Revered as Dakshina Ganga,
Draksharamam, the pancharama kshetra in East Godavari is one of the highly
visited temples in Andhra Pradesh. The main deities of the temple are Lord Bhimeswara Swamy and
Goddess
Manikyamba making it a famous Shaiva kshetra and Shakti kshetra.
This region of Andhra Pradesh was popular as Trilinga Desa in ancient times due to
the presence of three sacred Shivalingams at Srisailam, Kalahasti and
Draksharamam. The Shivalingam at this temple was believed to be
installed by Lord Surya.
History
The temple was built Eastern
Chalukyan King of Vengi- Bhima between 9-10th centuries when the
kingdom was under the attack of Rashtrakoota
Kings.
Inscriptions dated back to 11th century are found
in temple premises which can be traced back to Eastern and Western Chalukyas as well as the Kalingas and Cholas.
The inscriptions are found in Dravidian,
Telugu, Devanagiri and Tamil scripts.
Mythological Connect
During the horrific battle of slaying of demon Tarakasura,
the Shivalinga in his throat broke into five pieces that fell in different
places which became Pancharama kshetras.
One such piece fell at Draksharamam.
According to another legend, Draksharamam was considered as
the place of Daksha Yagna. Since Sati immolated herself at yagna hall, no sacrificial ceremonial yagna rituals are performed in this place.
The place is one of the Ashtadasha Shaktipeetha’s and out of
these eighteen proposed by Sri AdiShankaracharya, Draksharamam is twelfth. This is one of the unique sacred places where
both God and Goddess are highly revered. Other pilgrimages which fall under
this category are Varanasi where Lord Vishwanatha and Goddess Annapurna are worshipped,
Srisailam where Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy
and Goddess Bramaramba are adored.
Devasthanam
-
The temple located on the banks of river Godavari is considered as an
architectural marvel.
- Sthalapurana says that the temple was built in a single night by
angels. The construction of the boundary wall couldn’t be completed before
sunrise and it remained unfinished even now.
- It was believed that
several attempts were made to construct the wall but it would collapse within
few months.
- The unique style of
the temple is presence of two-storeyed mandapa supported by massive
intricately carved pillars.
- The four different
entrances to the temple located in four cardinal directions are named after
four Goddesses- Nookambika, Gogulamma, Moodhamabike, Ghattambike.
- The main deity of temple Lord Bhimeswara present in inner sanctum
sanctorum is in the form of Shivalingam.
-The Shivalingam which is 9ft high has crystal texture and when early
morning Sun’s rays fall on the Shivalingam, black stripes appear in the upper
part.
- The inner sanctum sanctorum has
high pedestal built for the archakas
to perform rituals. The Lord is accompanied by his consort Dakshyani (daughter of Daksha).
- The shrine of Goddess Manikyamba
considered as the one the 18 pieces of Sati
that fell here and is regarded as Shakti
Peetha. The Goddess face is looking towards left and is signified as Vamachara Devatha.
-The shrine of Lord Vishnu is located at the entrance
of the temple is the kshetrapalaka
(guardian) of the temple.
- Within the temple complex there are
smaller shrines of Praakara Bhairavudu,
Virupa, Nataraja, Vamana, Vishweshwara, Dundhi Ganapati, Goddess Annapurna,
Goddess Durga.
-There is a small pond Godavari Kundam near the temple whose
waters is considered very sacred and is used for performing Abhisekham (puja).
- According to a legend, Saptamaharishis divided the Akhanda Godavari into seven streams. Of
them Draksharama, Vishwamitra, Bharadwaja, Jamadagni known as Antarvahinis have gone underground and
merged together as a pond called Sapta Godavari Kundam.
- Important festivals celebrated in
the temple MahaShivaratri, Devi Navatrulu,
Subhramanya Sashti, Kalyanam celebrations on Bhishma Ekadasi and
Jwalathoranam during Kartika month.
Activities of Temple
Laksha Patri Puja,
Lakshakumkumarchana, Laksha Vattula Nomu, Ekadasa Rudram, Sahashra
Kumkumarchana and Rudra Homam
Other Attractions
Chalukya Bheemeswaram temple at Samalkot
Coringa Wild Life Sanctury
Matlapalem Mahalakshmi Temple
Kotipalli
Accommodation
Nearest accommodation for devotees visiting Draksharamam can
be availed from Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) resorts
in Kakinada. The temple Trust also provides modest accommodation facilities at
reasonable rates.
How to reach
By Road: 6km from Ramachandrapuram
28 km from Kakinada
40 km from
Rajahmundry
185 km from
Vijayawada
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station is
Kakinada.
By Air:
Nearest Airport is at Rajahmundry. 
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