Guest guest Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 AMARAVATHI Another important Buddhist site near the ancient Satavahana capital, Dhyanyakataka, is now called Amaravati. Amaravati was one of the four major places of Buddhist worship in the country. Over two thousand years ago on the south bank of the river Krishna at this point stood the Mahastupa, the largest stupa in the country, 36.5 mts across and girdled by a circuabulatory path. Built of kiln-burnt bricks and faced with marble slabs, the Mahastupa was richly adorned with carvings, depicting events from the life of Buddha along its dome and the outer and inner sides of the railing. The Mahastupa is known locally as Deepaladinne or Hillock of lamps. Amaravati is considered the most sacred of pilgrim centre in South India for Buddhists. How to get there Air: Soon at Vijayawada 65 km away Rail: Convenient rail heads are Guntur 36 km away and Vijayawada 82 km away. Road: Guntur 35 km, Vijayawada 82 km Hyderabad 350 km. Bus service is well organised for the pilgrimage spot. Taxis are available at Guntur and Vijayawada. An important tourist spot in Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati is situated on the banks of the Krishna river in Guntur district. Amaravati is one of the most prominent Buddhist centres of South India. The notable feature of Amaravati is that it is one of the spots where Krishna river takes a curve from north to south.Amaravati has a lot to offer to the tourists, from visiting the Shiva temple, seeing the Mahachaitya and a jolly ride on River Krishna. Earlier known as Dhanyakataka, Amaravati got its present name after the Amaraas who lived here. Visitors throng the lofty temple of Amareswara to worship the sacred linga, believed to have been installed by Lord Indra in the Dwaparyuga. Since the temple edifice is in Buddhist style of architecture, the Buddhists assert that the temple belongs to the time of the Buddha.The white marble lotus medallion on the dome above the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is a fine example.The complete picture of the temple is depicted in the Skanda Purana. The temple walls have a number of inscriptions that throw light on the different dynasties that reigned over this place. Some of these include the Reddis of Kondavidu and Krishnadevaraya. Amaravati is most famous for the large Mahachaitya stupa, built during the 2nd century B.C. The stupa is richly adorned with carvings depicting the life and teachings of the Buddha. Its dome reaches a height of 32 meters and measures 50 meters in diameter. The 5 meter wide pradakshanapatha is surrounded by a 4 meter high railing. At this stupa, the Buddha was revered as Amareswara. The stupa houses a small museum with a collection of old monuments and pictorial depiction of Buddha's life and teachings and terracotta articles among other antiquities. The water route to Vijayawada, though limited to twice a week, is a worthful trip.The Panakalaswamy temple, popular for its panakam miracle, is built on a volcanic hill and closes by sunset. for booking in the hotels please go to the following websites:- http://www.vihari.com/accom/AccomFormat.asp?hotel=Ilapuram & place=Vijayawada http://www.vihari.com/accom/AccomFormat.asp?hotel=Quality%20Inn%20Dv%20Manor & pla\ ce=Vijayawada Form of Deity : Lord Buddha Place Importance : Buddhist site near the ancient Satavahana capital, Dhyanyakataka, is now called Amaravathi. Amaravati was one of the four major places of Buddhist worship in the country. Over two thousand years ago on the south bank of the river Krishna, stood the Mahastupa, the largest stupa in the country, 36.5 ft across and girdled by a circumambulatory path.Built of kiln-burnt bricks and faced with marble slabs, the Mahastupa is richly adorned with carvings, depicting events from the life of Buddha along its dome and the outer and inner sides of the railing. The Mahastupa is known locally as Deepaladinne or Hillock of laps. Amaravati is considered the most sacred of pilgrim centre in South India for Buddhists. Amaravathi Amaravathi,which is the famous Buddhist center in the country is located on the banks of River Krishna. This is the capital of Satavahanas and a great Buddhist Centre. A Maha Stupa is also found which was contributed by Asoka The Great.This Stupa was actually was commenced in the 2nd century B.C.,and enlarged later and decorated with new sculptures, the latest of which was the great railing erected a little before 200 A.D. marble surace.It rests on a equally errected pillars. The incription in Brahmi characters tells thatl the sacred relics of Lord Buddha still lie within the Stupa. The Grand Carvings of everyday life of Buddha can be found at Amaravathi. During the contruction of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, which was the world's largest stone masonry dam, the ruins of an ancient Buddist university were excavated. These have been carefully resconstructed at Anupu, which lies in the Eastern bank of the reserviour. All the excavated findings, were stored in museum at Nagarjuna Konda, which is an island, formed due to man made lake. There is also a temple for Lord Amareswara.There is also a white marble Shiva Lingama, sorrounded by huge walls and towers. The Satavahanas and the Vijayanagar kings have made great contributions to this temple. Losaka-Jataka Story The Losaka-Jataka is the story of Matta-vindaka who is born of beggarly parents in the village in Varanasi.Soon after his birth ill-luck overtakes the family and is driven out of the house. He comes to Varanasi and becomes the disciple of a renowned teacher. There he quarrels with his fellow-students and finally runs away.After wandering here and there he comes to a border village and marries a poor woman. She gives birth to two children.After his coming to the village the king,out of venegence,burns down the houses seven times and the water-tank also dries up seven times. The villagers put blame on Matta-vindaka and drives him out.In the course of his wanderings in a forest a demon kills his wife and childern.Matta-vindika runs away from the forest and then begins a series of adventures. At last he returns to his teacher who is none else than the Bodhisattva. In the sculptured slab are shown Matta-vinda with his wife and two babies.On the sinister of the panel are depicted te village and chaitya-vrishka. These sculptures belong to circa second cetury AD. Where can I stay at Amaravathi ? Swapna Lodge at Amaravati is a good one. How can I reach Amaravathi? There are excellent Bus facilities from Guntur District. Amaravati Amaravati is located on the banks of river Krishna about 35 kms from Guntur. During the reign of the Satavahanas from 2nd century B.C. to 2nd century A.D., Buddhism flourished in Andhra Desa. Dharanikota or Dhanyakataka whose modern name is Amaravati was the capital of the Satavahanas. The Amaralingeswara Swamy temple on the banks of river Krishna is a prominent pilgrim centre. How to Reach This Place Amaravati is located 34 kms from Guntur. It is well connected by Road. Amaravati is 34 kms from Guntur Railway station. Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad Airport Amaravati is located on the banks of river Krishna about 35 kms from Guntur. During the reign of the Satavahanas from 2nd century B.C. to 2nd century A.D., Buddhism flourished in Andhra Desa. Dharanikota or Dhanyakataka whose modern name is Amaravati was the capital of the Satavahanas. The Amaralingeswara Swamy temple on the banks of river Krishna is a prominent pilgrim centre. How to Reach This Place Amaravati is located 34 kms from Guntur. It is well connected by Road. Amaravati is 34 kms from Guntur Railway station. Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad Airport http://www.andhratourism.com/tips/traveltips.html http://www.andhratourism.com/packages/packagefrom.html http://www.andhratourism.com/packages/pkg_hyderabad.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tourist/tourist.html http://www.andhratourism.com/articles/aboutandhra.html http://www.andhratourism.com/articles/language.html http://www.andhratourism.com/articles/history.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tourist/amaravathi.html Vijayawada A City situated in an ideal surrounding between the Krishna River and Budameru, its tributary. The third largest City in Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada is also the biggest-railway junction in the country. The Mogalrajapuram caves, Kanakadurga Temple, Prakasam Barrage, Gundala Church and Gandhi Stupa on Gandhi Hill are some of the places worth a visit. For proud Andhragarus (gentlemen) it is in this ancient city that the heart of Telugu culture lives and thrives. Situated on the fertile Krishna delta, the city was won over by the Vijaynagar rulers and later by the Qutb Shahis who transformed it into the busy town that it is today. Commerce and industry haven't left Vijayawada alone but the numerous temples that dot the city give away its traditional character. A city where the art of atithi devo bhava (Guest is God Himself) has been perfected, Vijayawada is a must-visit if you want to go temple-hopping in Andhra. Facts At A Glance Population: 8,53,000 STD Code: 0866 Best Season: October-February Hotels Hotel Raj Towers Congress Office Road Governorpet Vijayawada 520002 Tel: 571311; Fax: 571317 Hotel Manorama 27-38-61, MG Road Vijayawada 520002 Tel: 572626, 577221; Fax:575619 Hotel Mamata 25-15-478, Eluru Road Vijayawada 520002 Tel: 2571251; Fax: 2574373 Quality Inn Dv Manor MG Road Vijayawada 520010 Tel: 2474455; Fax: 2483170 Sree Lakshmi Vilas Modern Cafe Besant Road Governorpet Vijayawada 2520002 Tel: 2572525 Restaurants Dolphin Nook Restaurant 27-37-109, Vijay Krishna Super Bazaar Roof Top Bandar Road Vijayawada 520010 Golden Pavilion Opposite Super Bazaar Bandar Road Vijayawada 520010 Hotel Sarovar Eluru Road Vijayawada Places Of Interest Undavalli Cave Temples About 8km out of Vijayawada, these cave temples were carved out of black granite hills sometime in the 7th century AD. A must-see here is the 5m long reclining Vishnu sculpted from a single block of granite. But before you can sigh at the fine piece of craftsmanship, you'll have to launch a manhunt for the keeper who has the keys to the shrine. Other temples that you can pay a flying visit to are those dedicated to the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Kanaka Durga Temple Perched atop the Indrakila Hill, Goddess Kanaka Durga (literally, the Golden Durga) is venerated as the protector of the city of Vijayawada. Legend has it that the goddess saved the city from the clutches of a merciless demon. In thanksgiving the residents of the city continue to offer their prayers to her. Yet another legend believes that the Sri Chakra Yantra (a geometrical pattern of concentric triangles considered sacred by the Hindus) found in the temple was actually placed here by the great Advaita philosopher, Adi Shankara. Gandhi Statue Memorial to the Father of the Nation, this statue towers 15.8m high and is understandably the tallest structure of the city's skyline. It is rooted atop a hill that offers an aerial view of the city and also houses the planetarium. If you have the time, you can take the toy train that will take you around the hill. Amaravathi On the banks of the Krishna river, Amaravathi was long ago the capital of the Satavahana empire. It was also very special to the Buddhists who counted it among their four holiest centres of pilgrimage. The reason could be that nearly 2,000 years ago there stood in this holy place the giant Mahastupa. Believed to have been 36.5m in circumference, its intricately carved dome depicted incidents from the life of the Buddha. But a sincere word of advice - you should undertake the exhausting 60km drive from Vijayawada to Amaravathi only if you are sentimental about Buddhism. All that remains of the great stupa is a grassy hill and some scattered stones. The museum nearby has a replica of the original stupa but the sculptures and artifacts excavated from the site are preserved at the Chennai Museum. You might as well know that there's no direct road connecting Vijayawada to Amaravathi - you have to first drive 30km to Guntur and then another 30km to reach Amaravathi. And the sleepy town has nothing to offer parched throats and growling stomachs. Prakasam Barrage The idea of constructing a barrage across Krishna dates back to 1798. But it took shape in the hands of Captain Buckle and was revised in 1839 and 1841 by Captain Best and Captain Lake. After the endorsement of Major Cotton, it was approved by the board of Directors of East India Company on 5th January, 1850. The barrage was started in 1852 and completed in 1855. Later the State Government constructed a new regulator bridge which was named after Sri Tanguturi Prakasam, the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Completed in 1957, it helps irrigating over 12 lakh acres. It provides a panoramic view of the river. Kondapalli Kondapalli toys are colourful wooden creations which can enliven any interior. They are chiseled out of locally available wood into a variety of objects - birds, animals, mythological characters, fruits, vegetables, among many others.The designs are basic and the colours are flashy. Another craft is making leather puppets. The puppets of mythological figures are used to enact shadow plays Tourist Information Andhra Pradesh Travel and Tourism Development Corporation, Motel Krishnaveni, Guntur Road, Near Prakasam Barrage, Sitanagaram, Tel: 2263270. Amaravathi is a Punyakshetra and equated with Varanasi. History of the Temple in Brief Amereswara Swamy Temple at Amaravathi is one of the Pancharamas formed from the broken pieces of Siva Linga of Tarakasura. The Linga was installed by Devendra at the instance of his Guru Brihaspati. Though it is existing from Vedic age, historical evidence from the inscriptions indicate that royal families visited the temple and offered prayers during 500 B.C. Evidence of the visit of Raja Vasi Reddy, Venkatadri Naidu, Sri Krishna Devaraya, and Satvahanas is also inscribed who donated liberally, for the improvement of the Temple. The white Linga is quite unique and the priests have to ascend the steps for offering abhishekam. Importance of the Temple Amaravathi is a Punyakshetra and equated with Varanasi. The devotees who pray Lord Siva soulfully will be released from the cycle of births and deaths. Bala Chamundika, Lord Siva's consort is also worshipped here and she is according to Puranas the fourth of the eighteeth Pithas of Sakti. This has been installed by Jagatguru Shankaracharya.The beautiful designs, architects, and sculptures vouchsafe the master craftsmanship of culture of our State. World renowned Budda Stupa is here and at this place students from far off countries like China, Japan, Tibet and Ceylon came here to prosecute further studies. All Saiva poojas are performed on important days. Mahasivaratri and Ratotsavam are the important annual festivals which attracts lakhs of people. http://www.andhratourism.com/ http://www.andhratourism.com/packages/packagefrom.html http://www.andhratourism.com/exclusives/exclusives.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tips/foreigners/foreigners.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tips/general/general.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tourist/amaravathi.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tourist/amaravathi_gallery.html http://www.andhratourism.com/tourist/tourist.html http://64.164.14.92/apservlets/jsp/index.jsp http://www.aptourism.com/ http://www.templenet.com/Andhra/amararama.html http://www.templenet.com/jyotir.html http://www.templenet.com/Andhra/draksha.html http://www.templenet.com/Andhra/ksheerarama.html http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/kumarasamb.htm http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/daksha.htm http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s191.html http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/allaboutskanda.htm http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/aarupadai.html http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/tripura.htm http://www.templenet.com/Andhra/pancharama.html http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/shivling.htm http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/lingod.htm http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s122.html http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/surya_belief.htm Amaravati is a historic pilgrimage center and a storehouse of ancient Buddhist sculpture. Amaravati is home to the Amareswara temple which constitutes one of the five Pancharama temples of Andhra Pradesh sacred to Shiva, the other four being Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Draksharama.Amaravati is said to be a pilgrimage shrine on par with Benares. Amaravati is located about 15 miles away from Guntur near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Several legends tie together the five Pancharama temples dedicated to Shiva. As the name Amaravati implies, legend has it that Amaravati was once the abode of the Gods - the Devas, the yakshas and the kinnaras, who performed penances to Shiva to request him to rid the earth of the mighty demon Tarakasura. Legend has it that Shiva's son Subramanya vanquished the demon. It is believed that the Shivalingam that shattered into five pieces was a huge one, and the biggest of the five pieces is a fifteen foot long column of white marble which is worshipped as Amareswara at the Amaravati temple (this is very similar to the Shivalingam at the Draksharama temple). Legend has it that it was installed by Indra the king of the Devas, Brihaspati the guru of the Devas and Sukra the preceptor of the Asuras. The Amaravati temple is located on a small hillock referred to as Krouncha Shaila, alongside the river Krishna which flows for a short distance in a North-Southerly direction, although for the most part, the river heads eastwards towards the ocean. The river Krishna is held in reverence at this pilgrimage site, and a ritual dip in this river here is considered to be meritorious. The temple has ancient origins, however the structural foundations as seen today, seem to date back to the 11th century CE. The Vijayanagar kings did provide grants to maintain the temple. However it was the local kings of the 18th century CE that provided vast endowments to this temple. The temple is decorated with four lofty gopurams in its outer circumambulatory path. Shiva here is referred to as Amareswara, Agasteswara, Kosaleswara, Pranaveswara, Someswara and Parthiveswara and Parvati - Bala Chamundi. Amaravati was a center of Buddhist art. The Buddhist stupa and sculptures depicting the life of Buddha at Amaravati are of great beauty. Groups of temples constitute pilgrimage clusters all over India. Thus we have the Pancha Bhoota shrines dedicated to Shiva, the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines all over India, the Alwar Nava Tirupati shrines of Tirunelveli district in Tamilnadu, Arupadai Veedu shrines of Skanda and so on. Temples in each group are linked through a common thread of legends and beliefs. The Pancharama temples in Andhra Pradhesh constitute an example of one of these groups of pilgrimage centers. Several puranic legends are associated with these five shrines and the foremost of it has to do with the destruction of the demon Tarakasura by Skanda. Legend has it that when Subramanya killed the demon Tarakasura, the Shivalingam in his throat broke and fell in five different spots, which became the Pancharama kshetras. The foremost of these is Amareswara at Amaravati where Indra and the Devas are believed to have worshipped Shiva. The others are Draksharama, Kumararama at Kotipalli, Bheemarama at Samalkota and Ksheerarama or Palakollu. Some beliefs refer to Amararama, Draksharama, Somarama at Bhimavaram, Bhimarama or Kumararama at Samalkota and Ksheerarama at Palakollu as the five Pancharama Kshetras, while some even refer to the Chalukya Bhimeswara temple at Bhimavaram as Bhimarama. Thus we also have Draksharama, Amararama, Kumararama at Kotipalli, Ksheerarama at Palakollu and Bhimarama at Bhimavaram constituting the five Pancharama kshetras. By all accounts Draksharama, Amararama and Ksheerarama housing tall columnar Shivalingams fall in to the scheme of all classifications. Kumararama at Samalkota houses a tall Shivalingam too and so do Somarama and the Bhimeswara temples at Bhimeswaram. Thus six temples fall into this classification with unique features common to the Pancharama temples. Although sources refer to Kotipalli as Kumararama, its legends related to the river Godavari outweigh references to the Tarakasura vada myth. It is believed that the Shivalingam that shattered into five pieces was a huge one, and the biggest of the five pieces is a fifteen foot long column of white marble which is worshipped as Amareswara at the Amaravati temple (this is very similar to the ten feet high Shivalingam at the Draksharama temple). While the Arupadai veedu shrines represent the Soorasamhaara mythology (Skanda) in Tamilnadu, the pancharama shrines are linked with the Taaraka vada mythology again related to Skanda. Yet another legend has it that when Shiva destroyed the three Tripuras (Tripura Samharam), all that was left was a Shivalingam, and that he divided it into five pieces and placed them for worship at the Pancharama shrines. It is also beleived that the Amaravati and the Draksharama shrines were originally centers of Buddhist worship. Yet another legend links the pancharama kshetras. The five Shivalingams worshipped at these shrines are said to be a part of a single Shivalingam said to have been created by Surya or the Sun God. This original Shivalingam is said to have been held in worship by the seven rishis - Kasyapa, Atri, Gowtama, Kousika, Bharadwaja, Vasishta and Jamadagni. These rishis are believed to be present in the seven tributaries of Godavari, of which the Bharadwaja, Kousika and Jamadagni Godavaris are not in existence anymore. It is believed that the seven rishis brought water into the Godavari river from their points of origin. It is also believed that the waters from the seven tributaries constitute the water sources in the temple tank. The 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines of Shiva Abodes of Shiva >> Jyotirlinga Shrines The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam, have been held in reverence since time immemorial in the Indian system of beliefs. The southernmost of these is located at Rameswaram, while the northernmost is located in the snowy heights of the Himalayas at Kedarnath. These temples are closely linked with legends from the puranas and are rich in history and tradition. Somnath is the foremost of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines of Shiva, held in reverence throughout India and is rich in legend, traditions and history. It is located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat.Sree Sailam - Sree Sailam near Kurnool enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple rich in architectural and sculptural wealth. Aadi Sankaracharya composed his Sivanandalahiri here.Ujjain - Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga shrine The ancient and historic city of Ujjain or Avanti in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Jyotirlinga shrine of Mahakaleshwar.Omkareshwar: an island in the course of the river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga shrine and the Amareshwar temple.Kedarnath - the Northernmost of the Jyotirlingas. Kedarnath, nestled in the snow clad Himalayas is an ancient shrine rich in legend and tradition. It is accessible only on foot, six months in a year.Bhimashankar - Jyotirlinga Shrine is associated with the legend of Shiva destroying the demon Tripurasura. Bhimashankar is located in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, accessed from Pune. Varanasi - The most celebrated pilgrimage site in India The Vishwanath temple in Benares in Uttar Pradesh is the goal of the thousands of pilgrims that visit this ancient city. The Vishwanath shrine is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.Tryambakeshwar - The origin of the river Godavari is intimately linked with this Jyotirlinga shrine near Nasik in Maharashtra.Vaidyanath temple at Deogarh The ancient pilgrimage town of Deogarh in the Santal Parganas area of Bihar is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.Rameswaram: This vast temple in the island of Rameswaram, in Southern Tamilnadu enshrines Ramalingeswarar, and is revered as the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India.Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Shrine is a temple located in the vicinity of the tourist town of Ellora, which has several rock cut monuments from the 1st millennium CE. Saurashtre Somanaatham Cha Sree Saile Mallikarjunam Ujjayinyaam Mahaakaalam Omkaare Mamaleswaram Himalaye to Kedaram Daakinyaam Bhimashankaram Vaaranaasyaam cha Viswesam Trayambakam Gowtameethate Paralyaam Vaidyanaatham cha Naagesam Daarukaavane Setubandhe Ramesham Grushnesam cha Shivaalaye || Sri Sailam Temples of Andhra Pradesh Abodes of Shiva >> Jyotirlinga Shrines Significance: This is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in India and it constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingam shrines of Shiva. The presiding deities here are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi). This is an ancient temple with fort like walls, towers and a rich endowment of sculptural work. This huge temple built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards is one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagar architecture. The Satavahanas of the 2nd century AD have referred to it and the Saivite Tamil Saints have sung its glory. The Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagar kings (esp Krishnadevaraya) have made several endowments here. This temple is of immense religious, historical and architectural significance. Antiquity The origins of this temple are buried in antiquity. The Skanda Purana has a chapter dedicated to it. The great religious leader Aadi Sankara is said to have visited this shrine and composed his immortal Sivananda Lahiri here. Praise of this temple has been sung by the Tamil Saint poets of the past millennium. The shrine dedicated to Bhramaramba is considered to be of great significance. Legend has it that Durga is said to have assumed the shape of a bee and worshipped Shiva here, and chose this place as her abode. Temples in the vicinity: 1. Tripurantakam to the east of Sree Sailam. 2. Siddavatam of Cuddapah district to the South 3. Alampur Navabhrama temples in Mahboobnagar district to the West 4. Umamaheswaram in Mahboobnagar district to the North. 5. Paladhara Panchadara - the spot where Adi Sankara is said to have meditated. 6. Hatakeswaram: another Shiva temple near Paladhara Panchadara where the lingam was originally made of gold. 7. Sakthi Ganapathi temple: It is considered important to visit this temple before visiting Sri Sailam. 8. Kailasa Dwaram: The main entrance to Sri Sailam for those trekking to the temple 9. Sikharam: There is a hill temple dedicated to Shiva at a height of 2850 feet above sea level in the Nallamalai hills 10. Patalaganga: is where the bathing ghats associated with Sri Sailam are located. (Krishna river). Tripurantakam, Siddavatam, Alampura and Umamaheswaram are considered to be the four gateways to Sri Sailam. Sri Sailam Temples of Andhra Pradesh Abodes of Shiva >> Jyotirlinga Shrines Significance: This is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in India and it constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingam shrines of Shiva. The presiding deities here are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi). This is an ancient temple with fort like walls, towers and a rich endowment of sculptural work. This huge temple built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards is one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagar architecture. The Satavahanas of the 2nd century AD have referred to it and the Saivite Tamil Saints have sung its glory. The Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagar kings (esp Krishnadevaraya) have made several endowments here. This temple is of immense religious, historical and architectural significance. Antiquity The origins of this temple are buried in antiquity. The Skanda Purana has a chapter dedicated to it. The great religious leader Aadi Sankara is said to have visited this shrine and composed his immortal Sivananda Lahiri here. Praise of this temple has been sung by the Tamil Saint poets of the past millennium. The shrine dedicated to Bhramaramba is considered to be of great significance. Legend has it that Durga is said to have assumed the shape of a bee and worshipped Shiva here, and chose this place as her abode. Temples in the vicinity: 1. Tripurantakam to the east of Sree Sailam. 2. Siddavatam of Cuddapah district to the South 3. Alampur Navabhrama temples in Mahboobnagar district to the West 4. Umamaheswaram in Mahboobnagar district to the North. 5. Paladhara Panchadara - the spot where Adi Sankara is said to have meditated. 6. Hatakeswaram: another Shiva temple near Paladhara Panchadara where the lingam was originally made of gold. 7. Sakthi Ganapathi temple: It is considered important to visit this temple before visiting Sri Sailam. 8. Kailasa Dwaram: The main entrance to Sri Sailam for those trekking to the temple 9. Sikharam: There is a hill temple dedicated to Shiva at a height of 2850 feet above sea level in the Nallamalai hills 10. Patalaganga: is where the bathing ghats associated with Sri Sailam are located. (Krishna river). Tripurantakam, Siddavatam, Alampura and Umamaheswaram are considered to be the four gateways to Sri Sailam. Amaravati Temples of Andhra Pradesh Amaravati is a historic pilgrimage center and a storehouse of ancient Buddhist sculpture. Amaravati is home to the Amareswara temple which constitutes one of the five Pancharama temples of Andhra Pradesh sacred to Shiva, the other four being Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Draksharama.Amaravati is said to be a pilgrimage shrine on par with Benares. Amaravati is located about 15 miles away from Guntur near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Several legends tie together the five Pancharama temples dedicated to Shiva. As the name Amaravati implies, legend has it that Amaravati was once the abode of the Gods - the Devas, the yakshas and the kinnaras, who performed penances to Shiva to request him to rid the earth of the mighty demon Tarakasura. Legend has it that Shiva's son Subramanya vanquished the demon. It is believed that the Shivalingam that shattered into five pieces was a huge one, and the biggest of the five pieces is a fifteen foot long column of white marble which is worshipped as Amareswara at the Amaravati temple (this is very similar to the Shivalingam at the Draksharama temple). Legend has it that it was installed by Indra the king of the Devas, Brihaspati the guru of the Devas and Sukra the preceptor of the Asuras. The Amaravati temple is located on a small hillock referred to as Krouncha Shaila, alongside the river Krishna which flows for a short distance in a North-Southerly direction, although for the most part, the river heads eastwards towards the ocean. The river Krishna is held in reverence at this pilgrimage site, and a ritual dip in this river here is considered to be meritorious. The temple has ancient origins, however the structural foundations as seen today, seem to date back to the 11th century CE. The Vijayanagar kings did provide grants to maintain the temple. However it was the local kings of the 18th century CE that provided vast endowments to this temple. The temple is decorated with four lofty gopurams in its outer circumambulatory path. Shiva here is referred to as Amareswara, Agasteswara, Kosaleswara, Pranaveswara, Someswara and Parthiveswara and Parvati - Bala Chamundi. Amaravati was a center of Buddhist art. The Buddhist stupa and sculptures depicting the life of Buddha at Amaravati are of great beauty. Ksheeraramam, also known as Paalakollu is located near Narasapuram in the West Godavari belt of Andhra Pradesh. It is considered to be one of the five pancharama Shiva shrines of Andhra Pradesh. the five pancharama temples are Draksharama, Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Amararama. Several legends tie together the five Pancharama temples dedicated to Shiva. Legend has it that Upamanyu, the son of Kaushika muni requested Shiva that he be granted the desired quantity of milk for the performance of his daily rituals and that Shiva caused the Ksheera Pushkarini tank to overflow with milk from the mythical Ksheera Saagaram (the milky ocean). Hence the names Paalakollu, Dugdapovanam and Ksheeraramam. Legend has it that Shiva was worshipped by Rama at this shrine as in Rameswaram. This is a large temple with a towering Rajagopuram. The white marble Shivalingam worshipped in the sanctum is referred to as Ramalingeswara Swami as well as Ksheeraraameswaraswamy. Drakasharama is located in East Godavari district near Kakinada. Rajahmundry is the nearest airport. Draksharama constitues one of the five Arama kshetras of Andhra Pradesh, sacred to Shiva, the other four being Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Amararama. Draksharama, Sree Sailam and Kalahasti together constitute the three sacred Shivalingams of Andhra Pradesh, giving it its ancient name Trilinga Desa. Draksharama is one of the important centers of Shiva worship in Andhra Pradesh. Several legends tie together the five Pancharama temples dedicated to Shiva. Legend also has it that Vyasa installed the Shivalingam at Draksharama. Legend also has it that Draksharama was the site of Daksha yagna. Since it is believed that Sati immolated herself at the site of her father's sacrificial hall, no sacrificial yagna rituals are performed here. The Bhimeswara temple at Draksharama has two prakarams. The outer prakaram is pierced with four entrances each with a gopuram. The gopuram on the west is a five tiered one. The entrance to the inner prakaram is on the south. A pillared two storeyed verandah lines the inner prakaram (tiruchutrumaaligai in the ancient temples of Tamilnadu). The sculptural work in the mukha mandapam depicts clear Chalukyan features. There are shrines to Lakshmi Narayana, Sankaranarayana, Ganapati and the Navagrahas. The sanctum is two storeyed. The walls surrounding both levels are beautified with sculptural work. Two flights of stairs lead to the upper level of the sanctum. Bhimeswara is enshrined in the form of a ten feet high Shivalingam in the sanctum. Shiva's consort here is Manikyamba. Mahashivaratri and Navaratri are some of the festivals celebrated here. History: This temple was built by the Eastern Chalukyan King of Vengi - Bhima, during very troubled times (9th -10th centuries), when his kingdom was under attack by the Rashtrakootas. Inscriptions reveal that he had to fight as many as 360 battles. Chalukya Bhima also built the Chalukya Bhimeswaram temple at Samalkota nearby. The Draksharamam temple contains as many as 400 inscriptions going back to the 11th century. These inscriptions can be traced back to the Eastern and the Western Chalukyas as well as the Cholas and Kalinga rulers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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