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| Draksharama (Draksharamam),AP. rhymesofmythoughts.blogspot.com/ |
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| Pancharama shetrams, locations, Andhra .uparnidevi.blogspot.com/ |
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| Pancha lingas, Andhra. templesinindiainfo.com |
Pilgrimage in Hinduism, as in other religions, is the practice of undertaking a trip to one or more holy places with a view to fulfilling a desire or as part of a religious commitment. Rooted in ancient scriptures, a sacred journey is undertaken for a spiritual purpose - to seek values or inner truth, a sort of self-realization. One can find the earliest reference about pilgrimage in the Rigveda. Example: Going on a pilgrimage to 108 Divyadsams - dedicated to Sri Vishnu (glorified by the Tamil Azhwar saints in Nalaera Thivya prabandam) is popular among the vaishvavites. Lots of Hindus, according to their horoscope -jathagam undertake a pilgrimage to the nine Navagriha shrines mostly located in the delta district of Tamil Nadu. Likewise pilgrimage to the Pancharama kshetrams (dedicated to God Shiva) in Andhra is common.
Endowed with mystical powers got from God Shiva and an invisible Shiva linga (Atma linga) worn around his neck, Tarakasura, a terrifying and menacing demon terrorized the people and saints with perverted mind and ego. His atrocities, having reached the limit of tolerance, infuriated Shiva created Kumaraswamy to kill the demon to free the people from pangs of pain and suffering.
The Assura's mystic power was such that every time Kumara Swamy tore him into pieces, they would reunite and the dead Asura would come back alive. Upon this God Lord Vishnu advised Kumaraswamy to use Agni Astharam and break the Shivalinga into 5 pieces and settle them unmoved at different places to avoid the fusion of broken pieces from which the Asura would reappear. He also asked lord Surya to build five temples over them so that the broken pieces of Shiva linga would stay fixed in the same place. The five broken and scattered pieces of Shivalingas stopped moving and became Pancharama Kshetras; all are in the the coastal region of Andhra. At all these five temples, the lingas bear a scar that is said to have been formed by the power of Aegneyasthra. Moon (Chandra) was the first one to worship Lord Shiva here, hence he is called Somarama.
Visiting Pancharama kshetras on the same day itself is important and it means devotees are worshipping 5 parts of a single Shiva linga that was worn by the Asura King Tarakasura Worshiping at all five kshetras will give the benefit of offering prayer to the Shiva linga as a single entity or in one form. In the state of Andhra, particularly, among the Telugu speaking people, going on a pilgrimage to all the five kshetras called Pancharama kshetra yatra is a committed religious undertaking and normally, it is done in the month of Karthikai (November-December). The belief has been that a visit to all kshetras will usher in a new year of prosperity, welfare and peace in the family.
The five Pancharama kshetras are:
01. Someswara Temple, Somarama, Bhimavaram.
02. Sri Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, Kumararamam, Samalakota.
03. Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharama, Ramachandrapuram .
04. Amareswara Swamy Temple, Amararama, Amaravati.
05. Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Ksheeraram, Palakollu.
01. Someswara Temple, Somarama, Bhimavaram. chandra West Godavar:.
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| Somarama temple, Bhimavaram hindupad.com |
Gunupudi Somarama temple, Bhimavaram of West Godavari district, one of the well-known Pancharama Kshetras, was built in in the 3rd century. A temple of great antiquity, this and other Pancharama kshetra temples are considered as the National Monuments under the management of the ASI.
The striking feature of this temple is there are five nandis in the main area. The shrine of goddess Annapurna is above the main garbagriha, a rare feature as per temple Agama Sastras. She is wearing a sacred thread around her neck and has a baby near her holy feet. God Somarama' consort here is Rajarajeswari Ammavaru.
What is special about this ancient temple is there is a change of Shivalinga' color according to the phase of the Moon. During Ammavasya (dark moon) it is black in color, whereas during Pournima (full Moon), it will be white in color. The Shivalinga at this place is believed to have been installed by demi god Chandra, hence Shiva also goes by the name of Someswara Swamy
https://hindupad.com/bhimavaram-someswara-swamy-temple/
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02. Sri Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, Kumararamam:
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| Kumararama or Bhimarama temple,Amaravati, temple purohit.com |
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| Nandi Kumararama or Bhimarama temple,Amaravati, temple rvatemples.com |
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| Lingam, Kumararama or Bhimarama temple,rvatemples.com |
This ancient temple located one kilometer from Samarlakota near Kakinada is known for one of the tallest Shivalinga in Andhra. In the small garbagriha there is a 14.3 foot tall lingam made of limestone. In the sanctum it rises from the pedestal on the ground floor through the second floor up to the roof, where the Rudrabhaga is worshipped.
Characteristic features are a large mandap supported by 100 ornate pillars and a big monolithic bull - Ekasila Nandi in sitting posture facing the shrine of Shiva and guarding the deity. The temple was built by Chalukyas - King Chalukya Bhima. who reigned over this location. The construction of the temple was started in AD 892 and was completed during 922. Subsequently, additions were made by the Kakatiya rulers ( 1340-1466 CE) and by Musunuri Nayaks and the temple pillars have very fine sharp finishes. Kala Bhairava and goddess Balatripura sundari Ammavaru are important deities.
Stone inscriptions dated 1147-1494 on the pillars have recorded a list of gifts the temple received through ages. Recent excavations in the compound of the temple has yielded Many idols dated back 1000 years were brought to light in the recent past when excavations were made within the temple premises. This temple resembles the other Pancharama temple at Draksharama which is also called Bhimeswara Alayam. Temple Pushkarni: Koneru lake near-by..
Kalyana Mahotsam during February–March (Magha Bahula Ekadashi day) time, Maha Sivarathri are major temple festivals here.
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03. Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharamam, E. Godavari:
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| Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharam Andhra , gotirupati.com |
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| Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharama india.blogspot.com/ |
Situated on the eastern bank of the river Godavari, Bhimeswara Swamy temple in Draksharamam in E. Gadvavari district is not only a pancharama kshetram, but also one of the Ashta Shakti peethas and trilinga kshetram. The presiding deity Bhimeswara consort: Manikyamba Ammavaru. Eight lingas are consecrated in eight directions (cardinal and ordinal) of Draksharama. These temples are known as Ashta Someswaras.The main deity is a spadika lingam made of pure quartz crystal about 2.6 m tall. It is believed to be one of the largest lingas made of pure crystal, a major component of granite rocks.
Built by eastern Chalukya ruler Vengi-Bhima during the 9th and 10th century when the ruler had a strained relation with Rashtrakutas the temple has innumerable stone inscriptions made during the reign of the Chalukya. Besides other festivals, Shivaratri and Navaratri are major festivals here.
Yet popular name of the temple is Dakshina Kasi Kshetram - Draksharamam meaning an ‘Abode of Daksha Prajapathi’ (son of Brahma), the father of Sati and the father in law of Lord Shiva. Sati was the wife of Lord Shiva. Daksha when conducted an yagna refused to invite Shiva and insulted his daughter Sati. heir growing enmity resulted in the death of Sati and Shiva killed egotistical Daksha. The Draksharama Temple is one of the important Shiva temples in Andhra.
https://myoksha.com/draksharamam-temple
https://gotirupati.com/bhimeswara-temple-draksharamam
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancharama_Kshetras
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