Manikyamba devi Shakti Peetha temple Draksharamam, Andhra Pradesh
Lord Bhimeswara Swamy temple is one of the Pancha Rama Kshetras and also one of the Trilinga kshetras. Manikyamba Devi is His consort. In the temple of Lord Bhimeswara Swamy, the Manikyamaba Devi temple is in the inner circle. It is one of the 18 major Shakti Peethas and Devis left cheek fell here.
The temple of Bhimesvara was built by the Chalukya Bhima-I, in the 9th century AD. The huge 8 feet high Sivalinga, was named after the monarch as Chalukya Bhimesvara. According to the inscription Chalukya Bhima was the son of the great Vikramaditya.
According to another legend, demon Tarakasura after doing great Tapasya was gifted an AtmaLinga by Lord Shiva.
Tarakasura committed many crimes and tormented the devas. So the Devas arranged Goddess Parvathi’s marriage with Lord Shiva and Lord Kartikeya was born. Shanmukha killed Tarakasura and destroyed the Atmalinga. The Atmalinga broken pieces fell at 5 places which became holy places known as ‘Pancharamams’. The first one is Amareshwara in Amaravathi, installed by Lord Indra; the second one is Someswara in Bheemavaram installed by Lord Chandra; the third is Ksheera Ramalingeswara in Palakollu installed by Lord Rama; the fourth is Kumara Rama Bheemeswara in samrlakota installed by Shanmukha and the fifth one is Bheemeswara who had shown himself in Drakshramam.
The rishis requested the Godavari River to purify the piece fallen but Godavari took her time to divert so Lord Shiva himself appeared in Draksharamam. After that Godavari came here at the request of Saptarshis. So here it is called SapthaGodavari. It is on the east side of the temple and called Pushkarini. According to puranas, Lord Shiva wanted to test Sage Vyasa and Vyasa could not get any food by alms in Kasi. The hungry Rishi lost got angry and cursed Kasi and Lord Shiva asked him to leave kasi. However Goddess Annapurna gave him food and asked him to go to Drakshramam, which is equivalent to Kasi. Hence Rishi Vyasa called it Dakshina Kasi and worshipped Lord Shiva here. Hence it also called Vyasa Kasi.
The Shivalinga is made of Crystal and huge – 2.6 meter or 9 feet in hight.
Timings for Darshan: 6.00AM to 7.00AM and night 7.00PM to 8.00PM.
Wednesdays: 6.00AM to 11.30AM and 3.00PM to 8.00PM
Rest of the days: 6.00AM to 12 noon and 3.00PM to 8.00PM.
Draksharamam Temple Daily Poojas Sevas:
1) Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam
2) Laghunyasam
3) Astottara Kumkumarchana
4) Mahanyasapurvaka Abhishekam
5) Sahasra Kumkumarchana
Draksharamam Temple Weekly Poojas Sevas:
1) Every Saturday Abhishekam
2) Every Monday Kumkuma Pooja
Draksharamam Temple Monthly Poojas Sevas:
1) Every Month Masa Sivarathri Abhishekam
2) Every Month Masa Sivarathri Kumkumarchana
Poojas Performed Draksharamam Temple:
Laksha Patri Puja
Laksha Kumkumarchana
Laksha Vattula Nomu
Surya Namaskaramulu
Ekadasa Rudramu
Mahanyasa Purvaka Abhishekamu
Sahasra Kumkumarchana
Laghu Vyasa Poorvaka Eka Vaara Abhishekam
Ashtotthara Kumkumarchana
Every Monday Masa Shivaratri Abhishekam
Every Monday Masa Shivaratri Kumkuma Puja
Every Monday Abhishekam
Every Friday Puja
Nomulu / Aksharabhyasam / Annaprasana
Special Darshan Ticket (On Festivals)
Keshakhandana
Upanayanamu
Monthly Abhishekam Ticket
Monthly Kumkuma Archana Ticket
Abhishekam at the time of Dasara Festival(For 10 days)
Kumkumarchana at the time of Dasara Festival(For 10 days)
Rudra Homam
Japam/Tarpanam / Nava Varaarchana
Nitya Kalyanam
Sthala Puranam
Sri Swamy vari Archana
Abhishekam / Kumkumarchana through Money Order
Ubhayam at the time of Dasara
Nitya Samuhika Abhishekam, Kumkumarchana(For One Year)
Draksharamam Temple Important Festivals Celebrated:
1) Vinayaka Chavithi
2) Dasara
3) Karthika Masam
4) Varalakshmi Vratham
5) Subramanya Swamy Shasti
6) Swami Kalyanam and Birthday
7) Shiva Ratri
Places to visit:
Close by the other 4 Pancha temples are there:
Amareshwara in Amaravathi, installed by Lord Indra, 979 km
Someswara in Bheemavaram installed by Lord Chandra, 4.6 km
Ksheera Ramalingeswara in Palakollu installed by Lord Rama, 73.6 km
Kumara Rama Bheemeswara in samrlakota installed by Kartikeya, 39.8 km
How to reach:
By air: The closest airport is in Rajahmundry 50 km.
By train: The nearest railway station is Kakinada 34 km which is well connected.
By road: Many busses from major cities of Andhara.
Accommodation: Many budget to 3 star hotels available.