Today is Guru Pratipada
Guru Pratipada is the day when Sri Narasimha Saraswati, the second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya, concluded his earthly journey and merged with the Supreme Soul.
*Kadalivana, also known as Kardaliwan, is a sacred site associated with Sri Datta Guru. It is situated deep within the Nallamala Forest, at the base of the Srishaila hills, along the banks of the Pathala Ganga in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh.
This place is renowned as a significant meditation site (tapo-sthanam) in the Srishaila region. Its importance is highlighted in scriptures like the Skanda Purana and Shiva Bhakta Vijayam. Here, Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swamy concluded his incarnation.
Srishailam is celebrated as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites and one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas. It is also a revered Datta Kshetra. Lord Dattatreya performed penance here. Sri Guru Narasimha Saraswati Swamy revealed his divine form in the Shivalinga to his disciple, Tanthuka, who then proclaimed that there is no difference between Lord Shiva and Sri Guru—they are the same.
Sri Guru Narasimha Saraswati Swamy concluded his incarnation at the Krishna River in the Srishaila region. He gathered his disciples and expressed his desire to live in seclusion, intending to go to Srisaila and remain at Ganagapur. He proceeded to Pathala Ganga, at the base of Srishaila, and asked his disciples to prepare a seat of flowers, indicating his need to go to Mallikarjuna on the other side of the river. The disciples prepared a beautiful seat of various flowers on a Kardali leaf and placed it by the riverside.
Sri Guru then instructed his disciples to return to their respective places, assuring them of his continued presence through the prasad of flowers, which they should worship daily. He emphasized his love for devotional singing and promised to be near those who sing his praises, granting them all pleasures. After saying this, Sri Guru disappeared into the river.
Later, boatmen from the other side reported seeing a sanyasi who was holding a dand (stick) in his hand and wearing golden sandals, he identified himself as Narasimha Saraswati and mentioned going to Kardali Vanam for his divine disappearance.
