Patala Linga (the Underground Linga) - Suri Nagamma Letters

It has been stated in the biography of Sri Bhagavan that in the early days of his arrival he used to sit near the underground Linga in the Thousand-pillared Mandapam of Arunachaleswara Temple and that he was so completely absorbed within himself that he was quite unconscious of the insects which were biting him until blood came out. You remember we had seen that cellar and the Linga. They have long been in a dilapidated state. Recently Mrs. Talayarkhan decided to get it repaired and convert it into a fine shrine. She collected some money and entrusted the work to the contractors Messrs. Tarapore & Co. It was ready before the Kumbhabhishekam of the Mathrubhuteswara Temple. Even so, the opening ceremony was put off until the Kumbhabhishekam was over.

The Kumbhabhishekam being over, Mrs. Talayarkhan arranged for the opening of the Patala Linga Shrine by the Governor-General, Sri C. Rajagopalachari, at 8-30 a.m. on the 4th instant and sent out invitations to all people. Before

the arrival of the Governor General with all his paraphernalia, several batches of Reserve Police came here. The roads were repaired and decorated with national flags. The Thousand- pillared Mandapam was cleaned and white-washed. Spectators came from all places. The whole town was full of bustle and noise. Knowing that the Governor General, the Madras Governor, the Maharaja of Bhavanagar and his wife, would also come for the occasion and would visit the Ashram for having a Darshan of Bhagavan, the Municipal authorities and the police made all the required arrangements at the Ashram also.

The Governor General went to the temple straight from the railway station at the appointed hour, performed the opening ceremony, spoke in terms of praise about Sri Bhagavan and went away, sending a message to Bhagavan that he could not visit the Ashram owing to some urgent work. As soon as he left, all the people assembled at the temple came here. By 10-30 a.m., the Bhavanagar royal couple came into Bhagavan’s presence, prostrated before him with great devotion, spoke to Bhagavan with great reverence, stayed for half-an-hour, received prasadam, and went away.

One of the devotees who had witnessed all the festivities when the shrine was declared open, addressing Bhagavan, said, “Nowhere do we find cellars in Thousand-pillared mandapams. What can be the reason for the existence of a cellar here?” Bhagavan replied, “No, they are usually not in existence anywhere. The reason for its existence here is because some important person passed away, and his body was buried there and a Linga was installed thereon. As the Linga was there much before the construction of the thousand-pillared Mandapam it was not disturbed but was left as it was. The remaining portion of the ground was raised

and the Mandapam was erected. That is why the Linga is underneath the Mandapam which remains like a cave. Later on, steps leading to the place were constructed. When I was staying there it was full of dust. Excepting the elephant on the Mandapam and myself in the cellar, no one else used to be there.” We were all surprised at hearing the circumstances under which the cellar came into existence.

Bhagavan had told us on several occasions that there were several inscriptions on the walls stating that the Hoysala Emperor, Krishnadevaraya, constructed the Mandapam and that it was also stated in those inscriptions that the Emperor did several other similar good deeds. After hearing this, Dr. Anantanarayana Rao went there with some devotees, got the inscriptions in Prakrit language copied and published them in one of his books. After my return from Tiruchuli in June 1944, Bhagavan related to me several similar anecdotes. I will write to you about them some other time when I have leisure.