ISKCON Kochi arranged a one day picnic for the parents and children of Gopal's school last Sunday the 25th of September, 2016 to
Kodanad and Bhoothathankettu which lie on the southern banks of river Periyar.
Kodanad is a village located near Perumbavoor on the banks of the river Periyar in Ernakulam District.
The one hour bus journey from Ernakulam was made blissful by the melodious kirtans of devotees. There were around 120 of us including GSVE children and their parents apart from our devotees. Two buses were arranged....one from our Kaloor centre and the other one from Muvattupuzha.
Kodanad is a popular tourist destination, with an abundance of various species of flora and fauna......away from the hustle bustle and scorching heat of the city. The park had a few elephants and different species of deer.
After enjoying the superabundance of greenery and serenity along the winding paths of the park, we had wonderful breakfast Prasadam cooked by the devotees..... Idly, Sambar, Chutney and sweets.
Our next destination was Bhoothathankettu (which translates to 'Fort built by Ghosts' ) a dam and a popular tourist destination which is around 30 kms from Kodanad.
They have a mini eco-park where you can enjoy and relax sometime on the banks of Periyar river.
The dam , we were told was a kilometers walk from the park and hence we skipped the same. However some members from our group went to see the dam while the others enjoyed some games and sports like lemon race, 'Devas and Asuras' etc etc...
Sumptuous lunch Prasadam was then served which both children and grown ups enjoyed.
As it started raining we had to wind up earlier than scheduled.
However we made a stop over at Kalady, near the Periyar river(or 'Poorna' as it is called here) the holy birth place of Adi Shankaracharya on our way back home. As a little boy Sankara prayed to Lord Krishna (to enable his mother take her daily bath in the Periyar which was a little far ) who blessed him saying that the river would take it's new course through the place where his little feet made imprints and thus the place got it's name Kalady(meaning foot print).
As the temples were not yet open , we made our way to the Crocodile Ghat on the banks of river Periyar where Sri Sankara took his vow of renunciation. It was here that a crocodile caught hold of his leg and refused to release him until Sankara's mother Aryamba permitted him to accept sanyas.
After spending some time at the Ghat and having some juice to refresh ourselves we entered the temples.
The shrine of Adi Shankaracharya has photographs depicting the life and history of the great Acharya. There is a small structure built over the place where the Acharya's mother Aryamba was cremated with a black stone lamp post in front.
Deities of the Saptha Matas or the 7 forms of the Devi surround the Sharadamba Shrine.
Outside this shrine is an ancient temple of Lord Krishna the family Deity of Adi Shankaracharya.
We spent some really blissful time inside these temples......immersed in japa and singing kirtans.....and got late to head back home. As photography is prohibited inside the temples, the interior images could not be taken.
Finally we started back home at around 6.30 PM and I reached home at 8.
Except for the off and on interference of Indra Deva (as our yatra leader Gopal Gaura Prabhu put it) with his bouts of rain showers, all in all it was a fantastic day with fun filled games, ecstatic kirtans, wonderful Prasadam, memorable photo shots.........it was an awesome and perfect day out.
Thanks to our Gopal's school coordinator HG Rugmini Prema Mathaji who organised this Picnic and made this Sunday a memorable one.
Her energy and enthusiasm (at her age ) is contagious...... .....
Kodanad and Bhoothathankettu which lie on the southern banks of river Periyar.
Kodanad is a village located near Perumbavoor on the banks of the river Periyar in Ernakulam District.
The one hour bus journey from Ernakulam was made blissful by the melodious kirtans of devotees. There were around 120 of us including GSVE children and their parents apart from our devotees. Two buses were arranged....one from our Kaloor centre and the other one from Muvattupuzha.
Kodanad is a popular tourist destination, with an abundance of various species of flora and fauna......away from the hustle bustle and scorching heat of the city. The park had a few elephants and different species of deer.
After enjoying the superabundance of greenery and serenity along the winding paths of the park, we had wonderful breakfast Prasadam cooked by the devotees..... Idly, Sambar, Chutney and sweets.
Our next destination was Bhoothathankettu (which translates to 'Fort built by Ghosts' ) a dam and a popular tourist destination which is around 30 kms from Kodanad.
They have a mini eco-park where you can enjoy and relax sometime on the banks of Periyar river.
The dam , we were told was a kilometers walk from the park and hence we skipped the same. However some members from our group went to see the dam while the others enjoyed some games and sports like lemon race, 'Devas and Asuras' etc etc...
Sumptuous lunch Prasadam was then served which both children and grown ups enjoyed.
As it started raining we had to wind up earlier than scheduled.
However we made a stop over at Kalady, near the Periyar river(or 'Poorna' as it is called here) the holy birth place of Adi Shankaracharya on our way back home. As a little boy Sankara prayed to Lord Krishna (to enable his mother take her daily bath in the Periyar which was a little far ) who blessed him saying that the river would take it's new course through the place where his little feet made imprints and thus the place got it's name Kalady(meaning foot print).
As the temples were not yet open , we made our way to the Crocodile Ghat on the banks of river Periyar where Sri Sankara took his vow of renunciation. It was here that a crocodile caught hold of his leg and refused to release him until Sankara's mother Aryamba permitted him to accept sanyas.
After spending some time at the Ghat and having some juice to refresh ourselves we entered the temples.
The shrine of Adi Shankaracharya has photographs depicting the life and history of the great Acharya. There is a small structure built over the place where the Acharya's mother Aryamba was cremated with a black stone lamp post in front.
Deities of the Saptha Matas or the 7 forms of the Devi surround the Sharadamba Shrine.
Outside this shrine is an ancient temple of Lord Krishna the family Deity of Adi Shankaracharya.
We spent some really blissful time inside these temples......immersed in japa and singing kirtans.....and got late to head back home. As photography is prohibited inside the temples, the interior images could not be taken.
Finally we started back home at around 6.30 PM and I reached home at 8.
Except for the off and on interference of Indra Deva (as our yatra leader Gopal Gaura Prabhu put it) with his bouts of rain showers, all in all it was a fantastic day with fun filled games, ecstatic kirtans, wonderful Prasadam, memorable photo shots.........it was an awesome and perfect day out.
Thanks to our Gopal's school coordinator HG Rugmini Prema Mathaji who organised this Picnic and made this Sunday a memorable one.
Her energy and enthusiasm (at her age ) is contagious...... .....
