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Sripada Sri Vallabha |
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 Sripada SriVallabha is considered as the first Avatar (incarnation) of the deity Shri Dattatreya in kaliyuga. According to some of the experts he is supposed to have lived from 1320 AD to 1350 AD. He was born in Pithapuram. Though a sketchy information was available about his life from the book Shri GuruCharitra written by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar in Marathi around 1450 AD. 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 Grand Father of Sripada SriVallabha. This book of various episodes on the life of SriPada was written by One Kannada Devotee Shankar Bhat, (a contemporary of Sri Pada Sri Vallbha) recording his various encounters with miracles witnessed by himself and by those whom he came in contact with. This book was 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.
Life Story
Sripada Sri Vallabha was born to Sri Appalaraja Sarma (of Aapastambha Shakha Brahmin) and Sumathi on Bhadrapada Sudha Chavithi (Ganesh Chaturthi) as the third son of Appalaraja Sarma and Sumathi. Going in to his birth secrecy, when Appalaraja Sarma family was preparing for the shraaddha (a yearly ceremony to pay homage to the departed soul), around noon time some Bhikshuk came for bhiksha. Before feeding the invited Brahmins, Sumathi fed this brahmin considering him as Dattatreya. Dattatreya became quite happy and offered her a boon. She asked for a son "knowledgeable like you" for which Dattatreya said "yes". She had before two sons, who were blind and lame and several others which did not live long. Dattatreya blessed her by saying that she will have world famous son who will be guru to all. Both husband and wife became happy to hear the blessings and she had Sripada.
Sripada finished his studies of Vedas, Shastras etc. by the age of seven and after his "Upanayan" (thread ceremony) he started lecturing on these. When he reached 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 "Sripada SriVallabha". He left their home for Kashi-pilgrimage. Before leaving he made his two elders brothers who were blind and lame, as normal humans and asked them to take care of their parents. He left Pithapuram for Badarikedar towards North. After the pilgrimage, he went to Gokarna and Mahabaleshwar in South. After spending 3 years at Mahabaleshwar he went to Shri Shaila Mountain. (Sri Sailam). Later he stayed most of his life in Kuravpur (Kuravapura).
Blessings 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. Both mother and son decided to end their life in the Krishna River. Here they met Sripada - yati who was taking bath. After hearing her story Sripada felt very sad and asked her to do Shani-pradosh-vrata. She was quite impressed with Swamiji and asked that in the next birth she would have son like him. Sripada agreed and 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 mother of Sri Narashimha Saraswati (Sri Sripada Sri Vallabh's avatar).
Blessing of Washerman
One washerman (Rajak) has become the disciple of Sripada. One day this man saw the king moving in the boats with his army and women and was quite depressed to see it. After Sripada asked him, he said that he wanted to have this kind of royal life. Sripada blessed him to become the king. Sripada told him that he will meet him at Vidura nagari in their next birth. It is believed that the Bedar's sultan Allauddin II (1435-58AD) might have been this king who met with
Sri Narasimha Saraswati (Second avatara of Shri Dattatreya or reincarnation of Shri Shripad ShriVallabh).
Vallabhesh Brahmin Story
This story happened just after the avatar-samapti (end of avatara) of Sri Sripada. 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 money. 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 through, they attacked, beheaded and killed him. Sri Sripada suddenly appeared from nowhere and killed all the dacoits. Only one was spared, who begged to Sripadji for his own life. 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.
Pithapuram
Swami's 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 about 20 km from Kakinada Town in Andhra Pradesh.
Kuravpur
Shri Shripad Shrivallabha Dhyaana Sthaan is located 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.
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