Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam

Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam, Ramachandrapuram Mandal, East Godavari. Draksharamam is one of the Pancharama Temples.

Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Legends

References from Skanda Purana and Brahmanda Purana

Demon Tarakasura theft Amrutha Atma Linga which emerged out during Ksheerasagar Mathanam (drilling Ocean of Milk). Tarakasura wearing this Linga around his neck, with its supernatural powers, he was unbeatable. Kumara Swamy son of Siva and Parvathi, who was the commander-in-chief for deities came face to face with Tarakasura in the war. Kumara Swamy used his Sakthi weapon to kill Tarakasura. Kumaraswamy repeatedly broke Tarakasura body into pieces and it was reunified again.

Lord Maha Vishnu advised Kumara Swamy to break shiva linga into pieces, only then the demon can be killed. Maha Vishnu also said that even after breaking the shiva linga, the pieces will try to reunite again. To prevent this reunion, all these broken pieces should be fixed in those places where they fall, by worshiping and building temples on top it.

As advised by Maha Vishnu, Kumara Swamy used his Agni weapon to break the Siva Linga worn by the demon. The Atma Linga broken into five pieces, the broken pieces tried to reunite by making the chant ‘Aum’. To prevent this Indra, Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Vishnu and Kumara Swamy worshipped the Linga’s at the respective places.

It is said that Surya Bhagavan fixed linga at Bhimavaram by worshiping and building the temple.

Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam History

From inscriptions, it is known that this temple was built by Eastern Chalukyan king Bhima during 9th and 10th centuries.

In addition to the major powers, some of the minor chiefs such as Velanati Cholas, Durjaya, Gonkas, Velanti Gonka etc, who owed allegiance to the respective major powers or overlords, left their inedible imprints in the Draksharamam Temple as gleaned by the host of inscriptions which speaks volumes about their benevolent benefactions of every description.

Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam Architecture

Sri Bhimeswara Temple is a two-storeyed building having Dviprakanas. These stone boundary walls rise to a considerable height. The temple can be approached by four Dwaras (gates) on the cardinal directions and each of them has gopuram over it. The western gopuram is relatively bigger than the other three Gopuram viz., north, east and south. The entrance doorway contains a vertical door jamb on each side having scroll designs carved on them. The images of Dwarapalakas adorn either side of the doorway. The northern and southern gopuras are plain, simple in nature, unlike the eastern and western gopuras. In front of each of the Gopuras, a mandapa is located.

An interesting and important sculptural panel is located near the step leading to the Saptagodavari tank of the temple and has the figure of Sapatarishis and Arundathi. The stone slab has miniature Orissan shrines housing the image of Saptarshi and Arundhati carved in relief. This is probably the only representation of Saptarishis and Arundhati in India.