Sri Amareswara Swamy Temple- Andhra Pradesh

Address

Amaravathi, Palnadu district

Andhra Pradesh 522020

Moolavar

Amareswara Swamy

Amman

Bala Chamundika

Introduction

Amararama is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras that are sacred to the god Shiva. The temple is located in Amaravathi town of Palnadu district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Amareswara Swamy or Amaralingeswara Swamy refers to Lord Shiva in this temple. The temple is situated on the southern bank of Krishna River. The consort of Lord Amareswara Swamy is Bala Chamundika. The Sivalinga at this place is installed and established by Lord Indra.The temple is located at a distance of 40km from Guntur. State run APS RTC runs bus services from Guntur, Vijayawada and Mangalagiri to this temple.

Puranic Significance

Amaravati, additionally called Dhanyakataka / Dharanikota was the location of an excellent Buddhist stupa, built in pre-Mauryan times. It had been the capital of Satavahanas, ruled central India after the downfall of Mauryas. Legend says that the temple was originally Buddhist and was adapted for Hindu worship. Hence the foundations are laid in Buddhist style. The presiding deity within the sanctum is in the form of a white marble lotus medallion, which is a feature of the Buddhist architecture. The Gopuram of the temple is renovated as it developed cracks in masonry due to the passage of Heavy equipment. It was rebuilt at a cost of Rs.1.56 crore. The former structure was renovated in 1796 by the local ruler Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu. During this renovation ancient artifact dating back 1800 years are found in the foundation pits.

Pancharama Kshetrams: According to Amareshwara Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva who was pleased with the austerities performed by Tharaka presented him with the Amruthalingam. He further assured Tharaka invincibility against enemies, from defeat and death, so long as the Lingam was in his possession. Tharaka sported this Amrutha Lingam around his neck, and on the strength of the boon, wrought untold misery upon the Devas and other celestial beings. Lord Karthik, who led the deities to a battle against Tharaka, was unable to vanquish him even after using the most potent Shakti weapon on him. Much to the deity’s distress and mortification, though the weapon cut the demon into several pieces, they reunited to give life to Tharaka. An exasperated Karthik approached Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu revealed to Karthik that in order to destroy the demon, he had to first break the Amrutha Lingam and also prevent the broken pieces from reuniting. Acting upon Lord Vishnu’s suggestions, Karthik used his Agni Asthra to break Taraka’s Lingam. The Lingam exploded into five pieces, tried to unify by chanting Omkara Nadha. At that very instant, Indra, Surya, Chandra and Vishnu himself, joined Karthik in fixing these broken pieces in the locations where they fell. Thus, were born the Pancharama (Pancha meaning five and Aarama meaning peace) Kshetrams, in five different areas of Andhra Pradesh — Amararama in Amaravati, Bhimeshwara in Draksharamam, Somarama in Bhimavaram, Ksheerarama in Palakkolu and Kumararama in Samalkot. It is believed that the worship of these Lingams, or mere darshan of these shrines, would bestow peace and bliss upon the devotees.

Bheemeshwara Puranam: According to the Bheemeshwara Puranam, in the battle between devas and asuras after nectar was obtained the latter were killed. However, a Sivalingam worshipped by Tripurasura, remained intact. Siva himself divided this Lingam into five pieces and installed them in the five places that subsequently came to be known as the Pancharama Kshetrams (Andhra Pradesh).

Scaly markings on Lingam: A unique feature of the five Lingams which are of varied sizes is that they have scaly markings on them. These are believed to have been caused by the intensity of the Agni Asthra as it struck the Amrutha Lingam. It is widely believed that the dent on the apex of the Lingam and the few lines on its sides were made by Arjuna on Lord Siva during his incarnation as Kirata

Red mark on top of the Lingam: The most popular historical legend that revolves around Amravati temple is that the 15 feet Shiva Lingam here was nailed to stop its growth. There is a red mark at the top of the Lingam which is the blood stain that oozed out when the nail was hammered into it.

Shukra worshipped Lord Shiva here: Legend has it that Shukra, the preceptor of the Asuras, worshipped Amareshwara who was installed by Indra with the help of Brihaspati, the Guru of the Devas.

Place for Salvation: At the end of Dwaparayuga, Maharishi Naradha was asked by the Sounakadi rishis as to the best means to obtain liberation. Naradha told them that as Lord Krishna had created the river Krishna, so had he advised the rishis to live near the river and bathe in its holy water to attain salvation. If a devotee remains in this area for more than three days and worships Lord Amareswara with devotion, after a dip in the holy river, he will attain salvation. If a devotee dies here, he will be absorbed into Lord Shiva.

Amaravati: Once there was a town called Dhanyakatakam or Varanasi. The legend says that, the demons defeated the gods after being awarded a boon by Lord Shiva. Shiva vowed to kill the demons and hence the gods came to reside here and since then the place came to be called Amaravati.

Beliefs

It is believed that those who worship at this temple will be cured of all diseases and blessed with peace & prosperity.

Special Features

The Sivalinga here is very tall that the archakas mount a pedestal platform, and perform the daily rituals as well as Abhisheka. The top of the Linga has a red stain on it. According to legend, Sivalinga was growing up in size and to stop its growth, a nail has been hit onto the top of the Sivalinga. When the nail dug into the Linga, blood oozed from the Sivalinga.

Amaravati temple has also a wealth of inscriptions on its walls like those of the Kota chiefs of Amaravati and of Sri Krishandevaraya, the great Vijayanagara emperor. On a pillar in the Mukhamantapa the wife of Proli Nayudu, who was minister of Kota King Ketaraja, has left an inscription