Aradhana of Kundagol Naranappa Maharaj - 8-1-2013

Poojya Sri Kundagol Naranappa Maharaj was an ardent devotee of Sri Brahmachaitanya Maharaj. He had the rare fortune of Sri Maharaj speaking through him in Kannada through Peti sessions. He toured extensively in karanataka, and visited Chintamani several times.
His Aradhana was celebrated on 8th Jan 2013,.

Photograph taken during Prathistapana in 1949

Photograph taken on the occasion of the "Prathistapana Mahothsav" of Sri Brahmachaitanya Sri Rama Mandir, on 13-6-1949. Poojya Sri Tatya Saheb Ketkar Maharaj is seated at the centre, to his right is Poojya Sri Kundagol Narayanappa Maharaj, and to his left is Poojya Prof. Belsare Baba. Seated on the carpet to the right of Sri Ketkar Maharaj is Sri G. Venkannaiah, the founder of the Mandir at Chintamani.
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Founder's Day, Chaitra Bahula Dwadashi. 22-4-09

Founder's Day

Sri G. Venkannaiah's Jayanthi

Poojya Sri G. Venkannaiah (1883-1969), had a vision of Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj who called him to Gondavale. Venkannaiah who had neither seen nor heard of Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj or Gondavale, wondered how to reach him. However, it was Maharaj's Grace which made him meet a Yogi, Sri Rangachar, who after a yogic meditation, found out that the saint Sri Venkannaiah met in his vision, was Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj of Gondavale.He also told him how to reach it.The two devotees went to Gondavale with in a week.Sri Maharaj had told his desciples there that he was expecting two devotees from a far off place, and he cancelled his scheduled visit to some place on that day to receive the two . Sri G.Venkannaiah, was very happy to meet Sri Maharaj. Next morning he was initiated by Sri Maharaj to Taraka Nama and asked him to do the following:

1) Do namasmarana without break.2) Spread or Propogate Rama-nama.3) Construct a small Mandir (Of Sri Rama) 4) Carry on Upasana.

One month after they returned to Chikkanaayakana halli, Sri G.Venkannaiah received the sad news that Sri Maharaj has left his mortal coil. He went to Gondavale and attended the ceremonies.

As per the order of Sri Maharaj, Sri Venkannaiah was doing Namasmarana and Japanushan, propagating Rama-Nam as much as he could. But as he was in a Government Job, and was transferred to different places, he could not construct the Rama Mandir, earlier. Finally, when he was transferred to Chintamani, he bought a site for the Mandir, and the foundation stone was laid by Sri Kundagol Narayanappa Maharaj, in the year 1939. The marble idols of Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj, Sri Ram, Lakshman,Sita Devi and Hanuman, were installed in the Holy presence of Tatya Saheb Ketkar Maharaj, and Kundagol Naryanappa Maharaj on 13th June 1949.

Sri Venkannaiah was a source of inspiration for many devotees. His Jayanthi was celebrated with Japanusthan and a lecture by Sri B. Sree Rama Murthy, and Maha Prasadam.