Draksharama Bheemeswara Swamy temple, Draksharamam, Andhra Pradesh, India

**You are more than welcome to take selfies or photos outside the temple and with the temple's exterior. However, you can't photograph inside and we have to respect the temple authorities wishes.**

Draksharama Bheemeswara Swamy temple is one of the oldest temple, powerful and most frequented pilgrim center built in 13th Century in the town of East Godavari district in the state of Andhra Pradesh located at a distance of 28 km from Kakinada and around 50 km from Rajahmundry.

Draksharama is a two storey'ed temple structure houses Lord Bheemeswara Swamy (Lord Shiva) and his holy spouse Goddess Manikyamba (Goddess Parvati) deities, is one of the Trilinga Kshetras, Pancharamas and one of 18 Shakti Peethas. The Crystal Linga is 14 feet tall and we need to see the lingam in the first floor and then come down to the ground floor to see the base of the temple. This temple is famous as both Shiva Kshetras and Shakti Kshetras. This place is also known as Dakshin Kashi.

- Trilinga Kshetras are the sacred places of the "three Lingas". According to local folks in Southern India especially in states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Lord Shiva descended in the form of Lingas on the three mountains in the regions of Andhra- Telangana marking the boundaries around both states ie., 

1. Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple @ Kaleswaram in Telangana state

2. Mallikarjuna Swamy @ Srisailam in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh state

3. Bhimeswara Swamy @ Draksharamam in Andhra, Andhra Pradesh state

- Pancharama Kshetras are five ancient Hindu temples of Shiva and the lingas at all these temples are made from a single Sivalinga i.e.., Atma Linga based on ancient Hindu scripture and texts this Linga emerged during Ksirasagara ("Ocean of Milk") Samudra manthana i.e.., churning of the Cosmic Ocean by devas and asuras. In post-Vedic scripture, the Devas referred as the good supernatural being and the Asuras the bad supernatural being.

Five "Pancharama Kshetras" are:

1. Draksharama Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharamam installed by Lord Surya (the Sun God).

2. Sri Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, Samalkot  installed by Lord KumaraSwamy since he laid down Shiva Linga here. (https://sk-digilance.blogspot.com/2022/01/sri-chalukya-kumararama-bhimeswara.html )

3. Amareswara Swamy Temple, Amararama, Amaravati  installed by "Lord Indra" here.

4. Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Ksheerarama, Palakollu installed by "Lord Vishnu" here.

5. Someswara Temple, Somarama, Bhimavaram installed by Lord Chandra (the Moon God) to get rid of his sins  by worshiping Lord Shiva here.

- After the death of Devi Sati (Avatar of Shakti - First wife of Lord Shiva), Shiva was very enraged and grieved, performed the Tandava dance with Devi Sati's lifeless body and her body came apart as pieces which fell at different places on earth now what is known as Shakti Peeth- holy places.

Now few of you who are new or unaware of the details in Hinduism might ask "What is a Shakti Peeth?"

"Shakti" wife of Lord Shiva meaning force, power or feminine energy refers to many names as Goddess Parvati/ Durga/ Kali/ Devi/ Adi-Shakti is the primordial Goddess or Divine Mother who is worshipped by many in India and by Indians around the world.

"Peeth" refers to seat or divine and spiritual place.

So, "Seat of Shakti” is a sacred place either shrine or pilgrimage destination of Goddess's eternal power or energy.

In this temple, the shrine of Goddess Manikyamba (Goddess Parvati) the divine mother and holy spouse of Lord Bheemeswara Swamy (Lord Shiva) standing on a Sri chakra is also equally significant and worshipped by all the devotees. The temple is surrounded by scenic beauty with lots of green fields.

Ps: You can easily find a guide (there will be lot of people standing there waiting to guide ) at the temple in exchange of money ( Rs 100 or so) but one has to bargain with them otherwise you will be charged more and get tricked at the end.

Ps: Many stay-in hotels and restaurants are available within the walking distance from temple. The nearest railways station is in Kakinada, Samalkot and Rajahmundry and the nearest Airport is in Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.

Stay Safe and Have fun exploring the Blog, Until my next article ….👋👋

Om Namaha Shivaaya !!! 🙏🙏

Jai Mata Di !! 🙏🙏

Here is the link of the List of other temples I visited along with this temple . 

Check it out https://sk-digilance.blogspot.com/2022/01/east-godavari-andhra-pradesh-india.html

District: East Godavari

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