The Historic Sri Rama Temple at Bhadrachalam - A V Shankaranarayana Rao

The cult of Sri Rama worship as a popular deity of the Hindus, dates back to about two thousand years. Even as early as in the 10th century, the immortal epic ‘Ramayana’ was rendered into Tamil by poet Kamban. The temple of Sri Rama at Bhadrachalam on the banks of river Godavari, first in the antiquity of Andhra Pradesh, is a living example and testimony of this great cult.

According to mythology, this sacred spot is held in great reverence, as Sri Rama himself stayed here with Sita and Lakshmana, before Sita was abducted by Ravana. It was here that a sage ‘Baadra’ had his ‘ashrama’ at the time of Sri Rama’s sojourn. Thus, this place came to be known after the sage as Bhadrachalam.

Unlike other famous temples, this temple is created by man - ‘manusha pratishta’. According to the local tradition, the origin of this famous temple is referred to a mendicant, who came to this place from Ayodhya, many centuries ago. He took his abode in the small hillock which overlooks the wide basin of Godavari river. The original idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, which are being worshipped today, were chiseled out by him, who later on built a small temple in the place.

© "Temples of Andhra Pradesh" by A V Shankaranarayana Rao, published by Vasan Book Depot, 45, 46 MVM Castello, Dr. TCM Royan Road, Bangalore 560 073. Website: www.mastermindbooks.com. Reprinted with permission.

<< Back