Nostradamus and his book, Les Propheties (the Prophecies), a collection of predictions for the future, are well known in the world. However, the prophecies of Sri Naraeyana Thataiah or Kaiwara Thathayya or Naraeyanappa (1730-1840 AD), the celebrated saint and Kaiwara, the place where he lived, remain relatively unknown.
Kaiwara is a picturesque valley which is significant, historically and spiritually. On reaching Kaiwara, you will be mesmerised by the landscape and its beauty.
The Ashram: An elaborate arch welcomes you to the Kaiwara Yogi Naraeyana Ashram. A magnificent temple with elaborate pillars, dedicated to the great saint, a spacious well maintained guest house and a Kalyana Mantapa are housed in the ashram complex. The temple has a beautiful large statue of the great saint along with small idols of Lord Venkateshwara and Sridevi and Bhoodevi in the sanctum sanctorum. Behind the statue is the Samadhi (grave) of the saint. The temple has exquisite carvings and fine paintings of the stories from the life of the great saint are placed all along the top portion of the walls of the temple. Music programmes are held throughout the year in the Kalyana Mantapa and famous musicians from all over the world are invited to perform here.
Close encounters: In close proximity is Yoganarasimha swamy Temple in Vaikunta, a small hillock which also houses the cave where the saint did severe penance. As you approach it you will be struck by the sheer magnificence of the place. On climbing roughly around 100 steps, you will reach a terrace and the scenic beauty will take your breath away. There is a Yagna Mantapa which has lot of small idols including the Dasavataram series of Lord Vishnu.
Next to the mantapa is a very small entrance which is formed by the edge of the cave rock. One has to sit down or kneel to get into the cave where you will see an idol of Yogi Naraeyana on your left and on bending a little you will be able to see inside through the narrow opening of the cave a small idol of Narasimha.
On the left side at the base of the complex is the ancient Amara Narayanaswamy temple. The temple is known for its magnificent architecture. The idol in the temple, built in the Hoysala style, was installed by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana.
Just opposite to this is ‘Tapovana’, the beautiful park of Ayurvedic plants maintained by the forest department. You can walk for about 2 kms in the garden. In front of every Ayurvedic plant, a granite slab with verse from Thathaiyya’s Kalajnana is etched with its meaning. There are a few enclosures with rabbits, peacocks, and other birds.
At the end of the day, there is the ancient Bheemalingeshwara temple, the Gopalaswamy temple and the Bheema Bhaka betta to be seen.
The reformer: Sri Naraeyana Thataiah (1730-1840 AD), a guide and philosopher for the masses, bilingual poet in Kannada and Telugu, and social reformer from a small village in Chickaballapura district, remains relatively unknown. His prophetic utterances called ‘Kalajnana’ spanning over the next 1000 years have proved to be perfectly true.
His other works like Tatwa Keerthanas, Shri Charitha Tatwamritha Yogasara and half dozen Shathakas enable people to lead a moral and spiritual life. Kaiwara in Chickaballapur district, where he lived for 110 fruitful years and voluntarily gave up his body and went into Jeeva Samadhi, is 65 kms from Bangalore.
Legend: As per the great Indian Epic, Mahabharatha, the Pandavas lived here during the exile in the forest (Vanavasa).
It is also believed that during this period, Bhima, one of the Pandavas killed demon Bakasura in this place. During the Dwaparayuga this town was supposedly known as Ekachakrapura.
Legend has it that the current name is derived from Kai Vara (Boon of the hand), because the famous saint was born as a result of a boon bestowed by Lord Amara Narayanaswamy upon a poor pious childless middle aged couple, Kondappa and Muddamma.