Appikonda Someswara Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Appikonda Someswara Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Appikonda Beach Border Road,

Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam,

Andhra Pradesh 530031

Moolavar

Someswara Swamy

Introduction

Sri Someswara Swamy Temple is dedicated to Shiva, located in Appikonda, Visakhapatnam. Sri Someswara Swamy Temple is situated in the coastal village of Appikonda in the Andhra Pradesh district of Vishakapatnam. Appikonda has an ancient temple. Appikonda is a village nears the Vizag Steel Plant. Located 30-km away from Visakhapatnam city, the temple unfolds lesser-known chapters of history. The temple was declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Puranic Significance

This temple was built in 1070 by King Kulottunga I of the Chola dynasty, and referred to as the Chola Monument. Someswara Temple is very popular. In this region, for Maha Shivratri more than 1 lakh devotees will visit during the festival. The temple was declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The idol of Somalingeswara Swamy was installed by Kapila Maha Muni, hence the name Kapilakonda. Previously, fishermen lived in those areas, and they called it Apilakonda, which evolved into Appikonda. In the Visakhapatnam District, Appikonda Temple is a revered temple. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. A life-size image of the colossal Nandi carved out of a single black stone is a major attraction at the temple. The temple also has a ‘sannidhi’ of Lord Kumaraswamy along with Shiva Lingam with the celestial carrier Nandi sitting elegantly before the sanctum sanctorum. “The temple has a well close to the sea and it is as old as the temple itself.

Kapila Maharshi aspired to build a shrine on his name. When the setting sun had cast its glow, the sage settled for a penance. With his immense cosmic powers, the Maharshi aimed at installing 101 Shiva Lingams before sunrise. However, the penance was cut short as the sun rose after the emergence of 100 Shiva Lingams. Disappointed and angered with the shortage of one Shiva Lingam, the Maharshi cursed the place to remain as ‘Appukonda’ (debt-ridden hill). Over the decades, Appukonda turned into Appikonda. Eventually, 95 Shiva Lingams disappeared as they were covered by sand dunes. When the temple was spotted in later years, another Shiva Lingam was found to be damaged. Currently, the ancient shrine has four self-manifested Shiva Lingams. Since they emerged naturally on a Monday, the temple earned the nomenclature of ‘Sri Someswara Swamy’ temple

Special Features

When sage Kapila Maharshi was crossing the shores of the sea, he had halted at a place to perform a penance. It’s the same place where the famous ‘swayambu’ (self-manifested) Shiva Lingam of Sri Someswara Swamy emerged at Appikonda in Visakhapatnam.