Draksharamam-more information

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Dear Raudras and raudrinis,

 

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.

 

Om rudrarupine namosthubhyam,

 

Subodhosmi