Dress Code: Any decent outfit.

Reference Link: Manikyamba Temple History

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Kumkum Archana performed before the deity.

No.Of persons allowed:  One Couple.

Preferable Dress code: Please wear
Men: White Pancha, Dhoti
Female: Saree with blouse/ Punjabi Dress with Dupatta / Chudidhar with Dupatta/ Sareesaree.

Pooja Samagri has to be purchased by the devotee itself.

Kumkum Archana performed daily.

The ticket can be purchased at the counter for the same day Pooja, Online Booking is not available.

Reference Link: Manikyamba Temple History

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The above-mentioned Draksharamam Abhishekam charges might change.

Rudrabhishekam performed by 3 priests for 3 hours.

Ticket Cost: Rs.2000

Pooja Samagri: 1 Lt Milk Packet readily available at the temple complex, Coconut, Flowers, Rice, Maredu leaves etc.

Pooja Samagri cost Rs.800 and is available at the temple premises.

Pooja Samagri and Dakshina cost Rs.1000.

Ticket Counter Timings during Masa Sivaratri and Karthika Masam: 5:00 am – 10:00 am.

Counter Timings on other days: 6:00 am – 8:00 am

Abhishekam performed daily for the main deity inside the temple.

No. Of persons allowed: One Family.

Rudrabhishekam, Mahanyasa Rudrabhishekam and Laghu Rudrabhishekam are performed during Abhishekam Timings only.

Pooja Samagri is common for all types of Abhishekam.

Online Booking is not available for these Poojas, tickets can be purchased at the counter on arrival.

Preferable Dress code: Please wear
Men: White Pancha, Dhoti/ Kurta, Pyjama.
Female: Saree with blouse/ Punjabi Dress with Dupatta / Chudidhar with Dupatta/ Half saree

Reference Link: Manikyamba Temple History

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Temples Near to Kakinada and Samarlakota

By Road from Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and north India

1. Annavaram Temple comes right after Visakhapatnam. Directions are available on NH5 to Annavaram.
2. From Annavaram, take left at Kathipudi for Draksharamam and Samarlakota
3. Draksharamam is located on the way to Kotpalli from Kakinada. Temple is 28 km from the Kakinada
4. The direct bus is available from Kakinada to Draksharama and Kotipalli. Bus frequency is quite high from Kakinada.
5. Kakinada and Samarlakota are 12 km apart

By Road from Hyderabad and West India.

1. After reaching Ravulapalem, take the right direction which comes on the way to Rajahmundry. Proper direction boards are in place.
2. From here, It is 45 mins drive to Ramachandra Puram.
3. From Ramachandrapuram, Ringroad to Yanam takes you to Draksharamam.
4. Draksharama Temples is 470 km from Hyderabad.

Interesting Places Near Draksharamam

1. Kumararama Bheemeshwara temple, one of the Pancharama Temples at Samarlakota
2.  Sri Satya Narayana Swamy Temple, Annavaram.
3. Thalupulamma Thalli.
4. Krishna barrage at Rajahmundry.

Best place to stay

It is advisable to stay at any of these places for easy access to these temples.

1. Kakinada
2. Samarlakota
3. Rajahmundry.

Rajahmundry stay is preferable so that temples and tourist places can be covered.

East Godavari Famous Temples list Reference Link:  Temples

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Pancharama Temples History

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. Kumaraswamy was confused and sought advice from Vishnu.

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 worshipping 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 ‘om’.  To prevent this Indra, Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon),  Vishnu and Kumara Swamy worshipped the Linga’s at the respective places.

Pancharama Temples (Kshetras)

1. Draksharamam Temple

It is said that Surya Bhagavan fixed Siva Linga at Bhimavaram by worshipping and building the temple.

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.

2. Kumararama Temple

Kumara Swamy had installed the Siva Linga here. From inscriptions, it is known that this temple was built by Eastern Chalukyan king Bhima during 9th and 10th centuries.

3. Somarama Temple

It is believed that Chandra (Soma or Moon) installed Linga here by worshipping the Idol.

Linga inside the Sanctum  Sanctorum keeps changing the colours from White to brown. On a full moon day, Linga appears in pure white colour and it will be Brown on No moon day (Amavasya day)

It is said that the Moon God worshipped Lord Siva to get rid of his sins. Temple tank Chandra Pushkarini located opposite to the temple is called by Soma Gundam.

4, Amararama Temple

Amaravati Temple is as holy as the Varanasi Temple in Northern India and the river Krishna is as holy as the River Ganga which flows next to Varanasi Temple.

Lord Indra with his Guru Brihaspati established the first and biggest piece and named the Lord as Amareswara.

5. Ksheerarama Temple

Lord Vishnu Installed Siva Linga here.  From the inscriptions, it is known that this temple was built by the King Bheemeswara in the year 918 A.D. The main deity inside the Sanctum Sanctorum is of 2 feet in height. It is known from the inscriptions that Great poets Nanayya, Thikkana, Srinatha visited this shrine.

Best way to visit Pancharama Temples

Pancharama Temples Route map

Amararama Temple <-> Kumararama Temple <-> Ksheerarama Temple <-> Draksharamam Temple <-> Somarama Temple.

Pancharama Temples Tour Package

1. The package is available from Guntur, Vijayawada and Annavaram
2. Please note that it is not a Roundtrip package.

Temples located close to Kakinada

1. Draksharamam which is 29 km away
2. Samarlakota is 12 km away

Temples close to Guntur

1. Amaravathi Temple is 32 km away

Temples close to Rajahmundry

1. Ksheerarama Temple is 68 k away
2. Kumararama temple is 23 km from Ksheerarama.

Pancharama Temples Timings

During Karthika Masam, temples remain open till 9:30 pm. So devotees can cover all these temples within a day.

For Pancharama Temples Package Details, Please call @ 93 93 93 9150

Ticket Cost: Rs.859 per person. Boarding at Vijayawada Station.

Pancharama Temples Images

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Draksharamam is also called as Dakshina Kasi. It is believed that Sage Veda Vyasa has founded this temple.

As per the Legends, Lord Siva self-manifested here at Saptagodavari as Bhimeswara Swamy. On knowing the Lord’s manifestation, Saptha Rishi’s  (7 Sages) went to the river Godavari to bring its waters for the deity’s Abhishekam before sunrise. While on their way back to Draksharamam, near to Saptagodavari, they were stopped by the Sage Tulya, who feared that the river flowing path might wash away his Ashram. While Saptha Rishis and Tulya Rishi’s were in discussion, they were intervened by the Sage Veda Vyasa and said that the waters of Saptha Godavari would reach Draksharamam as “Antar Vahini’ (which means flows under the Earth) and form themselves into a Pushkarini Tirtha. This Tirtha will be called by the name Saptha Godavari, and the water from this Tirtha will be used for Lord Bhimeswara Swamy’s Abhisheka. In the meantime, Sun rose and Sapta Rishis were not able to reach the place in time to perform the Abhisheka, The Sun-god himself performed the first Archana to the deity. Thus, Pushkarini (Temple Tank) Sapta Godavari came into existence and water from this Tank are being used for the deity’s Abhisheka.

As per the Legends, While Sapta Rishis performing the Archana to the Self-manifested Lord Siva, All Devas came to have the darshan of the Lord, When a divine voice ordained that “whoever installs Linga near to Sapta Godavari will attain eternal bliss”. There-upon Indra (God of Heaven) installed a Linga and a temple was built. It is called by the name Pakasasana Devalaya. Many Lingas were installed by Devas at the same time.

It is believed that Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy was installed by Lord Sri Rama as the Kshetra Palaka. Within the Temple, there is a well by the name Rudra Tirtha which is of strung bow shape.

Draksharamam Temple SaptaGodavari

Reference Link: Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple

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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.

How to reach Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam?

1. Temple is 30 Km from Kakinada Railway station
2. Temple is 50 km from Rajahmundry
3. Temple is 25 km away from Amalapuram
4. The Nearest airport is at Visakhapatnam which is 185 km away.
5. Nearest Railway station is at Kakinada

Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam

Reference Link: Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple

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Sri Manikyamba Draksharamam Temple Legend

As per the legends, Prajapati Daksha’s daughters married the devas, but the youngest daughter, Sati had chosen to marry Lord Siva against her father’s wish. Daksha was not keeping good relation with his son-in-law Lord Siva. Daksha to insult Lord Siva decided to perform big Yagna, for which he invited all the gods and goddesses, except Lord Shiva, to partake their offerings.

When Sati on knowing this Yagna, decided to visit her maternal house, though she was not invited. Sati who was offended by the scoldings of her father immolated herself in the fire of Yogagni generated by her. Angered by this, Siva ordered Veerabhadra to destroy Daksha Yagna. Veerabhadra along with Kali and other Siva Ganas destroyed to Yajna and killed Daksha. Goddess here called by Manikyamba.

Lord Siva after collecting Sati’s body, danced the dance of destruction ‘Pralaya Thandavam’. To stop this destruction, Vishnu sent his disc (Sudarshana Chakra) to break the corpse of Sati body into pieces. The disc broke the corpse into 18 pieces, which fell across the Indian subcontinent. These 18 places were called by Sakthi Peethas. Draksharamam is the place where Left cheek from Sati’s body fallen here.

It is believed to be the place where Daksha performed the Yajna and Sati immolated herself in Yogagni.

Manikyamba Draksharamam Temple History

Inscriptions date back to Chalukya King Bhima during 9th- 10th Century A.D. Later this region was ruled by Chola and Kalinga rules.

How to reach Draksharamam Temple?

1. Temple is 30 Km from Kakinada Railway station
2. Temple is 50 km from Rajahmundry
3. Temple is 25 km away from Amalapuram
4. The nearest airport is at Visakhapatnam which is 185 km away.
5. Nearest Railway station is at Kakinada

Draksharamam Temple

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