West Godavari Temples

Someswara Aalayam Temple
Location: Kotipalli, West Godavari
Deity: Lord Shiva



Someswara Temple Legend: This area is connected with Puranic legend and personages. It is here, according to legends, Indra, installed a great Sivalinga and offered Jalabhishekam to the Lord with the water from one crore rivers hence the name Koteeswara linga. Another legend states that the Moon-god got rid of his sin by bathing in the Pushkarini and worshipping the icon of Somasekhar installed under the guidance of Brihaspathi. He got back his lusture with the grace of Lord Siva; hence the deity is called Chaya Someswaraswamy. It lies 12 km off Draksharama in West Godavari.




Tirumala Mallikarjuna TempleTirumala Mallikarjuna Aalayam Temple
Location: Dwaraka (ద్వారకా తిరుమల), West Godavari
Deity: Lord Shiva

This shrine is famous in history as the famous Hariharakshetra and enshrines both Siva and Vishnu temples. The Siva Aalaya is located at the head, and the Venkateswara at the tail of the hill, which confirms the legendary description that the hill is the terrestrial form of Anantha - the divine couch of Srimannarayanan. Of course, the Venkateswara Aalaya has out- shadowed the Siva shrine. This temple lies 12 km off Bhimadole.

Gangeswaraalayam Temple
Location: Tadikalapudi, West Godavari
Deity: Lord Shiva

This lies in Tadikalapudi village at a distance of 20 km to Eluru in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. An ancient temple with a fascinating tale. It was originally built by Bhishma. The Sivalinga is called Gangeswara Sivalinga is Swayambhu.

Legend: It is believed that, once an ardent devotee was advised by Lord Siva to build an Aalaya for him in that sacred place itself, and if he neglected His bidding. He would grow to unusual height. Fearing evil consequence, the people built an Aalaya and drove a nail on the top of Sivalinga to stop its growth. Siva kept up His word and the devotees were blessed. There is another Aalaya for Sri Rama here and it is equally famous.

Golinageswara Swamy Aalayam Temple
Location: Nidadavole near Kovvuru, West Godavari
Deity: Lord Siva

This place was called Niravadyapuram after the title Niravadya of the Prince Vijayaditya of the Western Chalukyas. He built this temple after a cowherd found a big Sivalinga. The king diverted huge sums of money. The temple has many deities along with Rajarajeswari Devi, the consort of Lord Siva. When excavations were carried out intensively in 1943, many idols, such as Nandi and a big Sivalinga were found and installed in mini shrines.

Bhimavaram Someswara Temple
Location: West Godavari
Deity: Moon God Soma as Linga

Architecture: The temple tank is known as Chandra Pushkarini. The Someswara lingam (crystal) is said to glow differently depending on the phase of the moon. The Shivalingam is five feet high and is housed in a two-storied sanctum, with Annapurna - Parvati on the second floor.

Festivals: The Mahasivaratri festival is celebrated in great splendour here.


Bhavanarayanaswamy Aalayam Temple, Pattisam

Location: Pattisam near Polavaram
Deity: Bhavanarayanaswamy - Shiva



This is an ancient site and was called Swarnapuri and Ponnur. Chalukyas patronized the temple. This was the site for literary activities by the sages and literary luminaries. Great debates and vidya goshtis took place here. The deity Bhavanarayanaswamy, is said to have presiding over them and was called Sakshi Bhavanarayana Swamy popularly. The temple is big and possesses fine sculptures. It faces the east. It was built in the 11th century by the feudal lord Nalaparaju who ruled over Avuku, and emperor Kulothunga Chola added rare sculptures. The idol is Swayambhu. There are temples for Rajyalakshmi and Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy. A big Saras called Brahmasaras is held in great reverence here. Another object of great veneration is the Anjaneyaswamy temple right in front of the temple gate. The image is 37 feet high.

Festivals: The Kalyanotsav lasts for 8 days during Vaisakha, which commences on the seventh day in the bright fortnight of the month with rath yatra on the full moon night.


Ksheerarama Pancharama Temples, Narasapuram




Location: Ksheeraramam temples also known as Paalakollu are located near Narasapuram in the West Godavari belt of Andhra Pradesh.
It is considered to be one of the five-pancharama Shiva shrines of Andhra Pradesh. The five pancharama temples are Draksharama, Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Amararama.

Legends: The five Pancharama temples are dedicated to Shiva. Upamanyu, the son of Kaushika muni requested Shiva that he be granted the desired quantity of milk for the performance of his daily rituals and that Shiva caused the Ksheera Pushkarini tank to overflow with milk from the mythical Ksheera Saagaram (the milky ocean). Hence, the names Paalakollu, Dugdapovanam and Ksheeraramam. Rama is said to have worshipped at this shrine.

Architecture: The temple has a towering Rajagopuram. The white marble Shivalingam is called Ramalingeswara Swami as well as Ksheeraraameswaraswamy.