Draksharama - Draksharamam
Draksharamam is a shaivite shrine 185 km.
from Vijayawada, 17 km. from Kakinada, 40 km. from Rajahmundry and 466 km.
from Hyderabad. Draksharama is considered to be one of the five Arama
kshetras dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is located in East Godavari District
near Kakinada. The place also known as "Dakshina Kasi" (Southern Banaras)
along with SreeSailam and Kaleswara constitute the three sacred Shivalingams
of the State, giving its ancient name "Trilinga Desa".
The Bhimeswara temple at Draksharama has two prakaras. The inscriptions here
suggest that the temple was built by Bhima, the Eastern Chalukyan King of
Vengi(9th -10th centuries), when his kingdom was under attack by the
Rashtrakootas. The temple art thus shows the influence of a blend of
sculptural traditions of Chalukya and Chola styles.
The temple has four entrances in the outer prakara each marked with a
gopuram, facing the four cardinal directions. On the south is the entrance
to the inner prakara, which is lined by a pillared two-storeyed verandah.
The main temple is twin storeyed. Two flights of stairs lead us into the
upper level of the sanctum. This has a pillared pradakshina on three sides
and a Garbhagriha. Bhimeswara is enshrined in the form of a ten feet high
Shivalingam in this Garbhagriha. Another feature of the temple is the narrow
mantapam that is seen in the premises. Shiva's consort here is Manikyamba.
The temple walls and pillars are decoratively carved with mythological
figures.
Legend has it that the Saptamaharishis (Seven Sages) to achieve the ends of
their penance divided the akhanda (unbranched) Godavari river into seven
different streams at Draskharama. Bharadhwaja, Viswamitra and Jamadagni
streams known as Antarvahinies, were believed to have gone under ground.
There is Sapta Godavari Kundam (Seven river pond) near the temple where the
devotees bathe. Sivarathri attracts huge crowds of pilgrims.
STAHALA PURANA
Once Daksha Prajapathi decided to perform
a Yaga. In pursuance of the same, he had been to Kailasa to invite Gods and
Goddesses to sanctify his 'Yazna' and accept his hospitality. But when he
had been there, Lord Siva was in his Court immersed in his spiritual
splendour. But Daksha Prajapathi out of his ego of being the father-in-law
of Lord Siva, mistook the Lord's trance as indifference towards him. So,
being put out at the difference of his Son-in-law he came back without
inviting the Lord and the Lady to his sacrifice.
Sati in her womanish nature requested Siva to permit her to attend, the
sacrifice at her parental home, even uninvited and have the pleasure of the
performance and the association of her kith and kin. But Siva explained her
the tragic implications that she might have to face at her parental house
and let her to at her own wish. But, when she actually stepped into her
parental home, none greeted her or even just asked her a mutual exchange of
her well-being. Then Sathi was put out with the humiliation she had to face
amidst her own blood and then and there, decided to give up her body instead
of facing her beloved husband with a fallen face. So, she gave up her body
then and there and fell down dead. Siva having come to know of the tragic
end, sent his son 'Veerabhadra' to boot down the ego of Daksha.
Siva in his pangs of separation with Sati came down to her dead body and
shoultered the corpse over his shoulders and danced in 'Pralaya Thandava'.
At this juncture, the Lord Vishnu, the presenting, force of Universe, sent
his 'Chakra' to cut down the body of Sathi and redeem the grief of Lord
Siva. The Chakra came and cut the body of Sati into eighteen pieces feel in
eighteen parts of this 'Punyabhoomi' of ours and came to be known as 'Ashta
Dasa Peethas' and out of these eighteen Sri Manikyamba of Draksharama is the
Twelfth.
It is said that Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva has killed the demon
Tarakasura, on the request of the gods. The Shivalinga in the throat of this
ardent devotee of Shiva, Tarakasura, is said to have fell in five different
places that became the "Panchaarama Kshetras". They are Draksharama,
Komararama, Ksheerarama, Bheemarama and Amararama. It is also said that the
linga here was later installed by Vedavyasa.
Another legend says that the three demons Taarakaaksha, Kamalaaksha and
Vidyunmaali, who were the children of Tarakasura, have obtained the boon of
death by the arrow that could set afire their three cities at once. Finally
after the Tripura Samharam, when they were killed by Lord Shiva, all that is
said to remain was the Panchaarama lingas.
Famous Telugu poet Srinatha is said to have written Prabandha Kavya
Bhimakhanda about this sacred place.