Pancharama Kshetras in Andhra Pradesh
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| Pancharama Kshetras,Andhra,Facebook.com |
Pilgrimage in Hinduism, as in other faiths, is a sacred journey undertaken to holy places for spiritual growth, fulfillment of desires, or atonement. The Rigveda contains early references to such sacred travels. Among Shaivites, one of the most revered circuits of pilgrimage in South India is the Pancharama Kshetra Yatra — a journey to five ancient Shiva temples in coastal Andhra Pradesh. These temples, collectively known as Pancharama Kshetras, are located at Bhimavaram, Samalkota, Draksharamam, Amaravati, and Palakollu. Each shrine enshrines a part of the Atma Linga once worn by the powerful demon Tarakasura.
According to legend, Tarakasura received a boon that no one could kill him as long as the Atma Linga given by Shiva remained intact around his neck. Empowered by this, he began to wreak havoc across the three worlds. To end his tyranny, Lord Shiva created Kumaraswamy (Kartikeya) to destroy the demon. However, every time Kumaraswamy killed Tarakasura, the demon revived because of the Linga’s power. Following Lord Vishnu’s counsel, Kumaraswamy used the Agni Astra to shatter the Linga into five pieces and ordered that each fragment remain fixed in a separate spot so that they would never rejoin. Lord Surya and other deities were then asked to build temples at those five locations. These became the Pancharama Kshetras, each bearing marks said to be caused by the divine weapon. Worshipping at all five temples in a single day is believed to equal worshipping Shiva in his complete form.
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| Pancharama Kshetras,AP dakshinapatha.com |
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| Pancha lingas, Andhra. templesinindiainfo.com |
In the state of Andhra, particularly, among the Telugu speaking people, going on a pilgrimage to all the five kshetras called Pancharama kshetra yatra is a committed religious undertaking and normally, it is done in the month of Karthikai (November-December). The belief has been that a visit to all kshetras will usher in a new year of prosperity, welfare and peace in the family.
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| Pancharamashetras, AP .pilgrimaide.com/blog |
The five Pancharama kshetras are:
01. Someswara Temple, Somarama, Bhimavaram.
02. Sri Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, Kumararamam, Samalakota.
03. Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharama, Ramachandrapuram .
04. Amareswara Swamy Temple, Amararama, Amaravati.
05. Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Ksheeraram, Palakollu.
01. Someswara Temple, Somarama, Bhimavaram. chandra West Godavari.
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| Somarama temple, Bhimavaram hindupad.com |
The Someswara Temple, located at Gunupudi in Bhimavaram (West Godavari district), is among the most visited Pancharama shrines. Built around the 3rd century CE, it is now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple’s unique feature is the presence of five Nandis within the main precinct. Above the sanctum, unusually, stands a shrine for Goddess Annapurna, depicted wearing a sacred thread and accompanied by a child — a rare sight in Hindu temples. The presiding deity, Lord Someswara Swamy, is worshipped along with Goddess Rajarajeswari Ammavaru. The Shivalinga here is believed to have been installed by Chandra (Moon God), and its color changes with the lunar phases — black during Amavasya (new moon) and white during Pournima (full moon), a remarkable natural phenomenon that adds to the temple’s sanctity.
https://hindupad.com/bhimavaram-someswara-swamy-temple/
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02. Sri Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, Kumararamam:
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| Kumararama or Bhimarama temple,Amaravati, temple purohit.com |
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| Nandi Kumararama or Bhimarama temple,Amaravati, temple rvatemples.com |
Kalyana Mahotsam during February–March (Magha Bahula Ekadashi day) time, Maha Sivarathri are major temple festivals here.
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03. Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharamam, E. Godavari:
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| Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharam Andhra , gotirupati.com |
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| Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharama india.blogspot.com/ |
The Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Draksharamam in East Godavari is revered not only as a Pancharama Kshetram but also as one of the Ashta Shakti Peethas and Trilinga Kshetrams. Situated near the Godavari River, it is known as Dakshina Kasi (the southern Varanasi). The presiding deity is Lord Bhimeswara with Goddess Manikyamba Ammavaru. The crystal (spatika) lingam, about 2.6 meters tall, is among the largest of its kind. Built during the reign of the Eastern Chalukya ruler Vengi Bhima (9th–10th centuries CE), the temple features inscriptions and intricate stone work typical of that era. Associated with the myth of Daksha and Sati, Draksharamam is believed to be the site where Daksha’s Yagna took place, leading to Sati’s self-immolation and Shiva’s wrathful destruction of Daksha’s arrogance. The temple’s architecture, grandeur, and scriptural significance make it one of the holiest Shaiva shrines in Andhra.
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2022/09/pancharama-kshetras-pilgrimage-of.html
https://myoksha.com/draksharamam-temple
https://gotirupati.com/bhimeswara-temple-draksharamam
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancharama_Kshetras
