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Bhadrachalam Temple
Bhadrachalam Temple, commonly known as Lord Sree Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple, is the home of Lord Rama. It is situated in Bhadrachalam town, a major Hindu pilgrimage centre and a municipality in the Khammam district of Telangana. It is located around 300 km away from the state capital, Hyderabad. This place is encircled by holy river of Godavari which flows towards the southern direction of the main temple.
Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas is known to have constructed the Bhadrachalam Temple. He was born in Nelakondapalli village of Khammam Taluka to Linganna Murthy and Kadamba during 17th century. He was the nephew of Akkanna, the administrative head in the court of Nawab Abul Hussain Shah, who was the Taneshah of Golconda. He was appointed as Tahasildar of Palvoncha Paragana. He was doing his official duties earnestly and was feeding the poor’s at his house. One day he heard the news that villagers of his area are proceeding to witness Jatara at Bhadrachalam. Out of so much curiousity, he too visited the holy place and found the deities in beautiful appearance.For the construction of temple, Ramadas asked the villagers to contribute liberally. Due to un sufficient amount, the villagers appealed to him to spend the revenue collection with a promise to repay the amount after harvesting the crops. Therefore, Ramadas constructed the temple without the permission of Golconda Nawab with Rs.6 lakhs collected from land revenues.
When the temple was almost near completion, he had a problem of fixing Sudarshana Chakra at the crest of the main temple. He was deeply worried and fall asleep. That night, Lord Rama came into his dream and told him to take a holy dip in the Godavari River. On the very next morning, he took a dip and found the Sudarshana Chakra without much difficulty. Soon after the construction, he got trapped for the mis-utilisation of revenue for building the temple and was jailed for 12 years in Golconda Fort. Unable to believe the miseries, Ramadas implored Lord Rama by singing very emotional and praising songs. The Golconda King Taneshah realized the Ramadas’s devotional spirit when he was repaid the lost revenue amount by the Lord Rama itself with his brother Lakshmana who came as servants of Bhakta Ramadas to his fort to get release of their devotee from imprisonment. Next morning, Taneshah realized that those servants were none other than Rama and Lakshmana. After knowing this, he released Ramadas and prayed to forgive him by putting all the gold coins received last night at his feet. But Ramadas refused to take back those coins, except two which he installed in the temple as a mark of divine power. These coins can still be seen in Bhadrachalam temple even today. Influenced by Lord Rama, Golconda King Taneshah also became his follower and started offering pearls on the occasion of Sri Ram Navami every year as a token of love. This is perhaps the unique instance of Muslim patronage of a Hindu temple. This procedure is still followed by the present State government every year.
The main idol in the temple is of Lord Sri Rama being represented as a handsome and charming person, with well-built physique, holding Dhanus and Bana in his both hands, and standing in the ‘Tribhanga’ attitude as opposed to the ‘Samabhanga’ pose. Sita stands near him, also in the Tribhanga attitude, with a lotus in one hand and the other hand shown in the ‘Katyavalambita’ posture.
Today, this temple is famous not only in Telangana but throughout India and worldwide, and inspite of the difficulty of its approach, the magical charm of the idol attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
There are several myths and legends associated to the temple. Bhadrachalam site is very closely related to Ramayana. It is said that Ram, Sita and Lakshmana have stayed for sometime at Parnasala, which is only 30 km from Bhadrachalam during their 14 years of Vanvasa. This was the same place where Sita was kidnapped by Ravana. According to a legend, rishi named Bhadra lived here, a boon child of Meru and Menaka and passionate devotee of Lord Rama, who was promised moksha by him. He did intense penance at the bank of river Godavari in Dandakaranya till Tretha Yuga was over. Lord Rama could not accomplish his promise given to Bhadra during Ramavatara. Pleased by Bhadra’s unselfish devotion, Lord Vishnu manifested himself as Vykunta Rama, went to his devotee and signaled his arrival by blowing Shanku, accompanied by Sita and brother Lakshmana and granted him moksha. The hillock on which deities were seated was the head place of Bhadra- Achala, the hill and, hence, the place was named Bhadrachalam, after the name of Bhadra Maharishi.
Another legend associated with this place is Pokala Dhammaka. She was a true devotee of Lord Rama and was an inhabitant of Bhadri reddy palem. It is said that Lord Rama appeared in her dream and informed her about the existence of idols on the Bhadragiri hills. On the very next day, she started searching the deities. On her way, she peeped into an anthill and found the deities hidden inside it. To take out the deities, she poured hundreds of pots of Godavari water on anthill. She used to perform pooja daily and got a mandapam built with the help of local villagers. Lord Rama also told her that one day one of his devotees will construct a temple at this site. Dhamakka waited patiently for it and that devotee turned out to be Bhakta Ramadas.
Temple remains open for public from 4:00AM to 9:00PM every day.
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Saswatha Pujas | |
| Seva | Price (INR) |
| Srimadramayana Parayana (Sarannavaratri Mahotsvam 9 Days) | 7500.00 |
| Saswatha Alankarm (Vaikunta Ekadasi Days) each Ubhyam | 7500.00 |
| Saswatha Nitya Kalyanam | 10000.00 |
| Saswatha Vahana Seva (Garuda, Hamsa, Aswa, Suryaprabha and for each seva) | 5100.00 |
| Saswatha Pattabbhishekam (on Pushyami Nakshtram day only) | 2500.00 |
| Saswatha Bhogam | 1116.00 |
| Saswatha Sahasra Namarchana (Utsavamurthulu) | 1000.00 |
| Saswatha Abhishekam (at Bhadra Temple) | 500.00 |
| Saswatha Laksha Kumkumarchana on Ekadasi Day | 2500.00 |
| Saswatha Alankara ubhayam rusum in Sarannavaratri Mahothsavams (each ubhayam) | 7500.00 |
| Saswatha Uchita Prasada Vitarana | 1116.00 |
Two major festivals are being celebrated every year which were introduced and traditionally celebrated right from the tenure of Bhakta Ramadas.
“Vykuntha Ekadasi” a religious festival that attracts lakhs(hundred thousand) of devotees from all over the country at this famous shrine Bhadrachalam, is celebrated in the months of either December or January in ‘Dhanur Masam’ on the day of either Pushya or Margasira shuddha Ekadasi. The ten day festival called Adhyayanotsavams and Dasavatara Mahotsavams(10 incarnations) of Sri Maha Vishnu are preceded to Vykuntha Ekadasi Fete. On Dasami day , the colourful Teppotsavam is a special attraction to the devotees . The deities of Rama and his consort Sita will be taken into rounds on the holi river Godavari on a well decorated “Hamsavahana” ( on the swan shaped motor launch ) amid display of crackers and stupendous illumination . And on the auspicious Vykuntha Ekadasi day on the early hours exactly at 5 am Vykuntha dwarams at Northern Gate will be thrown open for darshan to devotees .The devotees believe that they will attain salvation after having Vykuntha Dwara darshan .This holi festival attracts lakhs of pilgrims .Vaaggeyakaara Mahotsavams Vaaggeyakara Mahotsavams are being celebrated every year to commemorate Bhakta Ramadasa, a vaaggeyakara and an ardent devotee of Sri Rama. Dhyana Mandir, a prayer hall was constructed in 1972 in memory of Bhakta Ramadasa by Mr. Neelamaraju Venkata Sheshaiah, the then editor of Andhra Prabha by collecting funds from public through donations from Andhra Prabha (Telugu Daily News Paper) readers. Since then, the Vaggeyakaara mahotsavams are being celebrated during Mukkoti Ekadasi by inviting renowned musicians, Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams .
Another major festival, Sri Rama Navami (the most popular one at Bhadrachalam) is being celebrated on every ‘Chaitra shuddha navami ‘ on the auspicious ‘Punarvasu’ -‘Janma Nakshatra’ (birth star), of Lord Sri Rama. The Kalyanamahotsavam of Sri Rama with his consort Sita is celebrated on the holy occasion which falls either in the last week of March or first week of April. This divine festival is celebrated in a resplendent manner amid chanting of hyms by priests in Kalyanamantapam, richly engraved and exquisite sculptures depicting events from our Itihasas and Puranas, at the vicinity of stadium, where lakhs of devotees congregate to witness the fete with great devotional spirit and pay their owes for favours received or Solicited. The kalyanamahotsavam is celebrated on the holy occasion between 10 am and 12.30 pm and the sacred Talambralu showered on the deities exactly at 12 noon. This Sri Rama Navami Festival occassion is being broadcasted by All India Radio and telecast through Doordarshan on the festive day from 10 AM to 12 Noon. This is the only festival which is being covered by Akashavaani and Doordarshan as a Live programme all over the state (Andhra Pradesh).
Bhadrachalam Temple By Road
APSRTC bus facilities are available from the each and every city to other major cities in the state. District headquarters Khammam, 120 km away, and State capital Hyderabad, 325 km away, are connected to Bhadrachalam by public transport buses.
Bhadrachalam Temple By Rail
Nearest Railway station is Bhadrachalam Road station, also known as Kothagudem. It is situated 40 km from the Bhadrachalam city and taxi will cost about Rs 500 from railhead to the city. Other major railway junctions near Bhadrachalam are at Rajamundhry and Vijayawada.
Bhadrachalam Temple by Air
Rajahmundry Airport is the nearest one, 185 km away from the temple. Other being the Vijayawada Airport which is at a distance of 210 km. Nearest International Airport is at Hyderabad (325 km) and is well connected to major cities of India and abroad.
Bhadrachalam Temple, Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam
