Smile Bridges Worlds

 

(My wife’s post on Facebook)

Serene in tradition, radiant in wander,

From temple silk to garden bloom,

From saree to sunhat, I carry smiles,

A spirit woven in tranquillity and joy,

Two sides of me, one timeless soul.  🙂

-    N. Lalitha Raghu

A Canopy of Stars at Noon!

 

Today, around noon, I captured a moment of pure wonder: sunlight streaming through our trees, scattering into countless twinkling rays that looked like stars woven into a canopy. Though the summer sun blazed fiercely above, beneath the trees, there was shade, coolness, and a gentle breeze that turned the space into a sanctuary where I could carry out the morning walk I had missed today.

A VIDEO:

Nature has its own way of balancing extremes, brilliance above, serenity below, reminding us that beauty often hides in contrasts.

Beneath a tree that has sheltered and blessed countless souls!

 

In the heart of bustling Vijayawada, amid the sacred shadows of Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga, at the Temple's guest house, stands a colossal banyan tree that commands awe and reverence. As you might be aware, banyan trees are cultural icons in India, symbolizing immortality, longevity, and divinity. The banyan tree is also known as Kalpavriksha, meaning: wish-fulfilling tree. This ancient giant, with its towering canopy and massive, gnarled trunk wrapped in sacred threads and vermilion, defies the urban sprawl surrounding it.

Locals revere this banyan tree as a timeless landmark, its roots plunging deep into the earth like the temple's spiritual legacy on Indrakeeladri hill. Adorned at the base with vibrant idols of deities, Goddess Kanaka Durga, Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Naga Devatha, and others, on a sturdy concrete platform with adorned steps, it serves as a mini-shrine where devotees offer prayers and flowers. The tree's sprawling branches shelter the guest house courtyard, parked cars, and passersby, creating a green oasis against the concrete buildings.

What fascinated me most was not just its size, but its survival. There is no visible water source nearby, no open soil in the conventional sense. Enclosed within cement and urban structure, one wonders, how does it sustain itself? Perhaps its roots run deeper than we can see, reaching hidden veins of moisture beneath the city. Or perhaps, like many sacred things, its existence defies simple explanation.

Standing beside it with my wife, we felt a sense of calm that is rare in urban spaces. The sunlight filtering through the leaves felt like divine blessings from the nearby Kanaka Durga Temple. It was not just a photo opportunity; it was a moment of quiet reflection. The tree seemed to whisper stories of the past, of countless pilgrims who must have stood in the same spot, looked up at the same branches, and felt the same sense of wonder.

This banyan not only endures but inspires, a testament to resilience amid city life. It reminds us that some wonders root deeper than steel and stone, guarding the divine in plain sight.

A Simple Booking, A Sacred Discovery!

 

On March 30, 2026, we set out on a three-day trip to seek the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga at the Sri Durga Malleshwara Swamy Temple in Vijayawada. Yet the journey held a surprise for us; it gently led us beyond our plan to Jammi Doddi, the sacred enclosure of the Jammi (Shami) tree, a place little known outside Vijayawada but rich in history and spiritual depth.

For our stay, I had booked accommodation online at the temple-managed Jammi Doddi Guest House, mainly for its convenient 8:00 am check-in and check-out time, air-conditioned comfort, and proximity to the temple. Located on Brahmin Street in the One Town area, it appeared to be a practical choice, though we soon discovered it was far more than just a place to stay.

Our first glimpse into the significance of Jammi Doddi came from a kind autorickshaw driver, who took us from Vijayawada railway station to the Guest House. He proudly spoke of its importance in Vijayawada’s cultural and spiritual landscape. He mentioned the grand Dasara celebrations held here and the sacred Jammi tree that once stood in this area, giving it the name “Jammi Doddi.” According to local belief, it is here that Goddess Kanaka Durga rested before manifesting herself on the Indrakeeladri Hill.

As we learned further from the guest house staff, the Jammi/Shami tree holds deep significance in Hindu tradition. Worship of this tree, especially through the ritual of Shami Pooja during Vijayadashami, symbolizes victory, prosperity, and the removal of obstacles. Devotees believe that offering prayers to the Jammi tree invokes divine blessings, a practice rooted in ancient scriptures and continued with devotion to this day.

Jammi Doddi is also associated with the revered saint Sripathi Panditharadhya, a great Shiva devotee whose spiritual presence is believed to have sanctified this area. It is said that this locality once served as a foundational center, a “root temple”, from which the worship traditions of the Indrakeeladri deities gradually expanded. Over time, the hill shrine grew in prominence, but Jammi Doddi retained its importance as a spiritual starting point.

Even today, during major temple festivals, especially Dasara, ceremonial processions are known to originate from or pass through this area, reinforcing its continuing role in the sacred traditions of Vijayawada. Adding to its historical depth, inscriptions discovered in and around Jammi Doddi are believed to date back several centuries, offering glimpses into the religious practices and temple administration of earlier times.

Staying here, even briefly, gave us a sense of being connected to a living field of devotion, history, and tradition. What began as a simple and practical accommodation choice turned into a deeply enriching spiritual experience.

This visit, shared with my wife, remains memorable not only for the divine darshan at the temple but also for the quiet and meaningful discovery of Jammi Doddi, where mythology, history, and devotion come together.

A Journey Across Centuries at Undavalli Caves

Though we have visited Vijayawada a few times over the years, drawn to the sacred pilgrimage to the Indrakeeladri hill, home to Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga, we somehow always missed the ancient nearby Undavalli Caves. That changed on 31st March, 2026, when we finally made the short trip and discovered a treasure of history and serenity.

Undavalli caves are just six kilometers away from Indrakeeladri across the Prakasham barrage over the Krishna River. These four-story caves, carved out of solid sandstone in the 6th-7th century, stand as a remarkable testament to India’s layered religious and architectural history. Originally associated with Jain monks, later serving as Buddhist viharas, and eventually transformed into Hindu shrines, they embody the cultural transitions of coastal Andhra. It is recorded that the caves were under the patronage of the local kings until the 16th century. The architecture reflects the Chalukya-period rock-cut styles, with multiple levels, pillared halls, and sculpted deities that speak of devotion and artistry across centuries.

We wandered leisurely through the caves, admiring the elevation, the sculptures, and the atmosphere steeped in antiquity. Out of sheer excitement, we photographed almost every idol and carving, each frame capturing a piece of timeless heritage. There are idols of all our Hindu Gods and Goddesses, as you can see in the attached pictures. The absence of crowds allowed us to soak in the grandeur at our own pace, making the experience deeply personal and fulfilling.

The highlight of our visit was the magnificent, almost 18-foot-long idol of Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture, carved from a single block of stone. Standing before it, praying and posing for photographs, we felt a rare intimacy with the divine, unhurried and serene.

Today, the caves are under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has ensured their preservation with neat pathways, gardens, and greenery that enhance the visitor’s experience.

Undavalli Caves are not just monuments; they are living echoes of India’s spiritual journey, preserved with care yet offering a rare tranquility. Our visit, long delayed but finally realized, became a cherished memory, an encounter with history, devotion, and beauty that will remain etched in our hearts and in the photographs we brought home.

Cruising through Poovar: Nature’s Quiet Masterpiece!

 

On the morning of 9th February 2026, we set out on a delightful sightseeing trip to the enchanting environs of Poovar, nestled in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

Our two-hour motorboat cruise on and along the serene backwaters of the Neyyar River unfolded like a beautiful story, each moment revealing a new facet of nature’s charm. As the boat glided gently forward, we passed through stretches of dense mangroves with their intertwining roots and countless overhanging branches forming a natural canopy, followed by a picturesque coconut tree island swaying gracefully in the breeze, and a forest island. The journey continued alongside quiet forested patches and through the historic AVM Canal, the water-link connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari, offering glimpses of both nature and human ingenuity. Along the way, we came across a serene Meditation Point that seemed to radiate calm, the intriguingly shaped Elephant Rock, and all along birds… here nature thrived undisturbed. The sight of elegant floating cottages and a few charming resorts lining the waterways added a touch of quiet luxury to the landscape.

The most captivating moment of the trip was reaching the Estuary, where the tranquil waters of the Neyyar River meet the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea. From there, we arrived at the famed Golden Sand Beach, a secluded and pristine stretch accessible only by boat, where the golden sands, gentle waves, and the endless horizon of the sea created a scene of pure serenity.

Poovar, with its unique blend of river, backwaters, beach, and sea, truly stands out as a hidden gem. Surrounded by lush greenery and unspoiled beauty, it offers an immersive experience of Kerala’s rich ecosystem and tranquil coastal life. The backwater cruise, whether on a motorboat like ours or a traditional houseboat, is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience this natural paradise.

This memorable journey, filled with scenic beauty and peaceful moments, is one we will cherish for a long time. I have captured glimpses of this experience in a video, which you may watch here:

Poovar Backwater Cruise Experience – A Video: