Pancharama Kshetras

 Tour Starting Point

 Duration 2 Days

 Visakhapatnam

This “KARTIKA MASAM” Special

Visit these temples and seek the blessings of lord Shiva

Pancharama Kshetras

The (Pancharamas) are five ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva situated in Andhra Pradesh. These Sivalingas are formed out of one single Sivalinga.

As per the legend

These five Sivalingas were one which the Rakshasa King Tarakasura owned. In the war between deities and Tarakasura, Kumara Swamy was face to face, and he could not win over him due to the power of Sivalinga. Kumara Swamy used his Sakthi aayudha to kíll Taraka. By the power of Sakti Aayudha the body of Taraka was torn into pieces. To the astonishment of Lord Kumara Swamy, all the pieces reunited to give rise to Taraka. Kumara Swamy repeatedly broke the body into pieces and it got re-unified again and again.

Embarrassed – Kumara Swamy

Lord Kumara Swamy was confused and embarrassed then Lord Sriman-Narayana appeared before him and said Kumaraswamy don’t get depressed, without breaking the Shiva lingham worn by the asura you can’t kíll him. You should first break the Shiva lingam into pieces, then only you can kíll Taraka Lord Vishnu also said that after breaking, the Shiva lingam will try to unite. To prevent the Linga from uniting, all the pieces should be fixed in the place where they have fallen by worshipping them and erecting temples on them to avoid reunion.

Lord Vishnu Guidance to Kumaraswamy

Taking the word of Lord Vishnu, Lord Kumara Swamy used his Aagneasthra (weapon of fire) to break the Shiva lingam worn by Taraka, Once the Shiva lingam broke into five pieces and was trying to unite by making Omkara nada (Chanting Om). Then Surya deva by the order of Lord Vishnu fixed those five pieces of Shiva linga and worshipped them by building temples over them. By the formation of the temple, the pieces stood still and now are famous panchrama kshetras. All five Shivalinga have scaly surfaces, which are believed to be formed by the power of Agneyasthra used by Lord Kumara Swamy.

According to legend, these five pieces were installed as Sivalingas at five different temples by Indra, Surya, Chandra, Vishnu and Kumara Swamy at the respective places. All these 5 temples together are referred to as Pancharamas.

Pancharama’s. as follows

AMARARAMA

•  ARAMA NAME: AMARARAMA

•  SIVA’S NAME: AMARALINGESWARA SWAMY

•  CONSORT NAME: BALA CHAMUNDIKA AMMAVARU

•  INSTALLOR’S NAME: INDRA

•  LOCATION: AMARAVATI

•  DISTRICT: GUNTUR

•  STATE: ANDHRA PRADESH

•  TEMPLE TIMINGS:

06:00 AM to 9.00 PM.

Amararama located in Amaravati is present in Guntur district, on the bank of river Krishna. Amara Lingeswara swami is worshipped by Lord Indra. This temple is very old in three circles with a lot of temples within the compound. Bala Chamundeswari mata is the goddess here. Venu Gopala swami temple is present within the temple compound. The remaining four two are present in East Godavari and the other two are in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

DRAKSHARAMA

•  ARAMA NAME: DRAKSHARAMA

•  SIVA’S NAME: BHIMESVARA SWAMY

•  CONSORT NAME: BALA MANIKYAMBA AMMAVARU

•  INSTALLOR’S NAME: SURYA

•  LOCATION: DRAKSHARAMA

•  DISTRICT: EAST GODAVARI

•  STATE: ANDHRA PRADESH

•  TEMPLE TIMINGS:

06:00 AM TO 12:00 PM,

 03:00 PM TP 08:00 PM.

Draksharama is located in Draksharam very near Ramachandrapuram, This temple is very big and has three circles as compounds under the control of the Archeological Department. Lord Shri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here, followed by Lord Surya and Indra. Manikyamaba Devi one of 18 Shaktipeethas is present here.

SOMARAMA

•  ARAMA NAME: SOMARAMA

•  SIVA’S NAME: SOMESWARA SWAMY

•  CONSORT NAME: SRI RAJARAJESWARI AMMAVARU

•  INSTALLOR’S NAME: CHANDRA

•  LOCATION: BHIMAVARAM

•  DISTRICT: WEST GODAVARI

•  STATE: ANDHRA PRADESH

•  TEMPLE TIMINGS:

05:00 AM TO 11:00 PM,

 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM

Ksheerarama is located in Palakol: Ksheera Rama Lingeswara Swamy gave Sudarshana chakra to Lord Vishnu here. Upamanya Maharshi got boons and milk from Lord Shiva here. The name Ksheera (milk) was given to Ramalingeswara swami, this temple Gopuram is very high and we can see it from far off. Parvati is the goddess here.

KSHEERARAMA

•  ARAMA NAME: KSHEERARAMA

•  SIVA’S NAME: KSHEERA RAMALINGESWARA SWAMY

•  CONSORT NAME: PARVATI AMMAVARU

•  INSTALLOR’S NAME: VISHNU

•  LOCATION: PALAKOL

•  DISTRICT: WEST GODAVARI

•  STATE: ANDHRA PRADESH

•  TEMPLE TIMINGS:

05:30 AM TO 11:30 PM,

 04:00 PM TP 08:30 PM

Ksheerarama is located in Palakol: Ksheera Rama Lingeswara Swamy gave Sudarshana chakra to Lord Vishnu here. Upamanya Maharshi got boons and milk from Lord Shiva. The name Ksheera (milk) has been given to Ramalingeswara swami. The temple Gopuram is very high and we can see it from far off. Parvati is the goddess here.

BHIMARAMA

•  ARAMA NAME: BHIMARAMA

•  SIVA’S NAME: KUMARA BHIMESWARA SWAMY

•  CONSORT NAME: BALA TRIPURASUNDARI AMMAVARU

•  INSTALLOR’S NAME: KUMARASWAMY

•  LOCATION: SAMALKOTA

•  DISTRICT: EAST GODAVARI

•  STATE: ANDHRA PRADESH

•  TEMPLE TIMINGS:

06:00 AM to 12.00 PM,

 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM

Kumararama is located in Samalkota: Kumara Bhimeswara swami temple is present in Samarlkota. It is about 20 km distance from Kakinada and about 1 km distance from Samarlakota Railway station. It is a very old temple under the control of the Archeological Department. Lord Shiva is in the form of a huge Shiva linga, and we can see Shiva linga through the second floor. Shiva Lingam here called Kumararamam. Bala Tripura Sundari Devi is the goddess here.