In the village of Bhadrachalam, near the banks of the Godavari River, lived Grandmother Vasundhara, whose voice carried the warmth of centuries of devotion. Her favorite story was about Lord Rama and his journey to the Bhadrachalam Temple.
“Long ago, child,” she would start, “when Lord Rama was exiled to the forests, he came to this sacred land to seek solace from the rivers and the trees. One day, he decided to cross the Godavari River to continue his journey. But the boatman, who was a humble devotee of Rama, did not have enough strength to row across the fast-flowing river.”
“Rama, knowing his true power, told the boatman, ‘Take me across the river, and you shall never want for anything again.’”
“So what happened?” asked little Anju, eager for the rest.
“Rama’s words were more than just blessings,” Vasundhara continued. “As the boatman rowed across, the water began to part, creating a path of golden light under the river. The boat floated without effort, guided by the divine hands of the Lord himself. The river opened up for the Lord, as it does for those who carry his devotion in their hearts.””When the boatman reached the other shore, he found that his boat had turned to gold. From that day on, the temple of Bhadrachalam became sacred, a place where Lord Rama, in his simplicity and compassion, blessed every devotee who came to cross the river of life.”
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