Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, Annavaram, East Godavari District

Sri Ram Sahitha Veera Venkata Satynarayana Swamy temple is located Annavaram, a village situated on the banks of river Pampa in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The meaning of Anna-varam is as follows. "Anna" means whatever you say or you desire and "varam" means boon, hence whatever you desire will be given as boon by the deity. The most distinctive feature of Annavaram is the shrine to Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy on the hill top. The name of the Goddess is Ananta- lakshmi Satyavathi Ammavaru.

History 

This temple is located on the hill called Ratnagiri, Named after Ratnakar, the son of the great mythological Mountain. Meru has two sons Bhadra and Ratnakara. Bhadra is the hill on which Lord Sri Rama’s temple located at Bhadrachalam. Ratnakara trying to emulate his brother and could succeed to get the Lord Vishnu to stay on him.

The Temple

The Temple is constructed in the shape of a Chariot with four wheels on the four corners. The Temple has a SRIMATHRIPATHVIBHUTI VYKHUNTA MAHA NARAYANA YANTRA, which is for attraction of both Money and Men. The temple is in two floors with the Yantra and Peetham of the lord in the ground floor, and the sanctum sanctorum in the first floor. On the four sides of the Yantra, the Gods Ganapathi, Surya Narayana, Bala, and Maheswara.

Out side tthe main temple located are the Kalyana Mantapa which has been renovated by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

The Kshetra Palaka of the place is Lord Sri Rama. There is a very beautiful temple for this deity near the Kalyana Mantapa.

There are temples for Goddess Kanaka Durga and Vana Durga on this Hill.

Another Important and must visit is the Sun Dial. This is similar to the sun-dial in the Jantar- Mantar.  One activity to most of the visitors is correcting the wrist-watch with the sun-dial.

The serene atmosphere of the temple and its surroundings captivate devotees of Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy.

Special Pujas

Sri Satyanarayana Vratam is most improtant ritual after all auspicious occasions in Andhra Pradesh. Everyone who visits this place performs the Vratham . This is known to give all the wishes. There is a Story related to this Vratham in Brahmand Puranam, Skanda Puranam etc. This god gives all wishes.

Festivals are celebrated round the year at this temple with great pomp and show. Some of the populare festivals celebrated are the Kalyanam festival in May, Devi Navaratri festival in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sraavana Suddha Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, Kanakadurga Yatra, Prabha Utsavam, Teppa Utsavam and Jalatoranam.

Also this temple is famous for marriage ceremonies.

How to Reach.

Annavaram is located on the National Highway No 5 between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. The nearest Rail Head is Annavaram which is 2KM from the hill. All most all the Express trains and some superfast trains stop at this station.

By bus it takes 2 Hours from Rajahmundry and 3 Hours from Vizag. This place is well connected by Bus from Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Tuni, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Both Vizag(Visakhapatanam) and Rajahmundry are connected by Air.

The temple, situated on the hill top is about four furlongs away from its base. It can be reached either by steps covered with canopy, via ghat road or trekked through a rusty stone paved trail road. The popularity and importance of the temple is gaining among the pilgrims and this place is considered as second only to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh

Accommodation.

There are many hotels, choultries located in the village. Best place to stay is the choultires maintained by the Devasthanam.

Prasadam
No Article is complete without mentioning the Prasadam at the Temple. The prasadam offered to the devotees has a wonderful taste and it cannot be replicated. This is a Kind of Halwa but of different taste. Dont miss the prasadam.

Ancient Someshwara Temple – Bengaluru - Karnataka

Talking of Older Temples in Bangalore, you cannot  miss the Someshwara Temple which is one the oldest temples of Bangalore. Built during the 12th and 13th Centuries by the Hoyasalas(Cholas), this is the oldest temple in Halasuru(Ulsoor). This temple is one of the most striking examples of ancient Indian architecture and a mixture of Hoyasala, Vijaynagar and chola architectures. There are large number of eloborately carved pillers inside the temple premise.This temple has been rebuilt and beautified by the great King Kempe Gowda, during the 16Th Century by building a Compund wall and the Rajagopuram

The temple is dedicated to Someshwara (Lord Shiva). Also present are Godess Kamakshamma, Arunachaleswara, Bhimeswara, Nanjundeswara and Panchalingeswara.Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma are also worshipped over here. 

The Someshwara Temple, Bangalore is one of the most beautiful temples of the city. You can come over here and take a look at the amazing sculptures and carvings that beautify this Shiva temple.

This is one of the great ancient temples and the Government of Karnataka is trying to declare this temple as a Heritage site. Please support this cause.

Festivals

The Main Festival here is obviously Maha Shivaratri. The visitors will be in large numbers and visit mainly the Someswara and Panch Lingeswaras and offer Jalaabhishekam.

Brahmotsava on the full moon day.

Kamakshamma Pallaki Utsava in April.During the Kamakshamma Pallaki Utsav, the idol of GoddessKamakshamma is taken out in procession in a palanquin around the temple.

During Ugadi and Karthik Poornima Special Poojas and rituals are offered.

SRI SAMPATH VINAYAKA SWAMY TEMPLE – VISAKHAPATNAM , ANDHRA PRADESH

Most powerful god

The famed Sri Sampath Vinayaka swamy Temple in the busy Asilmetta area is among the most popular temples of Vizag. Scores of devotees believe that praying at the Sri Sampath Vinayaka Swamy Temple will bring them luck and remove all the obstacles on the path of success.
You will find a temple of Lord Vinayaka in every nook and corner of Vizag. This is done chiefly to ward off possible Vastu Dosha to the residents of the buildings.Especially the dosha related to Veedhi Soola ( When the building is facing directly to a road. This happens in ‘T’ junctions.) Lord Vinayaka is known as Lord of success in life and its accompaniments of good living, prosperity and peace. In all ceremonies, Vinayaka is first invoked to remove the obstacles and ensure success. Vinayaka is god of success and god of wealth.
The Legend of this Temple
Sri Sampath Vinayaka Swamy  Temple was constructed in 1962 in the premises of M/s S.G.SAMBANDAM & Co. in the Asilmetta area. The purpose was to offer a place of worship for the family members and staff and also to ward off possible VASTU DOSHA of the building. Soon the local fishermen started offering prayers at the temple. while taking their ‘catch’ to the market  They also started ‘DEEPARADHANA’ at this temple and started experiencing miracles in their lives.
5 years later when the Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamy reconsecrated the shrine and placed the ‘GANAPATHY YANTRAM’ with his own hands. Since then the temple became popular with devotees increasing day by day.
During the 1971 INDO PAK war the then Admiral Krishnan of Eastern Naval Command broke 1001 Coconuts in the temple and prayed for warding off Pakistani attack on the City from the sea. Within a few days, a Pakistani Submarine Ghazi tried to attack the port city was destroyed and the city and the citizens were spared from death and destruction.
Popularity of the Temple
More than 2 million devotees visit the temple annually to seek the blessings of SRI SAMPATH VINAYAGAR. Many devotees experience miracles after praying at this temple and no wonder this temple. The temple is also immensely popular with New Vehicle Owners. Long queues of New Vehicles can be seen daily at the temple to invoke the blessings of the Lord and for VAHANA PUJA.
There are many other people who regularly visit the temple and experience miracles. Some puja’s are booked years in advance.
Even the VIPs prefer to pray along with ordinary devotees happily here. Though the pujas are conducted during specified hours, you can visit the temple any time to have the ‘darshan’ and seek SRI SAMPATH VINAGAYAR blessings.
Special Homams are performed during the VINAYAKA CHATURDHI, UGADI, SHIVARATRI and New Year festivals.. These events are hugely popular
How To Reach:
The temple is located within a walking distance from the RTC COMPLEX and just a couple of kilometers from the Railway Station. Though small in size, the temple has a special place in the hearts of people of vizag  and also the visitors.
The temple management is involved in many social activities.
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Surya Narayana Swamy temple, Arasavalli, Andhra Pradesh, India

This is a shrine of the Sun in a well preserved state. The temple dates back to the 7^th century and a Kalinga king is said to have constructed it. The image of worship is a 5 ft tall one of black granite holding lotus buds - flanked by Usha and Chhaya. Padmapani is the name of this Sun God - padma stands for wisdom usha and chhaya stand for eternity. This shrine is located near Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.

http://www.arasavallisungod.org/home.html

The famous Sun God Temple situated in Arasavalli Village which is at a distance of about 1 K.M. east of Srikakulam Town in Andhra Pradesh head quarters of the coastal district in Andhra Pradesh . It is one of the ancient and all among two sun God temples in our Country. According to Padmapuranam , Sage Kasyapa installed the Idol of Surya at Arasavalli for the Welfare of mankind . Therefore , the Surya is of Kasyapasa Gotra . He is also termed as planetary King . The ' Sthalapuranam ' of the temple narrates that lord Devendra had founded this temple and installed the existing idol of the sun God commonly known as Lord suryanarayana Swamy Varu under the following circumstances .

Once Lord Devendra , Ignoring the words of Dwarapalaka Nandi , attempted to force his entry for Darshan of Sri Rudrakoteswara Swamy varu at an untimely hour when Lord siva was along with his consort . The Dwarapalaka Nandi in the discharge of his duties kicked the intruder . Thus kicked and injured by the Devine attendent Indra fell down senceless . And in his unconscious state Indra dreamt that he would be relieved of his pain of injury in his chest caused by Nandi if he built a temple and installed an Idol of the Sun God . After regaining his consciousness , he remembered what he dreamt.

ollowing his dream he pickedup handfulls of earth three times at a place where he lay ,and there he found this beautiful idol of sun God with his three consorts Usha , Chaya and Padmini . At the base of the idols are the figures of Mathara and Pingala the Dwarapalakas and high up are the two divine saints , sanaka and sanadana holding 'Chatrams'(An Umbrella ). The Sun God is depicted as riding over a chariot drawn by Anura, the Radhasaradhy . All these figures are exquisitely carved out of a single black finely polished grenite stone