Veeravenkata Satyanarayana Swamy

Annavaram is a sacred centre on a hill top known as Ratnagiri. The presiding deity at Annavaram is Veeravenkata Satyanarayana Swamy. It is believed when Vrata is performed in the name of Satyanarayana Swamy by devotees, their wishes will be fulfilled. It is estimated on an average about one lakh Vratas are performed here every year by couples generally. Marriages, thread cermonies (upanayanam) are performed in large number. Chief festival days are Bhishma Ekadasi (Jan/Feb) and Kalyanotsavam, Vysakha Ekadasi (Apr/May) are important. It is situated on the banks of river Pampa about 3 km. from Annavaram.

Annavaram Pilgrimage Attractions

Location:

Annavaram near Kakinada, East Godavari.

Deity:

Satyanarayana. The presiding deity is installed along with Shiva representing the oneness of Shiva and Vishnu.

This temple is dedicated to Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami and is built atop the Ratnagiri. The temple resembles a chariot. The distance from the foot of the hill there is a path laid out in stone steps. The temple is of recent origin. There is no Sthalamahatmyam (epigraphic record) in the temple. The temple has its own choultries. The river Pampa is considered sacred and runs close to the temple. Devotees bath and then go to the temple since the temple has no tank of its own. There is also a pathasala-school for students. The Satyanaravana Vratham is dedicated to Vishnu Sahasranamam, which has to be performed on the Bhishma Ekadashi day, and Annavaram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Satyanarayanaswami where this Vratham is performed.

Legend:

There is an interesting legend about the discovery of the idol. The Lord revealed himself in a dream, where he told his vigraha was abandoned on a hill without worship and the local people must consecrate again. The local people discovered the idol at the foot of a tree, worship was offered and the idol was installed at the present spot. (The idol was discovered a little to the northeast of the main temple).

There is a yantra here based on the Tripad Vibhuti Narayana Upanishad, and is a part of the Devarshi Sakha of Atharvaveda. The shrine is constructed in two stories, the lower one contains the yantra, and the upper one contains the vigrahas of the Lord. The garba griha has four entrances. The center is like a panavattam under the Shivalinga, three peethas are constructed here and on top is the chiseled Beejakshara Samputi of the Yantra. At the apex there is a monolith pillar and on top is the idol of the Lord with the goddess to the right and Shivalinga to the left. The idols are exquisite and covered in gold.

On the ground floor of the sanctum are the idols of Aditya, Ambika, Gananatha and Maheswara at the four corners with the Lord in the centre forming the Vishnu Panchayatanas. The main temple is constructed like a chariot with the four wheels. In front of the main temple is the Kalyana mantapa decorated in modern style. There are other shrines dedicated to Ramalaya, Vana Durga and Kanaka Durga. Goddess Vana Durga is said to be seen here every night going around the temple, guarding the Lord. The temple is built according to shilpa shastra and reminds one of the Prakriti-universe. The chariot acts as a symbol of the saatloks (seven worlds) underneath, and the seven above, with the sanctum at the heart ruling the universe. The wheels depicts the Sun and the Moon. Thrikala archana is performed every day to the Yantra as well as the idols. Salagramas and Sri Chakram in crystal are worshipped along with the idols.

Festivals:

There are many festivals held in this temple including Kalyanam, Devi Navaratri in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sravana Sudd a Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, the Kanakadurga Yatra, the Prabha Utsavam, the Teppa Utsavam and the Jalatoranam.

History

According to the puranas, the presiding deity of the place blesses the devotees with Anina Varam (Wanted Boon) the place is called Annavaram.

The hillock by the side of the village is considered to be very sacred. Meruvu the Lord of the hills and his consort Menaka did great penance and begot two sons by the grace of Lord Vishnu. One was named Bhadra and the other Ratnakara. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu with his devotion and penance and with his grace became Bhadrachalam on which Lord Sri Rama had permanently settled. Ratnakara desired to emulate his brother and succeeded in pleasing Lord Vishnu by his penance to settle on him as Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy, Ratnakara remaining as Ratnagiri hill.

The temple of Sri Veera Venkata Satya-narayana Swamy is the main temple on the Ratnagiri hill. There is also a temple of Sri Rama and the shrines of Vanadurga and Kanaka Durga nearby. The temple of grama-devatha (village deity) is in the village at the foot of the hill.

It is said that Raja I.V. Rama-narayanam, the then zamindar of Gorsa and Kirlampudi estates, having been ordained by the Lord in his dream, traced the idol on the hill, worshipped it and installed it at the present spot on sravana suddha vidhiya of the telugu year Khara, 1891.

The Vishwakarma Brahmin stapathis architectural cognizance is at its best in sculpting this temple. The hillock it self is about 300ft above sea level, green fields all-round the hills and the pampa river encircling Ratnagiri. About 460 well laid stone steps leads to the top of it.

The main temple constructed in the form of a chariot with the four wheels at each of the four corners. In front of the main temple is the kalyana mantapa, constructed and decorated with modern pieces of architecture. As we go down the way, we come across Ramalaya and then the shrines of Vana Durga and Kanaka Durga.

The Akriti of any temple is, according to the Agni Purana, merely a manifestation of the Prakriti. According to this the chariot of the temple is intended as a symbol of the Seven Lokas and the seven Lokhas above with, the garbhalaya of the Lord, at the heart’s center ruling over the entire Universe.

The temple at Annavaram has been constructed to depict this idea concretely. The front side of the temple depicts the chariot. The Meru on the floor with the pillar at the center, and the idols at the top are intended to bring forth the idea that the Lord not only remains at the heart’s center but also permeates the entire universe. The wheels depicting the Sun and the Moon serve to remind us that this Juggernaut moves on the wheels of time, and goes on for ever and ever, Thus the Annavaram temple satisfies both the ritualistic values and the spiritual aspirations of the devotees.'