Okay! I have decided to take a plunge into yet another challenge to keep this blog going. I seem to stick around only when there is a NaBloPoMo or the likes happening and so this is the best way out 😀 Esp. when you have just returned back from a 10-day long exploration – I call it so because we had only booked our to and fro tickets and chalked out a route we would drive along and saw everything we felt like on the way 😀 – like they say, more about the journey than the destination! We also slept in a different town/village/city every single night – can you believe that? 8)
So the first in the series of 30 prompts for this challenge says I should post something which starts with ‘B’. And here it is:
This is from a place called ‘Southadka‘ where devotees tie these bells once the Lord answers their prayers and fulfills a particular wish they had.
The specialty of this temple is that it is totally in the open and devotees can visit the place 24*7. I asked the priest there about the legend of the place and he was telling me even animals are not stopped from entering the temple, true to which I saw cows and dogs too! Infact, even those who offer special Pujas are instructed to share the Prasad (offerings) with the animals without fail.
The name of this place is derived from ‘SOUTHE‘ meaning ‘Cucumber‘ and ‘ADKA‘ meaning ‘Meadows‘ (Both in Kannada) Legend has it that a Ganapati temple revered by a royal family was once destroyed by enemies. Not to let the enemies destroy the beautiful idol of Ganapati that was at the temple, cow herds of the place carried it along with them and installed it in a place where cucumber was grown in plenty.The farmers of the place reaped huge harvests of cucumber, offered it to Lord Ganapati and even wished to build a temple there. But, according to a popular belief, Ganapati graced their dreams and asked them not to build a temple for him at Southadka as that would mean restrictions on devotees visiting the place to seek his blessings. The Lord expressed his wish to remain in open air with no formal structure surrounding him so that devotees could access him round-the-clock.
These are lesser known places though (or because!?!) they are very close to other famous places like Kukke Subramanya and Dharmastala.
You can read more about the place here.
This is posted as a part of June Photo A Day.
Its a beautiful place alwa? 🙂
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Absolutely 🙂 Super agithu!
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First 😉
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Neee am not ;(. That seems a beautiful place open thru n thru … Never ever heard of it …
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Hey you are!:) I don’t know why it went in for approval – different mail Id?
And I luved the place too. We visited so many lesser known places this time 😀
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Aah okay. U are not 😛
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Didn’t have any clue about this place. Lord Ganesha happens to be my favourite diety. The month seems to be good as Day 1 started with a virtual visit to his temple. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Awww glad to know that 🙂
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Wow!! Your holiday is just the sort I like! No fixed agenda, and exploring the places.. bliss!! When we are back, we have to do this!
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Amen amen 🙂 I am so waiting for that!
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wow!!! That image is beautiful!!!
Good luck to you for this 🙂
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Thanks Smita. How I wish all of u were in this with me 🙂
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Interesting legend. 🙂 Shouldnt day 1 start with A? 😀
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😀
Keep watching 😉
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I loved the images of the bells. And I also agree that there are several unexplored places worth discovering. When you go without any plan and expectations, the more you discover and enjoy 🙂
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Absolutely 🙂 Thanks Reema!
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Sounds like a beautiful place Swaram. The bells looks beautiful 🙂
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I loved the place telugumom. Serenity at its best 🙂
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Beautiful Pictures. Looking forward to seeing more pictures from your exploration. Nice way to Sree Ganesh a month long challenge. 🙂
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Haha true that 🙂
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Sounds like a perfect holiday! And those bells look amazing! So many of them! I can just imagine the vibrations in the air if all were to start ringing together, in sync! Looks like there were a lot of visitors.
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Oh ya they were, but the place was still so calm and I loved it for that 🙂 Crowded temples are not like that usually, no?;)
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I love the sound of this place. Would love to visit sometime. Thank you for the info. 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂 I do wish more people visit such hidden gems 🙂
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Bells! I really love the first picture! 🙂
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Thanks Shail 🙂
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This place looks nice… That numerous bells structure reminds me of temples in Naintal & Ranikhet 🙂
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Oh ok 🙂
Welcome here Nibedita 🙂
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WOW!Swaram,its beautiful.. And that sounds like a fantastic trip..can’t wait to hear more about it ..hugs..
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Trying to fit them travel tales in as much as possible during the challenge Trish 🙂 Thanks! And hugs 😀
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Welcome Back Swaram:) I guess you had a good holiday ! Good to know..and Thanks a ton for posting pictures and sharing..we get a virtual darshan 🙂 would like to visit someday..
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This is a beautiful place Ramya. U will love it 🙂
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Wow Swar! Great t see you take part in this challenge! Looking forward to seeing some wonderful clicks from you 🙂
Have fun!
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Thank u so much Deeps. How I wish we could all have done it together 🙂
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This sounds wonderful beautiful picture of bells and Lord Ganesha! I love bells. My pooja place has 5 bells and one big bell that I ring to let everyone in the house know that it is time to come for the harathi.
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Wow Radhika 🙂 Do share pics of ur pooja place sometime 🙂
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B is for Birthday?
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Haha ya! That too 🙂
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I think I have been to Dharmastala but don’t remember.. good to know about this place and learn two words in kannada – southe and adka 🙂
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Hehe actually southekai is the word Ani 🙂 Meaning cucumber 🙂
Dharmastala is a beautiful place too.
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What an interesting picture! I will remember to visit this place whenever I am around town. Thanks Swaram. 😀
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Hope u do and like it too 🙂
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