Vemulawada , Andhra Pradesh

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VEMULAWADA

 

 

Facts to File

 

How far : 150 km from Hyderabad

 

How to go : -By Bus -------------.

 

Where to stay : --------------.

 

What to see : Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy temple and the Mosque inside

the premises

 

Vemulawada, located 150 km from Hyderabad is known for Sri Raja

Rajeshwara Swamy Temple. It is one of the very few temples devoted to

Lord Siva. Popularly known as Dakshana Kashi (Benaras of South India)

the temple attracts lakhs of devotees from all over the country.

 

The Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple is a fine example of communal

harmony where both Hindus and Muslims offer obeisance to Lord Siva and

Allah.

 

The temple at Vemulawada is next only to Tirupati in terms of its

revenues. The temple contributes Rs. 8 lakhs anually to the gram

Panchayat for developmental activities in the pilgrim town.

 

Special arrangements are made for the pilgrims during the festival.

Several cultural and social activities are also organised by the

authorities. Free boarding and lodging is provided to the students.

Besides, the temple also offers donations for other small temples.

 

On the Sivaratri day, a record three to four lakh pilgrims throng the

sacred temple at Vemulawada. Special poojas and darshans are held to

mark the festivity. Mahalingarchana is performed by about hundred

archakas. At midnight Ekadasa Rudrabhishekham is performed to the

deity. The temple is brightly illuminated in the night, presenting an

aesthetic look.

 

LEGEND

 

The puranic version has it that Lord Siva after having stayed at

Kashi, Chidambaram, Srisailam and Kedareswaram chose to reside at

Vemulawada.

 

History records that Vemulawada was ruled by successive dynasties -

the Ikshwakus, the Satavahanas and later by the Chalukyas who made it

their state capital.

 

The presiding deity is Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy, also called Rajanna.

To the right of the presiding deity is the idol of Sri Raja Rajeswari

Devi and to the left is the idol of Sri Laxmi Sahitha Siddi Vinayaka.

 

In the temple premises there is a holy tank called the Dharma Gundam.

Three mandapas were constructed on it and the statue of Lord Eshwara

resides in the middle. The Lord is seen in a meditation posture with

five lingas surrounding the holy tank.

 

The lighting of the holy lamp or Ganda Deepam is also considered

auspicious by the devotees visiting the shrine.

 

Although devotees make offerings to the presiding diety in different

ways, the most important one is Kode Mokku (offering of bull to God).

The devotees who bring the bull take them round the temple and tie it

somewhere in the temple complex. The significance of this ritual is

that devotees will be cleansed of their sins and they can beget children.

 

This temple attracts followers of both Vaishnavism (worshippers of

Vishnu), and Saivism (worshippers of Siva), and is also being

frequented by Jains and Buddists. The sculptures on the temples also

depict the cultures of Jainism and Buddhism.

 

A unique feature of the temple at Vemulawada is that it also houses a

400 year old mosque inside its premises.

 

It is believed that the mosque was built as a tribute to a muslim

devotee of Lord Siva who lived for many years in the temple precincts

and breathed his last.