalan was with a yogi by name Sri Kandaswamy. He was a yogi but looked like a ordinary man wearing a white Dhothi. He was of the disciples of Sri Anandagiri yogi. SriSriAnna heard that Sri Kolahalan was with him and went to his house and requested him to give kolahalan to him. But Sri Kandaswami refused to give Kolahalan. SriSriAnna went back dejected. SriSriAnnas heart had gone with Kolahalan. He could do nothing else than cry for Kolahalan. He decided to go once again to Sri Kandaswami.

Meanwhile Sri Baktha Kolahalan came in the dream of Sri Kandaswami and ordered him to give himself  to SriSriAnna. As soon as SriSriAnna came to Sri Kandaswami's house he ran to SriSriAnna and told about his dream and gave Sri Kolahalan to SriSri Anna. That great day was Ashada Ekadesi. A day which SriSriAnna never forgets and celebrates as Kolahala Ekadesi. From that day onwards Kolahalan established a Kingdom of his own and attracted crores of people around the world. Sri Baktha Kolahalan is full of grace and grace alone. He delights in pouring his infinite grace to one and all. He is Baktha Kolahalan, meaning one who delights his devotees by his grace, meaning one who is delighted in the presence of his devotees, meaning one who is always celebrating uthsavams after uthsavams in the midst of his devotees. The name is unique and will fit to no one else than Kolahalan. Close devotees Know that Sri Baktha Kolahalan is unique and special in all possible ways.   

BakthaKolahalan Temple - Our Prayers

"   Danyoham Krishna Danyoham Danyoham Thava Darsanena" 

sings  SriSriAnna. We are blessed to have the Darshan of Sri Baktha Kolahalan, we are blessed to have visited Paranur, we are blessed to go around Paranur, we are all blessed to have visited his temple and we are all blessed, blessed, blessed and blessed. Our Prayers at the Lotus feet of Sri RadhikaRamana Baktha Kolahalan and our Beloved Gurunathal SriSriAnna.  

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