Madhya Ranga - Shivanasamudra

Popularly called as the MADHYA RANGA or JAGANMOHANA RANGANATHA SWAMY, this temple is one of the three places that any sri vaishnava would love to visit especially during the Dhanurmasa. The legend says that, if you visit the three rangas, that is aadi ranga(sri ranga pattana), madhya ranga(shivanasamudra), and antya ranga(sri rangam of tamil nadu) in a single day during the dhanurmasa, you will attain the 'final destination' that is moksha.

This temple is about 120kms from bangalore and belongs to the kollegala taluk. The idol worshipped here is smaller than the other two 'ranga's . Every year on the day of vaikunta ekadasi a special alankara will be done using pure butter which is a marvelous sight to see. However, during the dhanurmasa, the temple opens by 5am and there by the visitors queue will be pretty long. Anyhow, for those who doesn't want to stand in long queues it is better to visit it during the normal time. And its always better to carry food and water supplies with you as there are no good hotels in a radius of around 15kms.

NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST : There is a 1500yrs old historical MEENAKSHI SUNDARESHWARA TEMPLE within a kilometer from the temple. This place has a SRI CHAKRA which is supposed to be installed by the religious guru SHANKARACHARYA and it is supposed to relieve you from all your miseries.

The famous BLUFF, that is the gaganachukki, bharachukki falls are each just 5-6kms away from the temple.

There is a mosque nearby. It is just 3-4kms away from the temple. And it is a proof for religious harmony. Every year both hindus and muslims together carry out the annual celebrations of the mosque. And there is a beautiful spot for seeing the gaganachukki falls right behind the mosque.

DISTANCE FROM BANGALORE : 120kms

ROUTE : There are two possible routes. One through the Mysore road and another through the Bangalore-Kollegala highway. Both routes is of the same distance approximately and the route can be chosen according to the indivisual convinience.

'GARGESHWARI' Magic

This place called as the GARGESHWARA TEMPLE (ಗರ್ಗೆಶ್ವರ in kannada) is one of the places where many miracles take place. The diety here is LORD GARGESHWARA. But the interesting part of this temple is the small idol of LORD GANESHA which is also called as yantra prashne ganapathy or yanthrodarka ganapathy . Believe me or not, this idol answers your prayers. Its in a village in the town of T.Narasipura. This village is also named after the above mentioned diety and is called as the GARGESHWARA GRAMA. The diety here is lord shiva in the form of ardhanareshwara. The shiv linga here has the combined power of lord shiva and godess parvati. The linga is a naturally created spatika (ಸ್ಪಟಿಕ) linga and is constantly growing gradually.


HOW THE MIRACLE HAPPENS : 
As i mentioned before, the ganesha idol is a small stone idol, may be weighing around 4-5kgs. It will be kept on a stone plate. The ganesha idol answers in an astonishing way.
1. You first go near the idol and pay rs10 for asking a question.
2. Then you pray whatever your wish is and ask the idol to come to your hand easily and try to lift it up.
3. If your prayer or your wish comes true in the near future, the idol comes to your hand easily. (The more lighter the idol seems, the faster your wish comes true. However, if your wish wont come true, then you cannot lift the idol and the idol will seem to be very heavy.)
4. Then you again repeat your wish and this time, you shall ask it to stay on the plate and bless you and again try to lift it up. (If your wish wont come true,  this time, the idol will rise up on lifting. But if your wish comes true, then the same idol which you would've lifted the first time, will be astonishingly seem very heavy and you wont be able to lift it up.)
Every time you need to ask a new wish, you need to come in the queue and pay another rs10.


NOTE: You shall not be allowed to ask your wishes on tuesdays and on sankashta chaturthi. You may ask the questions from morning 10am-1pm and from evening 4pm-6pm. And please enquire the route to the temple every now and then or else be sure you are lost. And taking your own vehicle is a better option.


DISTANCE FROM MYSORE : 26kms.


NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST : Agasthyeshwara temple (ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯೇಶ್ವರ) , Lord Narasimha temple, Triveni sangama.

A 'MEDITATION' weekend..

This place is called as the THE PYRAMID VALLEY. This is a part of the TIMES FOUNDATION. It as a great place for meditation. Almost 26kms south of our bengaluru, it is a place desired by anyone and everyone who enjoys the perfect literal silence and peace. The valley has a lot of places to visit. The center of attraction is the huge pyramid - the meditation hall. Its is also called as the Maitreya-Buddha Pyramid. The pyramid had three floors. The topmost floor is called as "the kings chamber" which is the place for those who can meditate for minimum up to 30 minutes.Make sure you switch off your mobiles before you enter the pyramid.

The wonderful Buddha statue is a poof of the mastery in the work of art.




There is a fast food centre nearby where you can fill yourselves. And a book and CD centre where you can find books and CDs about spiritual details of meditation. 




A lake situated near the fast food centre is a sight to see with lots of beautiful blooming flowers around the lake. Beside which there is a open theatre with a stage at a corner.

DISTANCE FROM BENGALURU : 35kms south of bengaluru.

ROUTE : On the kanakapura highway, after a 6 - 7kms from YDIT college, before harohalli, take a left and follow the sign boards of the times foundation.

A trip to CHAMPAKADHAMA SWAMY temple.

AN INTRODUCTION:

This temple called as CHAMPAKADHAMA SWAMY temple is situated just beside the Bannergatta national forest which is one of the main tourist attractions of bengaluru. It is the temple of lord CHAMPAKADHAMA

SWAMY. This place gets its name because, the lord was being offered the champaka flower (also called as sampige in kannada) daily. There is also a godess LAKSHMI temple in the same temple. The architectural beauty of the temple is beyond the scope of explanation through words.

NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST:

Behind the temple there is a small hill above which there is a LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE. This hill is also called as vahnigiri. The view from the top of the hill is a sight of life. The path to the top of the hill is a zig zag path and there are steel railings which can be used for support. The temp

le closes by 12pm during the dhanurmasa. We can sit on the rocks and enjoy the cool breeze that surrounds the hill. Its better to carry a bottle of

water while climbing up.

MEENAKSHI SUNDARESHWARA TEMPLE :

On the way to the champakadhama swamy temple we come across a MEENAKSHI SUNDARESHWARA TEMPLE near hulimavu. This is a must visit place for all those who love a peaceful temple to visit during the weekend.

DISTANCE FROM BANGALORE : 22kms towards south.

ROUTE : via Jayadeva hospital - IIMB - Arekere - Hulimavu - Gottigere - AMC college of engineering - Bannergatta.