Navabrindavanam

Navabrindavanam has the Samadhis (tombs) of nine saints, followers of Madhvacharya, and predecessors of Sri Raghavendra. Madhvacharya himself merged with the divine at Badrinath, and thus does not have a tomb, while Sri Raghavendra’s Samadhi at Mantralyam is a famous pilgrim place in Andhra Pradesh. This is among the few places where nine saints who headed a peetham have their tombs, and its importance lies in the fact that these saints are believed to have attained ‘Jeeva Samadhi’, that is, they are believed to be alive even today under their tombs!

Nava Brindhavanam shrines are located on a tiny island on the Tungabhadra river. The island can be reached by boat from Anegundi – charges Rs.30/- per head, to and fro. It is advisable to reach the shrines in the morning, as poojas are performed only in the forenoon. On reaching the island, one should take bath in the river, change into dry clothes and enter the shrines.
Anegundi on the opposite bank of the Tungabhadra has seen not just the rise and fall of dynasties, but even the evolution of mankind! In scientifically documented terms, Anegundi is said to have the oldest plateaus on the planet, estimated to be about 3000 million years old – according to Wikipedia. In terms of Indian mythology, this is translated to be the home of Bhudevi, the goddess of Earth! Home to our ancestors from the Neolithic Era (Stone Age), Anegundi has their imprints in the form of cave paintings; which lie among the rocks, which mythology tells us were homes of the vanaras – the monkey-men – who aided Lord Rama on his quest for his wife. Anegundi is a blend of history and mythology, making it in some ways even more interesting than Hampi itself!

Kishkinda of the Ramayana – home to the monkey hordes led by Hanuman, Vaali and Sugreeva, Anegundi has numerous temples and caves associated with them. The place abounds in legends, and, interspersed among them are the ruins of forts and palaces built by the Vijayanagara and Chalukya kings. We spent a little more than half a day at Anegundi, and used the time to visit a few places we knew about and didn’t want to miss. Let me take you along with me to the places we visited, one by one. I begin this series with the Navabrindavanam – this was the place which drew me to Anegundi in the first place!
One going by road to Nava Brindhavanam from Manthralayam has to reach Gangavathi, about 170 kms away, by bus and avail other modes of transport from there to Anegundi, where the mutt of Shri Raghavendra is located. The rail journey from Manthralayam to Guntakal takes about 2½ hours and from Guntakal to Hospet another 3 hours. The journey can be so planned as to travel by night and reach Hospet at day break. From Hospet, one has to proceed to Anegundi, about 15 kms away. Bus service is not available at present, due to a collapsed bridge en route. From Hospet railway station, autorikshaws can be engaged to go up to the collapsed bridge near Anegundi. The charge for autorikshaws will be around Rs.200/- From the jetty near the collapsed bridge, the river can be crossed by boat, paying Rs.10/- per head. On reaching the other bank, autorickshaws are available for reaching the Shri Raghavendhra mutt –charges about Rs.50/-. The mutt provides accommodation with facilities for bath and toilet. The mutt premises houses a temple of Shri Raghavendhra. Free lunch is provided by the mutt to devotees. Hotels are available for other food requirements.

There are nine bridhavanams of madhva saints and shrines of Lord Anjaneya and Lord Ranganatha. The deity in the twelfth shrine is an idol with the face of Anjaneya, body of Bhima and feet of Madhvacharya. Devotees intending to perform poojas and abhishekams have to buy the tickets from the Raghavendra mutt at Anegundi. Devotees should light 11 deepams (clay lamps) at the shrines, two for Lord Anjaneya and nine for Lord Ranganatha. Lamps can be brought by the pilgrims or purchased from the mutt. Ghee and wick can be purchased from shops at Anegundi.

The Brindhavanams are cordoned off by a yellow line. The devotees have to perform nine pradhakshinams around the Brindhavanams and offer nine namaskarams. The priest performs abhishekams, aarathi etc., by about 10.30 AM. After the poojas we have to return to Anegundi, again by boat. The temple at Anegundi Shri Raghavendra mutt is open up to 1 PM. Naivedhyam is offered to Shri Raghavendra at 12 noon.