I just don’t understand why the directors go abroad for song shootings? Why don’t they just look inside the Indian History? At least once? I really feel very bad. Hampi is such a place where you’ll forget yourself entirely. If you visit these places along with your loved ones or friends, then no need to explain. Hampi reminds you of so many things. Most thrilling moment in my visit was when I climbed up the top of hilly rock just to catch the overall view of Hampi.
Yes .You can get the beautiful view of Hampi from the top of the hill called ‘Matunga’.
( Matunga Hill is the most
talked about hill in Hampi. Let it be its central location, the oversold sunset/sunrise view or the myths associated with it, this hill commands a special attraction. Being at the centre of Hampi, and also the highest point, Matanga hilltop is the best spot to get an aerial view of Hampi and it's environs.Matanga Hill is one of the important locations mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Ramayana. The place was the hermitage of Sage Mathanga. Monkey prince Vali killed a buffalo demon called Dundhuvi and thrown the corps on to the sacred Matanga hill. Angry at this act, sage Matanga cursed Vali that he c
ould never venture on to this hill. Later Dundhuvi's son Mayavi fought with Vali to avenge his father's death. Vali chased him into a cave; and asked his brother Sugreeva to stand guard outside.
After a while thinking that Vali was killed in the fight, Sugreeva closed the cave. Finally Vali emerged from the cave and chased Sugreeva out of the monkey kingdom. Sugreeva along with his warrior general Hanuman, took refuge at the Matanga hill, as Vali could not climb this hill. Later Lord Rama killed Vali and crowned Sugreeva as the king of the monkeys.
Though this myth is generally associated with the Vaishnava cult, the ancient temple located at the hilltop is that of Veerabhadra, a cult deity associated with Lord Shiva lineage.
The view from the top is interesting, especially from the eastern side where you can get an aerial view of the Achyuta Raya’s Temple complex; at south, the cart trail andTurthu Canal winding through the banana plantations; at north the chain of hills and the river that flows along it's ridges; at west the Hampi settlement with the
tower of Virupaksha Temple dominating.
What a wonderful view! I opted to use the trail which is located at the east end of the Hampi Bazaar street. At the end of the southern row of pavilions, a narrow trail goes towards east tracing the edge of the hill. This path, sometimes scramble through stray rock clusters and a few fallen shrines, passes along the point where the ascending path to the hilltop begins. The third and the less used path is at the south of the hill. This trail links the Matanga Hill footsteps with the cart trail that runs parallel to the Turthu Canal mentioned earlier. A pavilion nested into the banana plantations at the north edge of the path is a landmark. The narrow path towards north branches out at this point and seems disappears into the thick of the plantations. This trail too eventually reaches the foothill from where you can find your way to the hilltop.
But the most dangerous thing is it’s not so easy to climb the hill. Seriously I felt of getting down almost five times in the middle as it was risky and really tiring but still didn’t lose the heart as I knew in my life I may not get one more chance to visit Hampi once again. So I had no question of stepping back. At any cost I had to catch and fill that view in my eyes and in my camera.
Worst thing was I didn’t have a Digi camera at that time. In fact I forgot my camera at home and had to hire a camera from the local studio just to catch those views.
But I don’t know why when I was at the top of ‘Matunga Hill’, once I seriously thought of saying a good bye to the worldly life and to adopt spiritual life. What was the season?
I think it was because of the great influence of the life of Shiva saint Sri Allama Prabhu, which I read a week ago. Yes, After Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda it’s Sri Allama Prabhu’s life influenced me the most. Sad thing is it’s not so easy to get his life story. Rest anyone’s story we can get easily but luckily I’d got Allama’s as well. Frankly I didn’t know much about him before but when I started to read, I just couldn’t keep the book down.
The thing I like about me is when I read books I completely get into the story and start to picturise all those sequences. That’s why those incidents never leave me.
Hey.. Did I say whom I thought white reading in Allama’s role? Yes, you are right. It was none other than Vikram! No; frankly I was not his fan. Then, why? Because in our history we can get all other Shiva saints pictures but not Allama’s so obviously I couldn’t guess a blank face. I wanted someone fresh who would suit the role. I thought of many but none of them could suit the role. Without getting a face I couldn’t start reading. Then I thought about him. I thought Vikram would suit.
It was ‘Samurai’ movie’s one get up, which confirmed that he would suit for the role of ‘Allama’. With that thought I started to read. And what emerged was the story of passion that grows to the height of devotion and finally ends in acquisition.
The legendary beauty!! Allama Prabhu is he!! Who wants to see the glimpse of his lord Shiva right from his childhood and leaves the home after the death of his mother who was his only relative. He is not at all interested to lead worldly life but still care for his mother until her death as his duty and then leaves everything behind in search of his lord. He faces lot of problems but none of them can divert his mind.
The princess, Aavanti who never loved any man in her life falls in love with him completely when she meets Allama and wants to marry him. You can’t blame her because Allama’s personality is such a charming and attractive one but when he denies her request to marry her and says marriage is not for him. When he leaves the palace, Aavanthi’s life in palace becomes a living hell. All that she lives for after his departure is to be in his savinity and to serve him. The pain, the emptiness the unconditional love of her for Allama is palpable in the touching scene when a broken hearted Aavanthi says to her servant and friend before leaving the palace in just one white saree , ‘When my Lord who is my life rejected me then what is the need of all these luxuries? I’ve found my life’s peace in him. My only aim is to find my Lord (Allama) and serve him until my death.’ When she comes down from the steps of the palace in white clothe she reminds the Goddess Ganga who descended to the earth. The difficulties later Aavanti faces and the way she overcomes them, before finally reaching Allama’s feet and finds her salvation, makes her whole character as the ultimate, pristine, pure and almost divine.
On the other hand Allama’s life’s journey is full of twist and turns with thrilling moments. His confrontation with the robbers in the forest, his test for the great Shiv saint Sri Akkamahadevi, His meet with Sri Basavanna, his social work at the "Mansion of experience" (Anubhava Mantapa) not one or two more than hundred of incidents of his life and the way he confronts them makes the whole story extraordinary and the character of Allama Prabhu as an outstanding cult hero! It is a simple story, which has a soul that is so big Allama Prabhu, right from the beginning till the end when he attains Samadhi inside the cave leaves an unforgettable impression in your life and reminds us about the illusions of worldly life.
Above all he looks as a powerful combination of all great characters like Vivekananda, Adi Shankara, Sri Rama and Gautam Buddha.
Without a shadow of doubt, that day it was none other than Vikram who brought Allama Prabhu’s outstanding portrayal into live again in my mind while reading. But still sometimes I wonder if at all by fortune this spiritual marvel becomes a movie as Vikram portraying the role of Sri Allama Prabhu, then will his screen presence hold a candle to the ethereal charm of the saint who attained Moksha at the very young age of around 35 years being a bachelor? Will Vikram’s screen sensuality and acting skills match up to the prowess of Sri Allama? Will it become a classic or create a cinematic history? Will the audience, especially his fans accept this action hero in such a brilliant classic, which he never attempted so far in his career?
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