The Ambience of Rishi Vaitka

Rishi Vatika our place for International Institute of Vedic Sciences is surrounded by graceful lush green hills on all sides. The famous hill resort of Horsley hills is in the north east direction. As you move towards east the sun rises above the hill range of medium size hills. The top of the hillocks is bedecked with tall trees of dense reserved forests. As one turns further towards the south east, the hillocks slope down rather steeply to show us the presence of Rishi valley school which is only 3 kms from NH 205. As we turn further, true South a vast expanse of central reserve forest confronts us as one is required to trek on the intricate uneven foot paths in the dense forests spread between Rishi Vatika, our place and Mettupalli.

Beyond Mettupalli, there is good access to Bangalore Madanapalli highway. As we turn further we face the south west and here in the background we find the majestic near triangular green hillock called ‘Munula konda’ meaning the aboard of Munis or S eers or Rishis. It is firmly believed for centuries that this is the abode of ‘Tapasvis’ who dedicate their lives for countless years in doing penances or Tapasya for the welfare of humanity and the worlds. Strikingly this ‘Munula konda’ is only 2.0 kms distance away as the crow flies. This has got a striking and unmistakable resemblance to the world famous and holy Arunachala hill in Thiruvannamalai at the foot of which is Shri Ramana Ashram is located.

We now move to the West and there are high rise mountains among which the fort of B. Kothakota, associated with the subordinate kings of the famous Vijayanagar Empire, is located. The North West is evenly covered by a good no. of hillocks. The true north has two hillocks, exactly midway of these two; we take entry to Rishi Vatika from the northern side from the Village Nayanibavi. So we are surrounded, all around, by hills and hillocks while their slopes are embedded with lush green forests forming a part of the Reserved Forests.

In June-July-August quarter the rains visit this area providing lyrical quality to our location. The hill ranges are visited by rain bearing clouds which with their visit turn the entire region into a misty hill range. The tree lines on the fringes of the hills provide glittering bunch of rays to be seen at sunrise and sunset. Beyond the Munula konda (also called in abbreviation Mukkonda) there are 3 lakes stretching between two ranges of hillocks all of which constitute the eastern ghats of peninsular India. Almost the western fringe of it one can see the two pinnacles of Kaivaram hillock of Narayana Ashram and the temple hillock of Chintamani town area as we look towards the west.

The grey and dark clouds sweep the area and provide enthusiastic growth to the foliage and life gets renewed and there is air of rejoice as one drenches in the rain. Even before the onset of monsoon one can notice that a pleasant shower visits every evening between 4p.m and 5p.m as if to say Hello to our Rishi Vatika activities. The earth gets soaked and emits a pleasant fragrance of the clay which keeps our thoughts to be earthly in us who otherwise would tend to be unearthly and celestial in such surcharged divine exuberance.

Heavenly thoughts, holy ideas, spiritual tendencies, holistic approaches, affectionate feelings — all together make one feel that this is a place for us to live, to grow and to associate with to become a part of the Eternity.