Pancha Rama Kshetralu

Pancha Rama Kshetralu

East Godavari, West Godavari and Guntur of Andhra Pradesh in India
Pancharama xetralu (photo)
Pancharama is the name given to those five temples hich are dedicated to !ord "hiva# $hese
places are distri%uted over three districts, East Godavari, West Godavari and Guntur of Andhra
Pradesh in India# All &indus consider visiting these temples as ver' sacred# Pancha means five
and Aarama is peace# Aarama is something related to (uddhism hich is actuall' aims at
pleasant state of mind# "o Pancharama means five pleasant and peaceful places#
$here are to stories related to Pancharama temples# )ne stor' related to Pancharama temples is
in (heemeshara Puranam ritten %' "hree *athudu# $he "tor' goes li+e this###
,evatas and Asuras (Ra+shasas) stirr the sea to get nectar (Amrit)# After getting the Amrit,
,evatas meet !ord -ishnu to avoid distri%uting the nectar to Asuras as it ma' lead to pro%lems#
!ord -ishnu ta+es the %irth as .ohini and distri%utes Amruth onl' to ,evtas# Asuras get angr'
and orship !ord "hiva# !ord "hiva gets satisfied %' their orship and %lesses Asuras ith lot
of poers#
With these poers Asuras start torturing people and ,evtas# Again ,evtas orship !ord "hiva to
avoid this# !ord "hiva gets angr' and starts punishing Asuras# ,uring this ar, a "hivalingam
orshipped %' $hripurasura ($ripurasura) remains un damaged even though all Asuras die# !ord
"hiva (.ahadeva) ma+es this !ingam into five pieces and ma+es this installed in five different
places# $hese five places (Prathishtapana) are no famous as Pancharama#
$he second stor' %egins from &iran'a Kashipu and his son "imuchi# $he son of "imuchi,
$hara+asura orships !ord "hiva and gets his Atma !inga# $hen, $hara+asura starts trou%ling
people and ,evatas# As per %lessings, $hara+asura dies onl' %' a %o'# ,evatas go to !ord "hiva
to find solution for finding a solution to punish $hara+asura# !ord Kumara "am' Avtar thus
happens and and %o' +ills $hara+asura# After hen $hara+asura dies, the Athmalinga gets
divided into five# Each one gets installed %' ,evatas in five different places# $hese places are
called Pancharama Kshetras#
(elo are the details of Pancharama Kshetras and the five faces of !ord "hiva
Photo
Amararama - Amaravati (Sri Amareswara Swamy)

Amaravati is a historic pilgrimage center and a storehouse of ancient (uddhist sculpture#
Amaravati is home to the Amaresara temple hich constitutes one of the five Pancharama
temples of Andhra Pradesh sacred to "hiva, the other four %eing Kumararama (Kotipalli),
Ksheerarama and (heemarama and ,ra+sharama# Amaravati is located a%out /0 miles aa'
from Guntur near -i1a'aada in Andhra Pradesh#
$he temple of !ord Amaresara located on the %an+s of river Krishna, is rich in ,ravidian and
(uddist architectures# $he !ingam is /0 feet high, carved out of mar%le# $he cit' as named
Amaravati after Indra2s capital here# $radition sa's that Indra and ,evas had orshipped the
!ord here# Goddess "ha+thi is orshipped as (ala 3hamundi+a ,evi#
$he hite !inga is 4uite uni4ue and the priests have to ascend the steps for offering
a%hishe+am# As the name Amaravati implies, legend has it that Amaravati as once the a%ode of
the Gods 5 the ,evas, the 'a+shas and the +innaras, ho performed penances to "hiva to re4uest
him to rid the earth of the might' demon $ara+asura#
!egend has it that "hiva2s son "u%raman'a van4uished the demon# It is %elieved that the
"hivalingam that shattered Into five pieces as a huge one, and the %iggest of the five pieces is a
fifteen foot long column of hite mar%le hich is orshipped as Amaresara at the Amaravati
temple (this is ver' similar to the "hivalingam at the ,ra+sharama temple)# !egend has it that it
as installed %' Indra the +ing of the ,evas, (rihaspati the guru of the ,evas and "u+ra the
preceptor of the Asuras#
$he Amaravati temple is located on a small hilloc+ referred to as Krouncha "haila, alongside the
river Krishna hich flos for a short distance in a *orth5"outherl' direction, although for the
most part, the river heads eastards toards the ocean# $he river Krishna is held in reverence at
this pilgrimage site, and a ritual dip in this river here is considered to %e meritorious#

$he temple has ancient origins, hoever the structural foundations as seen toda', seem to date
%ac+ to the //th centur' 3E# $he -i1a'anagar +ings did provide grants to maintain the temple#
&oever it as the local +ings of the /6th centur' 3E that provided vast endoments to this
temple# $he temple is decorated ith four loft' gopurams in its outer circumlocutor' path#
How to reach Amaravati:
Amaravati is at 70+ms distance from Guntur# $here are so man' non5stop %uses from Guntur# It
ta+es a%out 80 minutes 1ourne'# (uses ill leave us at temple# In Karthi+a masam AP"R$3
maintains special Pancharamas tour %uses to cover them all in a single da'#
2. Draksharama - Draksharamam (Sri himeswara Swamy)
,ra+sharamam is a shaivite shrine /60 +m# from -i1a'aada, /9 +m# from Ka+inada, 8: +m#
from Ra1ahmundr' and 8;; +m# from &'dera%ad# ,ra+sharama is considered to %e one of the
five Arama +shetras dedicated to !ord "hiva# $his is located in East Godavari ,istrict near
Ka+inada# $he place also +non as <,a+shina Kasi< ("outhern (anaras) along ith "ree"ailam
and Kalesara constitute the three sacred "hivalingams of the "tate, giving its ancient name
<$rilinga ,esa<#
$he (himesara temple at ,ra+sharama has to pra+aras# $he inscriptions here suggest that the
temple as %uilt %' (hima, the Eastern 3halu+'an King of -engi(=th 5/:th centuries), hen his
+ingdom as under attac+ %' the Rashtra+ootas# $he temple art thus shos the influence of a
%lend of sculptural traditions of 3halu+'a and 3hola st'les#
$he temple has four entrances in the outer
pra+ara each mar+ed ith a gopuram, facing the four cardinal directions# )n the south is the
entrance to the inner pra+ara, hich is lined %' a pillared to5store'ed verandah#
$he main temple is tin store'ed# $o flights of stairs lead us into the upper level of the
sanctum# $his has a pillared prada+shina on three sides and a Gar%hagriha# (himesara is
enshrined in the form of a ten feet high "hivalingam in this Gar%hagriha# Another feature of the
temple is the narro mantapam that is seen in the premises# "hiva2s consort here is .ani+'am%a#
$he temple alls and pillars are decorativel' carved ith m'thological figures#
!egend has it that the "aptamaharishis ("even "ages) to achieve the ends of their penance
divided the a+handa (un%ranched) Godavari river into seven different streams at ,ras+harama#
(haradha1a, -isamitra and >amadagni streams +non as Antarvahinies, ere %elieved to have
gone under ground# $here is "apta Godavari Kundam ("even river pond) near the temple here
the devotees %athe# "ivarathri attracts huge crods of pilgrims#
Photo
S!AHA"A P#RA$A
)nce ,a+sha Pra1apathi decided to perform a ?aga# In pursuance of the same, he had %een to
Kailasa to invite Gods and Goddesses to sanctif' his 2?a@na2 and accept his hospitalit'# (ut hen
he had %een there, !ord "iva as in his 3ourt immersed in his spiritual splendour# (ut ,a+sha
Pra1apathi out of his ego of %eing the father5in5la of !ord "iva, mistoo+ the !ord2s trance as
indifference toards him# "o, %eing put out at the difference of his "on5in5la he came %ac+
ithout inviting the !ord and the !ad' to his sacrifice#
"ati in her omanish nature re4uested "iva to permit her to attend, the sacrifice at her parental
home, even uninvited and have the pleasure of the performance and the association of her +ith
and +in# (ut "iva explained her the tragic implications that she might have to face at her parental
house and let her to at her on ish# (ut, hen she actuall' stepped into her parental home,
none greeted her or even 1ust as+ed her a mutual exchange of her ell5%eing# $hen "athi as put
out ith the humiliation she had to face amidst her on %lood and then and there, decided to
give up her %od' instead of facing her %eloved hus%and ith a fallen face# "o, she gave up her
%od' then and there and fell don dead# "iva having come to +no of the tragic end, sent his son
2-eera%hadra2 to %oot don the ego of ,a+sha#
"iva in his pangs of separation ith "ati came don to her dead %od' and shoultered the corpse
over his shoulders and danced in 2Prala'a $handava2# At this 1uncture, the !ord -ishnu, the
presenting, force of Aniverse, sent his 23ha+ra2 to cut don the %od' of "athi and redeem the
grief of !ord "iva# $he 3ha+ra came and cut the %od' of "ati into eighteen pieces feel in
eighteen parts of this 2Pun'a%hoomi2 of ours and came to %e +non as 2Ashta ,asa Peethas2 and
out of these eighteen "ri .ani+'am%a of ,ra+sharama is the $elfth#
It is said that Karti+e'a, the son of !ord "hiva has +illed the demon $ara+asura, on the re4uest of
the gods# $he "hivalinga in the throat of this ardent devotee of "hiva, $ara+asura, is said to have
fell in five different places that %ecame the <Panchaarama Kshetras<# $he' are ,ra+sharama,
Komararama, Ksheerarama, (heemarama and Amararama# It is also said that the linga here as
later installed %' -edav'asa#
Another legend sa's that the three demons $aara+aa+sha, Kamalaa+sha and -id'unmaali, ho
ere the children of $ara+asura, have o%tained the %oon of death %' the arro that could set afire
their three cities at once# Binall' after the $ripura "amharam, hen the' ere +illed %' !ord
"hiva, all that is said to remain as the Panchaarama lingas#
Bamous $elugu poet "rinatha is said to have ritten Pra%andha Kav'a (hima+handa a%out this
sacred place#
%. Kumararama - Samalkot (Sri Kumara heemeswara swamy)
"amal+ot is located at a distance of /C +m from Ka+inada, 0C Km from Ra1ahmundr' in East
Godavari ,istrict of Andhra Pradesh, hich no forms part of "amal+ot ton, is +non as
(himavara Kshetram ith its famous temple of Kumararama 5 (himesvara# $he village as
+non in the past as 3halu+'a (himavaram according to the inscriptions found in the temple#
$he temple +non as Kumararama at (himavaram in "amal+ot is one among the five important
and popular 2Pancharama2 temples of Andhra# $he other four temples dedicated to "iva are
Amararama at Amaravati (,ist# Guntur), ,a+sharama at ,a+sharama (,ist# East Godavari),
Kshirarama at Pala+ollu and "omarama at Gunupudi 5 (himavaram (%oth in ,ist# West
Godavari)# $here is an episode on the origin of these 2Pancharamas2 hich is also found in
2(himesvarapurana2 ritten %' "rinatha (A, /8th 5 /0th 3entur')#
/:::stam%ala photo
According to it, !ord -ishnu, in his charming and fascinating incarnation of .ohini started
distri%uting the nectar (amrita) o%tained after the ha@ardous churning of the ocean to %oth the
demons (asuras) and divined (devas) ,issatisfied ith the in1ustice meted out to them in the
manner of distri%ution of nectar, the asuras lead %' the lords of $ripuras resorted to severe
penance on the advice of the celestial sage *arada and ere %lessed ith %oons %' !ord "iva#
$hus ith the poer nel' ac4uired through the %oons, the' inflicted atrocities on the devas,
ho sought refuge ith !ord "iva#
)n hearing the pitia%le plea of the devas, "iva
+illed the asuras ith his infalli%le Pasupata (a spiritual eapon of flame), hich reduced them
and their +ingdoms to ashes# $his material aspect of "iva is %etter +non as $ripuranta+a#
&oever, a huge stone linga, orshipped %' $ripuras, remained intact after the encounter# $his
as cut into five lingas %' !ord himself and distri%uted for the purpose of installing at five
different places hich came to %e locall' +non as Pancharams#
According to the inscription at Pithapuram, it is ver' clear that the temple of Kumaram 3halu+'a
(himesvara as constructed %' the famous Eastern 3halu+'a +ing 3halu+'a (hima5I toards
the end of the =th centur' A, and the presiding god "iva, in the form of tall "ivalinga, as
named after the monarch as 3halu+'a (himesvara# $he inscription states that 3halu+'a (hima,
the son of -i+ramadit'a having %een victorious in three hundred and sixt' %attles ruled the earth
for thirt' 'ears#
$he (himesvara temple at "amal+ot is similar in architecture to that of the (himesvara temple at
,a+sharama# $he temple is surrounded %' to pra+ara alls %uilt of dressed sand stones# $he
outer pra+ara all is pierced %' gopura 5 entrance on all the four sides# $he four gopura 5 dvaras
have ardha 5 mandapas on either side# $he inner enclosure all is divided hori@ontall' into to
sections separated %' a cornice# It has a to store'ed pillared mandapa running all the inner side#
$he main shrine is a free standing monument
l'ing at the center of the inner enclosure# $he temple is a rectangular structure and has to
store's# $he lime stone !inga, installed in the shrine, is so tall that it rises from the pedestal on
the ground floor and enters the second floor %' piercing the roof, here the Rudra%haga is
orshipped# $he present -imana of the main shrine has %een renovated and is covered ith thic+
plaster# It consists of flat pattas, ro of geese +utas, salas, simhalalatas, lotuses and +alasa# It is a
dvitala vimana of the dravida order ith regional variations#
(alatripurasundhari photo
!i+e in ,a+sharama, a miniature temple model, found in the court 'ard of
the temple, shos the hole temple ith all the architectural details, possi%l' used as model
%efore erecting the temple ranging from A, //89 to /8=8, recording gifts made to this temple#
$hese epigraphs refer to the construction of mu+hamandapa at the Eastern entrance in A, /7=8#
Burther the erection of the additional structures li+e "rimu+hamandapam and niluvu mandapam
on top of it in A, /8CC are also mentioned in the inscriptions#



&. Somarama - himavaram (Sri Someswara swamy)

"omesara Photo
(himavaram is located /:9 Kms from -i1a'aada D C9: Kms from -isa+hapatanam#
(himavaram is famous for the Gunupudi "omesara ("omarama) temple, hich is considered to
%e one of the hol' Pancharamas# (uilt during the 7rd centur' A#,#, the "hivalinga in the temple
is %elieved to assume a %lac+5cum5%ron colour on no5moon da' and a +ind of hite on full5
moon da'#
Another uni4ue feature here, is that the temple of Goddess Annapurna as %uilt on top of the
"hiva temple, something that cannot %e seen an'here in the countr'# "urprisingl', the Goddess
has the sacred thread around her nec+ and a %a%' near her feet#
(himavaram Gopuram Photo
$his temple is an old temple %ut loo+s li+e ne one %ecause of colored paintings on the alls
and sculptures# In front of the temple there is a pond called Chandrakundam# It is full' covered
ith lotus floers# $here is a %ig Gopuram as the entrance of temple# In the left side of temple
there is a %ig hall in hich temples of !ord "rirama and &anuma are present# In the right side of
temple there is an open hall a%ove the temple office# When crod is present, pu1aris E Pandits
conduct pu1a here for individuals# $he temple has so man' sculptures hich are giving a nice
loo+# In the hall of temple there is a %ig statue of *andi# After crossing hall there is a room in
front of sanctum# In that room there is a temple of Annapurna mata# In the sanctum e can see
!ord "hiva in the form of a %eautiful "hivaling# "hivaling in this temple is small unli+e in other
Pancharamas# $here is a specialit' in this temple ie# "hivaling ill change its color according to
!unar aspect# At the time of Pournami (Bull .oon nights) shivaling ill %e in hite color and in
Amavas'a da's (,ar+ nights) it2s color shades %lac+#
!ord "omesara sam' as first orshipped %' .oon god here after $ara+asura vadha# &ence
in the name of .oon god, came the names "omaramam and "omesara sam'#
'. Ksheerarama - Paalakollu (Sri Ksheera ramalin(eswara swamy)
Ksheeraramam, also +non as Paala+ollu is located near *arasapuram in the West Godavari %elt
of Andhra Pradesh# It is considered to %e one of the five pancharama "hiva shrines of Andhra
Pradesh# the five pancharama temples are ,ra+sharama, Kumararama, Ksheerarama and
(heemarama and Amararama#
!egend has it that Apaman'u, the son of Kaushi+a muni re4uested "hiva that he %e granted the
desired 4uantit' of mil+ for the performance of his dail' rituals and that "hiva caused the
Ksheera Push+arini tan+ to overflo ith mil+ from the m'thical Ksheera "aagaram (the mil+'
ocean)# &ence the names Paala+ollu, ,ugdapovanam and Ksheeraramam#
!egend has it that "hiva as orshiped %' Rama at this shrine as in Ramesaram#
$he hite mar%le "hivalingam orshiped in the sanctum is referred to as Ramalingesara
"ami as ell as Ksheeraraamesarasam'# (uilt during the /:th5llth centuries A#,# %' the
3halu+'as, it represents the south Indian st'le and has a =5store' gopuram that soars /C0 feet,
one of the tallest in Andhra Pradesh# 3olourful images and sculptures of various deities are
engraved on the alls and can also %e seen inside the temple complex#
C: Kms from Pala+ollu is the *atta Ramesharam temple, here the !ingam is made of shells
D conchs is orth a visit#
,adasa51'otirlinga5darsini "ivamahadeva5images#