Paaru Hobbies

🙏 Our Manedevaru – Sri Mylaralingeshwara at Devaragudda ⛰️ 2 years back, we visited our Manedevaru (ಮನೆ ದೇವರು) – Sri Mylaralingeshwara located at the sacred Devaragudda (ದೇವರು ನೆಲಸಿರುವ ಗುಡ್ಡ), a divine hill near Ranebennur in Karnataka. The name itself means “the hill where God resides” – a powerful place filled with devotion, mystery, and heritage. . I thought let me write a small blog about the same. 📍 Location This temple is located about 10 km from Ranebennur in Haveri district, Karnataka. It is situated atop a small hill known as Devaragudda , surrounded by natural beauty and spiritual energy. 🕉️ The History & Legend According to legend, Lord Shiva took the fierce form of Mailara or Malatesha to destroy the demons Mallasura and Manikasura , who were tormenting sages. With the help of 7 crore Goravas , a long and intense battle was fought, ending in the Lord's victory. As per the lore, after defeating the demons, Shiva wore their intestines as a turban a...

Namaste fellow travellers and devotees 🙏, 🕉️ This is my 3rd Jyotirlinga Yatra series. You can also read: 👉 First Jyotirlinga Yatra: Kashi 👉 Second Jyotirlinga Yatra: Rameshwaram Let me take you through my spiritual journey to our third Jyotirlinga yatra – Srisailam , one of the most revered Shiva temples in India. This trip was not just a pilgrimage but an experience full of devotion, nature, and a bit of adventure! 🌄🚌 ✨ Significance of Srisailam Jyotirlinga 🕉️ Srisailam is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, located in the Nallamala Hills of Andhra Pradesh. It is home to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy (Shiva) and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi – making it one of the rare places where both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha are present together. 💫 The power and presence of divinity here are truly palpable. The temple is a symbol of both Shiva and Shakti, and visiting this sacred site is believed to wash away sins and grant spiritual peace. 🛕🌺 🚌 Journey ...

Our recent trip from Bangalore to Madurai and Rameshwaram was a soul-refreshing journey — filled with divine moments, rich architecture, and unforgettable memories. Here's a travelogue of our blessed second Jyotirlinga Yatra . 🕉️ This is my 2nd Jyotirlinga Yatra series. You can also read: 👉 First Jyotirlinga Yatra: Kashi 📍 Day 1: Bangalore to Madurai – Temple Town We boarded the Tuticorin Express from Bangalore and reached Madurai Railway Station the next morning. Checked into Hotel Vijay , freshened up, and headed to the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple 🛕. 🛕 Meenakshi Temple – History & Darshan This historic temple, dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, dates back to the 6th century . Its magnificent gopurams, detailed sculptures, and spiritual aura left us in awe. Since it was a weekend, we took special darshan tickets . A kind priest guided us inside the Shiva shrine, where he performed Archane and Ashtottara . The spiri...

🥣 Early Morning Departure & Journey to Prayagraj We began our day early with breakfast 🍽️ and set out from Varanasi to Prayagraj  🚗. The drive took around 3 hours , covering approximately 200 km via NH19. On the way, we passed areas where the grand Kumbh Mela  was recently held in February 🏕️—stalls, structures, and signage still reminded us of the massive spiritual gathering that once filled this land with lakhs of devotees 🙏. 🚤 Sangam Boat Ride & Sacred Bath at Triveni Sangam 🛁 Upon reaching Prayagraj , our first destination was the sacred Triveni Sangam —the meeting point of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna , and the guptagamini  Saraswati  🌊🌊🌊. We took a peaceful boat ride  🚣‍♀️ across the calm waters to the exact spot of confluence. There, we performed the Sangam Snan (ritual bath)  🛐. This is considered one of the holiest acts in Hindu Dharma. Bathing at the Sangam is said to wash away lifetimes of sins  and grant moksha (liberat...

We began Day 3  bright and early, enjoying a wholesome breakfast at our Varanasi hotel 🍽️. Our next destination was the sacred town of Bodhgaya , one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists around the world 🕉️. 🚌 It was a long road journey.  We stopped for lunch on the way 🍛 – lovingly prepared and packed by our chefs 👨‍🍳. Upon arriving in Bodhgaya , we checked into our hotel 🏨 and, after a short rest, headed out to explore the spiritual and historical treasures nearby: 📍 Places Visited in and Around Bodhgaya: Mahabodhi Temple  🌳: The iconic temple where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. A deeply serene and powerful place to meditate and reflect 🙏. Bodhi Tree  🌿: Right next to the temple, this ancient fig tree is believed to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree. Many of us sat here silently, feeling the spiritual energy. Great Buddha Statue 🗿: A towering 80-foot statue of Lord Buddha in meditation. Truly a...

Kala Bhairav | Ancestor Rituals | Ganga Boat Ride | Vishwanath Darshan | Sarees & Street Food | Sankat Mochan  🙏 Morning Blessings – Kala Bhairav Temple Our second day in Kashi began early with a visit to the powerful Kala Bhairav Temple, the Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi. With his intense gaze and aura, the energy here was protective and grounding — a strong spiritual start to the day. 🌊 Rituals by the Ganga – Honoring Ancestors Next, we proceeded to the ghats of the Ganga for Tarpanam and Pind Daan — sacred rituals for our ancestors. With the river flowing gently beside us, the atmosphere was serene. Offering prayers here felt like connecting with generations past. Truly a soul-stirring moment. 🛶 Boat Ride – Gliding Through Time Along the Ghats We then took a beautiful boat ride on the Ganga, drifting past Kashi’s famous ghats. Each ghat has its own identity and story: Assi Ghat – Peaceful and spiritual 🌿 Dashashwamedh Ghat – Vibrant and majestic 🔥 Manikarnika Ghat – The et...

For many spiritual seekers, visiting the 12 Jyotirlingas  of Lord Shiva is a lifelong dream—a journey that offers not just religious merit but deep inner peace. Inspired by this divine path, we decided to begin our Jyotirlinga Yatra , starting with one of the most sacred and powerful shrines: Kashi Vishwanath  in Varanasi . To ensure our first leg was spiritually fulfilling and logistically smooth, we chose to travel with Mallikarjuna Travels from Bangalore , known for organizing well-managed pilgrimage tours across India. What followed was a deeply moving and meticulously planned spiritual journey—one that left us grateful and eager to continue visiting the remaining Jyotirlingas. 🌟 Why Start with Kashi Vishwanath? Kashi is more than just a city—it's said to be older than time itself. Lord Shiva is believed to reside here eternally, and the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga  is revered as a gateway to liberation (moksha). According to ancient scriptures, death in Kashi is no...