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.