MUKTI RAMESHWARAM - PRODDUTUR, CUDDAPAH DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

November 21, 2003

History of the Temple in Brief

Mukti Rameswaram Temple is on the banks of Pinakini River. Sri Ram in order to get rid off his sin, in killing Ravana the king of Lanka, who was a brahmin decided to install a Siva Lingam at this place. He had to consecrate the Siva Lingam made by him with the sand as Hanuman who was sent to Kashi to procure the Siva Linga could not return within the asupicious time. The Siva Linga is called "Saikata Lingam". In order to please Hanuman, Sriram installed another Siva Linga brought over by him from Kashi a few paces away and opposite to Saikata Lingam. The Kshetrams are, therefore, called Ramalingeswara Kshetram and Hanuman Kshetram. The Temple is protected with high walls and are having two doors. According to the inscriptions, Sri Krishna Devaraya got constructed a five storyed Gopuram over the temple. The beautiful images of several Gods sculptured around the Gopuram speaks of high efficiency and calibre of the sculptors of those days.

According to the legend, Sri Ram consecrated the Saikata Lingam before the rise of the Sun and hence the place is called Proddatur

History of the Temple in Brief

Mukti Rameswaram Temple is on the banks of Pinakini River. Sri Ram in order to get rid off his sin, in killing Ravana the king of Lanka, who was a brahmin decided to install a Siva Lingam at this place. He had to consecrate the Siva Lingam made by him with the sand as Hanuman who was sent to Kashi to procure the Siva Linga could not return within the asupicious time. The Siva Linga is called "Saikata Lingam". In order to please Hanuman, Sriram installed another Siva Linga brought over by him from Kashi a few paces away and opposite to Saikata Lingam. The Kshetrams are, therefore, called Ramalingeswara Kshetram and Hanuman Kshetram. The Temple is protected with high walls and are having two doors. According to the inscriptions, Sri Krishna Devaraya got constructed a five storyed Gopuram over the temple. The beautiful images of several Gods sculptured around the Gopuram speaks of high efficiency and calibre of the sculptors of those days.

According to the legend, Sri Ram consecrated the Saikata Lingam before the rise of the Sun and hence the place is called Proddatur.

Ramalingeswara Temple

Shiva,Hanuman

Idols :

Ramalingeswara

Description :

Mukti Rameswaram is situated on the banks of the river Pinakini. The presiding deity here is Sri Ramlingeshwara taking the form of Lingam. This Siva Lingam was consecrated by Sri Rama and hence the name Rameswaram. The Lingam is 56 inches high and still possess the finger prints of Sri Ram on it. Few steps away from the temple is the temple of Sri Hanumanth Lingeswara, the lingam which was brought by Hanuman and installed by Sri Rama. On the side of Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple is another temple dedicated to Sri Raja Rajeshwari. There is a "Sri Chakra Yantram" which was honoured by Sri Adi Shankarachariar. It is strongly believed by the people of Proddatur that only with the power of the Yantram the town has been well developed. Those who worship this Srichakra Yantram will be blessed with every pleasure of their life.

Architecture :

The Mukthi Ramlingeswara temple is a big temple constructed on a sprawling space. The five tiered rajagopuram with beautiful sculptures greets the visitors. The temple is surrounded by strong walls with protective doors. The temple gopuram is believed to have been built by KrishnaDeva Raya. The images of Kumara Swamy, Durga Devi, dancing Ganapathy, idols of Lord Siva and Parvathi, Vishnu on his Garuda vahanam, Krishna with Kaliya serpent, reveals the talents of ancient sculptors of those days.

Legends & Myths :

Legend is that Sri Rama was encountered by Ravana the king of Lanka, in the guise of a cat. Rama killed Him and in order to get rid off his sin, in killing Ravana, who was a brahmin decided to install and worship a Siva Lingam at this place. Hanuman who was sent to Kashi to obtain the Siva Linga could not return within the stipulated time. Hence Rama himself made a Shiva lingam out of sand which came to be known as the "Saikata Lingam". In order to please Hanuman, Rama installed another Siva Lingam brought over by him from Kashi a few steps away and opposite to Saikata Lingam. The Kshetrams are, therefore, called Ramalingeswara Kshetram and Hanuman Kshetram. According to the legend, Sri Ram made the Saikata Lingam before the rise of the Sun and hence the place is called Proddatur. As Ravana was killed by Lord SriRam, he attained 'Mukthi'. Hence this place is also called as Mukti Rameswaram.

Location :

Proddatur,AndhraPradesh

Transportation :

Mukti Rameswaram is in the town of Proddatur in Cuddapah District. The nearest Railway Station is Yerraguntala which is 14 km from the temple. Number of buses are available from Proddatur and Yerraguntala to take the pilgrims to this temple.

Cuddapah District

Head Quarters: Cuddapah Area: 15,359 sq.km Climate: Tropical Temperature Range: Summer: 30°C. - 44°C. (81.56F - 119.6F Approx.) Winter: 21°C. - 30°C. (57F - 81.56F Approx.) Rainfall: 695 mm (Seasonal) The Boundaries of Cuddapah district are Nellore, Anantapur and Chittoor districts in the East, West and South respectively, Kurnool and Prakasam districts in the North directions. Rivers: Penna, Chitravathi, Kunderu, Papaghni, Sagileru and Cheyeru. Major Places: Cuddapah, Rajampet, Proddatur, Rayachoti. Tourist Places: Nandaluru, Masjid-E-Azam, Vempalli, Jammalamadugu, Gandikota fort and Chand Phira Gumbadh, Pilgrimage Centers: Tallapaka, Pushpagiri, Siddhavatam, Vontimetta, Jyoti Jammalamadugu, and Proddatur temples Pothuloori Veerabramendra Swamy Mutt at KandhimallayaPalli. Once this district was called as Hiranya State. This place was under the rule of Pallavas, Telugu

Cholas, Kakatiyas Vijayanagara kings and Nizam Nawabs. The Forest area caters the Timber, as well as Rare Red Sandalwood that earns the foreign currency to the Nation is found only in this district. Wild life such as Tigers, Jaguars, etc is found in these forests. Asbestos Minning processing unit at Pulivendula. Starting at Sunkesula Dam on Tungabadra river Cuddapah-Kurnool (K.C) Canal flows through Cuddapah and Kurnool districts providing water to 4000 Hectares of cultivable land. Handhri Nivas Sujala Sravanthi project and Pulivendula Canal were under construction for Irrigation. Proposals are made to construct a Reservoir on Buggavanka river at Ippapenta village. The main source of drinking water to this district is Galer-Nagari-Sujalasravanthi Canal. Handloom Industry at Madhavaram is one of the major sources of Income to this district. Accessibility: Cuddapah is well connected by road and rail with other parts of the state. Tourist Attractions

S.No

Tourist Spot

Theme

Place

1

Bhagavan Mahavir Government Museum

Museums

Cuddapah

2

Chand Phira Gumbadh

Monuments

Cuddapah

3

Gandikota Fort

Monuments

Gandikota

4

Kandimallayapalli Brahmamgarimatam

Pilgrim Centres

Kandimallayapalli

5

Masjid-e-Azam

Pilgrim Centres

Cuddapah

6

Pushpagiri Temples

Pilgrim Centres

Pushpagiri

7

Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple

Pilgrim Centres

Vontimitta

8

Sri Lanka Malleswara Wild life Sanctuary

Wild Life

Lankamalleswaram

9

Sri Venkateswara Wild Life Sanctuary

Wild Life

Rajampet

10

Tallapaka Temples

Pilgrim Centres

Tallapaka

Head Quarters: Cuddapah Area: 15,359 sq.km Climate: Tropical Temperature Range: Summer: 30°C. - 44°C. (81.56F - 119.6F Approx.) Winter: 21°C. - 30°C. (57F - 81.56F Approx.) Rainfall: 695 mm (Seasonal) The Boundaries of Cuddapah district are Nellore, Anantapur and Chittoor districts in the East, West and South respectively, Kurnool and Prakasam districts in the North directions. Rivers: Penna, Chitravathi, Kunderu, Papaghni, Sagileru and Cheyeru. Major Places: Cuddapah, Rajampet, Proddatur, Rayachoti. Tourist Places: Nandaluru, Masjid-E-Azam, Vempalli, Jammalamadugu, Gandikota fort and Chand Phira Gumbadh, Pilgrimage Centers: Tallapaka, Pushpagiri, Siddhavatam, Vontimetta, Jyoti Jammalamadugu, and Proddatur temples Pothuloori Veerabramendra Swamy Mutt at KandhimallayaPalli. Once this district was called as Hiranya State. This place was under the rule of Pallavas, Telugu

Cholas, Kakatiyas Vijayanagara kings and Nizam Nawabs. The Forest area caters the Timber, as well as Rare Red Sandalwood that earns the foreign currency to the Nation is found only in this district. Wild life such as Tigers, Jaguars, etc is found in these forests. Asbestos Minning processing unit at Pulivendula. Starting at Sunkesula Dam on Tungabadra river Cuddapah-Kurnool (K.C) Canal flows through Cuddapah and Kurnool districts providing water to 4000 Hectares of cultivable land. Handhri Nivas Sujala Sravanthi project and Pulivendula Canal were under construction for Irrigation. Proposals are made to construct a Reservoir on Buggavanka river at Ippapenta village. The main source of drinking water to this district is Galer-Nagari-Sujalasravanthi Canal. Handloom Industry at Madhavaram is one of the major sources of Income to this district. Accessibility: Cuddapah is well connected by road and rail with other parts of the state. Tourist Attractions

S.No

Tourist Spot

Theme

Place

1

Bhagavan Mahavir Government Museum

Museums

Cuddapah

2

Chand Phira Gumbadh

Monuments

Cuddapah