Showing posts with label ancient temples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ancient temples. Show all posts

Saturday, April 23, 2011

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.
Annavaram temple view at the top
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.

Friday, April 22, 2011

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 (LUlsoor Someshwara Templeord 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.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple, Gavipuram, Bangalore

Gavi Gangadhareswra Temple is located in Gavi Puram, Bangalore.
This temple is the one example of scince meeting Religion.  It is a natural monolith rock formation with the cave temple carved out of it. It is dedicated to Lord ShivaThis temple has a speciality. Every year on the day of Makara Sankranti, The sun Rays pass throught the horns of the Nanid and light up the sanctum sanctorium on the shivaling. The precission of the timing of the event denotes the advances made by science in the ancient days.
On this day thousands of devotees visit this temple and see the spactacle.
it is also the day where many astronomers visit the place for finding the science behind the event.
The other things include four monolithic pillars and a rare idol of Agni, the God of fire. this is a unique Agni murthi which has two heads, seven hands and three legs. Those worshipping this deity believe it will cure one of all eye defects.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Jaganmohini Kesavaswami temple - Ryali, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh

The spot where the flower fell is Ryali. (Ryali - falling in Telugu). Lord Brahma created a Lingam & performed abhishekam with water from his kamandalam & hence Lord Siva is worshipped here as Sri Umakamandaleswaraswami.  

Opposite this temple which is facing west is the Sri Jaganmohini Kesava Swami temple.  The idol here, is made out of a single saligrama stone with the form of Mahavishnu as Kesava Swami carved in the front & Mohini on the rear.
On the front along with Mahavishnu with his conch & discuss are carved the forms Sridevi, Boodevi, Naaradar, Tumburu, Ramba, Oorvasi, Kinnara, Kimpurusha, Govardana Krishna, Adiseshan, Garudan & Ganga devi.  Water keeps sprouting from the underground at the idol's feet.  This water wets the the flowers at the Lord's feet & the water from these flowers is sprinkled on devotees.  There is a separate sannadhi for Sathya Naaraayanan along with Thaayaar Sri Lakshmi.

Sri Bhadrakali Sametha Veereswara Swamy DEvastanam, Muramalla, East Godavari, AP

Sri Bhadrakali Sametha Veereswars swamy temple is located in the village called Muramalla, In east godavari district of andhra pradesh
Click Here to visit the temple website
The temple is located on the bank of river Godavari. It is one of the Ancient Temples in Andhra Pradesh.The legend Says those who perform puja at his temple, will have their wish fulfilled. 

How to reach
Muramalla village is in the central Delta of river godavari.
Nearest Airport is Rajahmundry
Nearest Rail Link is Rajahmundry.
There will be APSRTC busses plying to Amalapuram which is nearest town to this temple. the temple is located about 15 kilometers from Amalapuram.