Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple - Andhra Pradesh

thedivineindia.com | Updated UTC time: 2024-06-07 00:34:35

Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on Pinterest Share on WhatsApp

Important information

Address: 3-152 ANDHRA BANK STREET, Chandra St, Draksharamam, Andhra Pradesh 533262.
Open and Close Timings: 05:30 am to 11:30 am and 03:00 pm to 08:00 pm.
Nearest Railway Station: Draksharama Railway Station at a distance of nearly 1.9 kilometres from Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple.
Nearest Airport: Rajahmundry Airport at a distance of nearly 52.9 kilometres from Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple.

Bheemeshwara Swamy Temple, also known as Dakshina Kashi Kshetram, is an ancient Hindu temple located in Draksharama, Andhra Pradesh. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Bheemeshwara Swamy and Mother Parvati as Sri Manikyamba Devi. Draksharama means 'place of Daksha', who was the father of Sati and father-in-law of Shiva.

This temple is one of the Pancharama Kshetrams, the others being Amararama Temple, Somrama Temple, Ksheerama Temple and Kumararama Temple. Pancharama Kshetrams originated from the incident of the killing of Tarakasura. Tarakasura wore the Amrita Linga around his neck, which gave him immortality. After the defeat of Lord Indra, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva appointed Kumaraswamy to kill Tarakasura. Kumaraswamy broke the linga into five pieces, which regenerated at five places and temples were built at these places, called Pancharama Kshetrams.

The main deities of the Bheemeshwara Swamy Temple are Lord Bheemeshwara Swamy and Goddess Manikyamba Devi. Shiva is enthroned in the form of a linga with black stripes on it. Behind the temple is the temple of Manikyamba Devi, who is depicted as a Vamachara deity. It is one of the few temples where the God and Goddess are given equal importance. The temple complex also houses shrines to several other deities, including Lord Bhairava, Lord Natarajaswara, Lord Vamana, Lord Vishweshwara, Nritya Ganapati, Goddess Kanakadurga and Goddess Annapurna. The water of Sapta Godavari Kundam is considered holy and the temple is also one of the Ashtadash Shakti Peethas.

Draksharamam, or Daksharamam, is one of the Pancha Pancharama Kshetrams considered sacred to the Hindu god Shiva and also the 12th of the eighteen Shakti Peethas. The temple is located in the town of Draksharamam in the Konaseema district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Bhimeswara Swamy refers to Lord Shiva in this temple. The poet Mallikarjuna Panditharadhyudu, who wrote the first independent work in Telugu and spread Veerashaivism in the Andhra region during the medieval era, was born in this town.

Etymology

The town was earlier known as Kshitipovan and Dakshavaatika. It is the place where Daksha, the chief of all Prajapatis, performed a yagna called "Neereshwara Yagya" or "Neereshwara Yajna". The present name of the place is derived from "Daksha Ashrama" which means "the abode of Daksha". This place is also referred to by Jagadguru Shankaracharya/Adi Shankaracharya as Daksha Vatika in the Maha Shakti Peetha shloka "Manikye Daksha Vatika", which refers to "Manikyamba Devi of Draksharama". The place where Daksha performed the "Nireshwar Yajna" is still visited by pilgrims.

History of the Temple

Inscriptions in the temple reveal that it was built by Eastern Chalukya king Bhima between the 9th and 10th centuries. The large mandapa of the temple was built by Ganga Mahadevi, daughter-in-law of King Narasimha Deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty of Odisha. Architecturally and sculpturally, the temple reflects a blend of Chalukya and Chola styles.

This temple is historically prominent. It was built by the Eastern Chalukyas who ruled the region. It is believed to have been constructed before the Bhimeswaraswami temple at Samrala Kota, which was built between 892 AD and 922 AD.

Architecture

The Draksharamam temple is built in the South Indian architectural style and the decoration of its inner sanctum displays excellent craftsmanship of the contemporary era. The temple resembles a fortress and is a two-storey monument. The temple has two circumambulatory passages. The outer circumambulatory has four entrances from four directions. Each entrance has a gopuram and these four entrances are known by the names of the four forms of the goddess - Gogulamma, Nookambika, Moodhambika and Ghatambika. The inner sanctum of the Draksharamam temple has an altar for the priest to perform rituals. The diamonds looted by Aurangzeb were embedded in the walls of the temple and the sanctum sanctorum remains dark as the diamonds were the source of light. The contemporary architects have done such an impressive job that the ventilation and lighting of this temple is beautifully arranged, making the devotees feel revitalized. This temple is classified as a protected monument and is under the administration of the Endowments Department of Andhra Pradesh.

Legend

Daksharamam is believed to be the place where Daksha Yagna took place. Lord Shiva sanctified the place after the rampage and massacre caused by Lord Veerabhadra at this place.

Landmarks

Bheemeshwara Swamy Temple is a large temple which was renovated by the Eastern Chalukyas. The temple has a pushkarini called "Sapta Godavari" where the Sapta Rishis brought water from seven different rivers to create it. The Sapta Rishis can be seen in a small mandapam located in the Sapta Godavari Pushkarini. One can visit the Kashi Visvesvara Temple built by Vyasa and Agastyeswara Swamy who was worshipped by Sage Agastya. A few mandapams are also available in the temple premises. There are four gopurams around the temple and there are a few temples like Kala Bhairava, Veera Bhadra and Vatuk Bhairava Temple inside the temple premises.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri is the grandest celebrated festival of the temple, Sri Swamy Vari Kalyanam the marriage festival celebrated on Bhishma Ekadasi, Shasti Festival, Sri Swamyvari Birthday is celebrated on Margasira Suddha Chaturdashi, Sarrannavarathri Festival, Kartheeka Monday Festivals and Jwalathoranam.

Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple - Andhra Pradesh

Important information

Etymology

History of the Temple

Architecture

Legend

Landmarks

Festivals

You Can Also Read them

Shiv Related Aritcles in Andhra Pradesh

You must Read

The Divine News