||  SHRIPAD SHRI VALLABHA ||

|| श्रीपाद श्रीवल्लभ ||

Telugu:  శ్రీ పాద శ్రీ వల్లభ      Tamil: ஸ்ரீ பாத ஸ்ரீ வல்லபா 

             Is considered as one of the Avatars (incarnations) of the deity Shri Dattatreya in kaliyuga. As per some of the experts, he is supposed to have lived from 1320 AD to 1350 AD. He was born in Pitaapuram. Though a sketchy information was available about his life from the book Shri Guru Charitra written by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar in Marathi around 1450 AD, which was later translated in Telugu by Brahmasri Pannala VenkatadriBattu Sarma in Pitaapuram. Later in November 2001, a full book of 53 Chapters on the Life of SripadaVallabha was brought out by a pious devotee by name Malladi Govinda Deekshitulu belonging to the Lineage of Maternal Grandfather of Sripada SriVallabha. This book of various episodes on the life of SriPada is claimed to be written by One Kannada Devotee Shankar Bhat in the book itself, (supposedly contemporary of Sri Pada Sri Vallbha) recording his various encounters with miracles witnessed by himself and by those whom he came in contact with. The publishers claim that this book has been preserved as secret for 32 Generations of Sripada's maternal side before Publishing in November 2001 after receiving a message from Divine to disclose it. Authenticity of the claims has not been verified. The original manuscript has also been not recovered as they say it was all supposedly destroyed. At present, Telugu (translation from Sanskrit version), Marathi and English are available at Shripada Shrivallabha Mahasansthan/Pitaapuram. Kannada translation by name 'Sripada srivallbhara divya charithamrutha'(published and distributed by sri guru kanneswara swami dattavadhoota ashram at srikshetra, village Dodderi, challakere Thaluk, Chitradurga district) is also available. Pithapuram, (20 km from Kakinada) a town in East Godavari|Godavari] district of Andhra Pradesh state in India.

 
LIFE STORY

               Shripada srivallabha was born to Sri Appalaraja Sharma (of Aapastambha Shakha Brahmin) and Sumathi on Bhadrapada Sudha Chavithi ( Ganesh Chaturdi) as the third son of Aappalaraja Sarma and Sumati. His Avataar secrets: When Appalaraja Sharma family was preparing for the shraaddha (a yearly ceremony to pay homage to the departed souls), around noon, some Bhikshuk came for bhiksha. Though custom prevents it but Veda says the one who comes for food at any eating time is none other than Vishnu himself, before feeding the invited Brahmins, she fed this Bhikshuk, considering him as Vishnu. Dattaatreya became quite happy and showed His true self and offered her a boon. She asked for a son "knowledgeable like you" for which Dattaatreya said "yes". Before this, she had many childbirths and none survived, albeir two sons, who were blind and lame respectively. Dattaatreya blessed her by saying that she will have a son who will be a Guru to all. The couple became joyous and within a year they had a son and named Him as 'Shripaada'. It was said that the child had rare holy markings on His soles and feet (Paada). The child never took formal education, He was having all knowledge from his birth itself, for He was Omniscient & Omnipotent. Shripaada finished his studies of Vedas, Shastras etc. by the age of seven and after his "Upanayan" (Munja) he started lecturing on these. When he reached the age of 16, his parents thought of getting him married. However, he said that he is married to only one woman "Vairagya-stree" (Vairagya means Dispassion, stree means Woman) and thus he should be called "Shriya-Vallabh". Thus the name "Shripada ShriVallabha". He left their home for Kashi-pilgrimage. To satisfy His crying mother, before leaving, he looked at his two elder brothers who were blind and lame, and made them as scholars, and asked them to take care of their parents. He left Pithapuram for Badrikedar towards North. After the pilgrimage, he went to Gokarna Mahabaleshwar in South. After spending 3 years at Mahabaleshwar he went to Shri Shaila mountain (Sri Sailam). He spent most of his later life staying in Kuravpur ( Kuravapura ) near Jurala reservoir .

Ambika Var-Pradanam (Blessing of Ambika)

                   It is this place where the future incarnation (avatar) related stories happened. The first one is of woman called Ambika, whose children were dying. Only one survived and he turned out to be a moron. Her husband died after trying to teach his son, but to no success. After her husband's death, she tried to teach the boy, but finally gave up. The boy was ridiculed by village people and no one was ready to give him their daughter. He was not even able to do proper 'Bhiksha' ritual and earn some food, so the widow mother had to do it though it was not the right thing to do. The mother had decided to end their lives in the Krishna River. Here they met Shripaada Shri Vallabha who was taking bath. She was quite impressed with Swamiji and asked that in the next birth she would have son like him, and to permit her to end that life then itself. After hearing her full story He asked her to do Shani-pradosh-vrata. Blessed, she still insisted on ending that Janma then and there. Shripaadaji put his hand over the boy's head. The boy became a learned scholar instantly. The woman Ambika in her next birth became Amba-Bhavani of Lad-Karanja (A place in Maharashtra) and became the mother of Shri Narashimha Saraswati (Shri Shripaada ShriVallabh's next avatar).

Vallabhesh Brahmin Story

                    This following story happened just after the avatar-samapti (end of avatara) of Shri Shripadji. It seems this Vallabhesh Brahmin was doing business, and once he said that if he earns more than his usual earnings, he will go to Kuravpur and feed 1000 Brahmins with the additional profit thus earned. Indeed that year he made some huge profit and then decided to complete his vow. While he was approaching Kuravpur, on his way he was met with few dacoits who accompanied him in disguise to loot him. Later while travelling, they attacked, beheaded and killed him. Shri Shripaadji suddenly appeared from nowhere and killed all the dacoits with His Trishul. Only one was spared, who begged Shripaadji as Lord Shiva. Shripadji spared him and asked him to stick the head of Vallabhesh on his beheaded body and brought him to life. Vallabhesh Brahmin later completed his vow and became a full disciple of Shri Shripad ShriVallabh.

It is interesting to note that this Vallabhesh Brahmin is considered as the mula-purush (family originator) of the Hedgewar family. Dr. K. B. Hedgewar who founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (the RSS) is the 9th generation man from Vallabhesh.

Pithapuram पीठापूरम्

          Swamy temple was constructed according to his guidelines as he told in Sripadasrivallbha charitamrutam (life history) in Srikshetra Pithapuram and is being maintained by Sripada Srivallbha Mahasansthanam. Pithapuram is located on Vijayawada-Vishakhapattanam railway line and is near to (about 10–12 km from) Samalkot junction and about 20 km from Kakinada Town. Even many local people may not be aware of this temple's existence and Importance. If you want guidance, ask people about Venugopal Swamy Temple Road about which many are aware. The nearest domestic airport is Rajahmundry (mentioned in the Sripadasrivallbha charitamrutam as rajah mahendry) which is well connected from Hyderabad as well as Bangalore. Given the significance Raksha Bandhan and Datta Jayanthi (occurs in December) have, the Srivallbha Mahasansthanam which has been established in the maternal home (Swamy temple) sees many worshipers and disciples making a beeline during these days and on many significant days mentioned in the life history of SripadaSrivallabha.

Kuravpur कुरवपूर

            The location may be checked on Wikimapia with search for Shripad Shrivallabh (Sripad SriVallabha) devasthanam. Kuravpur ( old name Kuravapura ) now called Kurugaddi near Jurala reservoir ( 16.35671, 77.53727 )

Shri Shripad Shrivallabha Dhyaana Sthaan at Kuravpur

Shripadji stayed here most of his life. It appears that this place must have been quite well inhabited. The story of Vallabhesh Brahmin shows that the village must have been quite big enough to at least accommodate about 1000 Brahmins. Now (as of 2006 AD) the population has reduced and there are many fields in between the temple and the village. The village is at one end of the island and the temple is at the other end. There are two, frequently used, routes to reach Kuravapur. One is via Raichur in Karnataka state and another one is via Makthal in Andhra Pradesh state. Either way one has to cross the Krishna river in a small elliptical boat (Putti or Theppa) to reach this island.

                 Via Raichur: Raichur is about 10 or 12 hours journey from Pune by train. At Raichur one can hire a bus/rickshaw towards ATKUR (40 km). The Kannada pronounce of this village is अतकूर. Ask Chandrabanda road which starts on the Right turn after one masjid on the road leading to Gulbarga. Just take that Right turn and travel nearly 35 km to reach this place. Do not travel after 4 pm if there is no ernest need, otherwise do halt in Raichur and travel early morning next day as one have to cross river Krishna in the small boats. At ATKUR one can hire a Theppa to cross the Krishna river and reach Kuravapura. The official rate is Rs. 20/- per person -one way (in year 2012), but in the late evening, the charges can be much higher, so it is better to negotiate the Theppa driver before travelling in it. There is also a KSRTC bus service from Raichur bus stand to Atkur, which leaves for Atkur at 7:30 am, 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The 13:30 pm bus ends at Atkur(village), the other buses end at the bank of Krishna. 'Visitors can visit the website of local Guruji at www.kuruvapur.org (kindly note the spelling as it is not Kuravapur but kuruvapur for this website),wherein one can get enough information and contact numbers of local priests (Guruji) 

              Via Makthal: Makthal (Mahaboobnagar district, Andhra Pradesh) is 68 KM from Mahaboobnagar bus station and 168 KM from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Some buses from Hydrabad to Raichur, via Mahaboobnagar, stop at Makthal. Mahaboobnagar is connected by rail route also. One has to hire an auto or taxi (jeep) from Makthal to river bank (ask for Panchdev Pahad or Vitthal baba ashram). River bank is 17 KM from Makthal. There are two locations on the river bank where Putti or small boats can be hired. One is Panchdev Pahad and another one is behind Vithal baba ashram (1 KM from ashram). Number of boats near Vitthal baba ashram are less. It is risky to travel by primitive means of Putti when the River Krishna is full of water i.e. during rainy reason. Kuravapur is very quiet. There is a cave where Shri Tembeswami used to meditate.

After that Avatar He took His next Avatar as Narashimha Saraswati of Gangapur & After that to Avadhut Roop to give Light of Knowledge to Society, became Akkalkot Shri Swami Samarth. And, presently (December 2012), He continues to light the Lamp of Knowledge in people from all over the world, regardless of caste, society, economic status etc., as Sri Ganapathi Sachchidanandha Swamiji of Mysore Datta Peetham. He has built many temples at key Datta kshetrams all over the world and in India in particular, and of course in both these places - Pithapuram and Ganagapuram.