Draksharamam Sri Manikyamba Sametha Sri Bheemeswara Swamy Temple-Andhra Pradesh

Address

Draksharamam Sri Manikyamba Sametha Sri Bheemeswara Swamy Temple- Ramachandrapuram Mandal, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh – 533262 Phone: 08857-252488.

Deity

Sri Bheemeswara Swamy Amman: Sri Manikyamba

Introduction

Location: Draksharamam, situated 28 km from Kakinada, 50 km from Rajahmundry, and 25 km from Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh. Located on the eastern bank of the River Godavari.
Deity: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, represented by the 10-foot tall Bhimeswara Swamy Shiva lingam, which is a pure crystal lingam. The temple is also associated with Sri Manikyamba Devi.
Significance: One of the five Pancharama Kshetras sacred to Shiva, the temple is a prominent Shaiva shrine.

Puranic Significance:

Historical Background:
- Construction: The temple was built between the 9th and 10th centuries CE by Eastern Chalukyan King Bhima. It reflects a combination of Chalukyan and Chola architectural styles.
- Ancient Legends: The area, along with Kaleswaram and Srisailam, marks the boundary of the Telugu country, historically referred to as Trilinga Desa. According to legend, Bhimeswara Swamy is significant for his divine presence and the temple’s role in purifying sins.
Architectural Details:
- Main Structure: The Bhimeswara Swamy lingam stands 10 feet tall and is visible from the first floor of the two-storied sanctum. The temple includes various smaller shrines dedicated to deities like Vamana, Sankaranarayana, Ganapathi, Annapurna, Kanakadurga, Lakshmi Narayana, Viroopa, and Navagrahas.
- Inscriptions: Over 400 ancient inscriptions from the 11th century are present in the temple.
- Prakaras: The temple features two prakaras (enclosures). The outer prakara has four entrances with gopurams (towering gateways) facing the cardinal directions. The inner prakara’s southern entrance is flanked by a pillared, two-storied veranda.
- Sapta Godavari Kundam: A sacred bathing area near the temple, associated with the belief that the Saptarishis divided the Godavari River into seven streams here.

Special Features:

Crystal Shiva Lingam: The central Shiva lingam is a large crystal, standing 2.6 meters high, which is a unique feature of the temple.
Legendary Origins:
- Enshrined by Surya: The Shiva lingam was enshrined by the god Surya.
- Angels’ Construction: It is believed that angels constructed the temple overnight, but the perimeter wall remains incomplete because they were unable to finish it before sunrise.
- Diamonds Legend: Historically, the inner walls were said to be filled with diamonds, which turned to stones when Aurangzeb invaded, making the sanctum dark.