Annavaram is one of the most famous Holy Shrines in India and enjoying second place after Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. On every auspicious occation – like marriage or Grihapravesh etc. – in the house of an andhra man Satyanarayana Pooja is a must.
The Annavaram Satyanarayana temple is 80kms from Rajahmundry, 120kms from Visakhapatnam, and 50 Kms from East Godavari District Head Quarters Kakinada Town.
The temple is built in the Dravidian style. The glory and richness of Lord SATYADEVA was widely described in Revakhanda of Skandapuranam. The presiding deity Lord Satyadeva with his consort Sri Anantha Lakshmi on one Side and with Lord Siva on the other side took his abode on Ratnagiri, which is named after Ratnakara, son of Meru the king of holy mountains. Like in all Divyakshetrams as surrounded and followed by holy rivers, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram is also followed by sacred Pampa River touching the feet of the hill. Lord Satyadeva the god of truth is showering his eternal blessings on mankind in his beautiful manifested form of the DIVINE TRINITY namely Hari Hara Hiranya Garbha Thrimurtyatmaka. Hence this is the temple that is attracting the Pilgrims of both Vishanava and Saiva devotees and thousands of pilgrims from all over the Country are worshiping Lord Satyadeva every day forgetting all sectional differences.
Enriched by the installation of SRIMATHRIPATHVIBHUTI VYKHUNTA MAHA NARAYANA YANTRA, which plays a dominant and important role with the power of attraction of both money and men (Dhana Janakarsha). The Peetham of Swamyvaru is highly adorned with the installation of Panchayatana, befitting the glory and sanctity of the deity. This famous yantra is a unique one, the like of which does not exist any where else in India.
It is believed that the place was known for constant food distribution (free feeding) by the benevolent people of the locality and that therefore the place was called by the name Annavaram(annam means food in Telugu). Another version is that because the presiding deity of the place blesses the devotees with anina varam (pronounced or 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 Ratnakar. 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 Satyanarayanaswamy, Ratnakara remaining as Ratnagiri (hill). Ratnagiri Hill ranges are said to be connected with two strategic incidents. Tradition says that Sri Krishadevaraya of Vijayanagar used the secret underground passages in the hills to attack the enemy from both sides during his invasion on kalinga kings. The Andhra revolutionary late Alluri Seetharama Raju had some of the secret quarters for himself and his followers in these hill ranges, when he rebelled against the British Rule.
The temple of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayanaswamy is the main temple on the Ratnagiri hill. There are also a temple of Sri Rama and the shrines of Vana Durga and Kanaka Durga nearby. The temple of gramadevatha”Nerellamma” (village deity) is in the village at the foot of the hill.
It is said that one Brahmin of the village by name Earanki prakasam got a dream wherein lord appeared and told him that his vigraha was left abondened on the hill without worship and they shall trace it and reconsecrate it. That Brahmin informed the said fact to Sri Raja I.V.Ramarayanam,the then Zamindar of Gorasa of kirlampudi estate, and both of them along with other villagers traced the idol on the hill, worshipped it and installed it. at the present spot on Sravana Suddha Vidiya of the Telugu year Khara (i.e.) 1891 A.D (Fasli 1301).
The main temple was constructed on the hill with the pleasing and distant view of Bay Of Bengal (11 miles) on one side and the row of Eastern Ghats on the other side the green fields alround the hills and the pampa River encircling Ratnagiri.The hillock itself is about 300 feet above the sea level.About 300 well – laid stone steps lead to the top of it.
Initially a small shed was constructed in 1891 when the idol was found. Later a temple was built in course of time with the cooperation of villagers and other devotees of the near by villages. Subsequently the temple was reconstructed during 1933-34, with locally available stone. Later when the same reached dilapiated condition, it was reconstructed during 2011-2012.
The main temple is 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 is held in great veneration and Devi is said to be seen even to this day in the nights, going about the holy precincts perpetually guarding the Lord’s premises.
The Akriti of any temple is, according to the Agni Purana, merely a manifestation of the Prakriti. This idea is further developed in the ancient texts, and the entire Slipa Sastra is based on the principle that the wall and the vimana of the temple should be so constructed as to remind a devotee, of the universe, and the Lord inside representing the Supreme Spirit which is the core and being of the entire Universe. According to these tests, the chariot is intended as a symbol of the seven lokas underneath, and the seven lokas above, with the garbhalaya of the Lord, at the heart 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 Jaggernaut moves on the wheels of time, and goes on forever and ever. Thus the Annavaram temple satisfies both the ritualistic values and the spiritual aspirations of its devotees.
The idol is about 13 feet high in a cylindrical form, the base being in the lower sanctum representing Lord Brahma and the top is in the upper sanctum representing Lord Vishnu. The middle portion represents Lord Siva. There are some temples representing the unity of Lords Hari and Hara in some places and this is the place where even Brahma who is generally denied temple worship, is clubbed with the other two, and the creator (Brahma), the protector (Vishnu) and destroyer (Siva) are worshipped simultaneously. The image of the lord forming a single idol representing the Trimurthis-Brahma, Vishnu and Siva is of unique attraction.
Satyanarayana Pooja: The most common Satyanarayana Pooja is very well organised. Pooja for several people is conducted at once. Families sit together and a preast is asigned to each family along with a photo of Satyanarayana and puja dravyas like flowers, kumkum harati etc. The mantras are recited over speakers and the preast asigned explains and guides the family.
The temple also conducts many other Poojas and can be booked online also.
Annadaana: Every day free Annadanam (Lunch) is bprovided to the devotees. Usually upto 5000 are fed freely everyday.
Accommodation: Devastanam administration has taken all measures for the piligram’s comfortable to stay at the Ratnagiri Hill. Visitors can avail different kinds of accomodation ranging from Normal rooms to A.C Suits in various choultries and guest houses on the hill. For the convenience of the casual visitors devastanam provided lockers to keep their luggage.
Accommodation for Performing Marriages : Marriage Party can reserve two rooms and Marriage Hall.
How to reach:
By Road
There are frequent Express buses from Visakhapatnam ,Rajahmundry and Kakinada.
Devasthanam is running buses from Down hill to Up Hill.
APSRTC Buses : A.P.S.R.T.C runs Buses for every Half An Hour Via Annavaram from Rajahmundry to Visakhapatnam and vice versa.
For Every 15 mintus buses are available from Tuni to Kakinada via Annavaram and surrounding Villages and vice versa.
By Train
Most of the trains passing between Visakhapatnam – Vijayawada will stop at Annavaram Station
By Air
The nearest Airport on east side of Annavaram is situated at Visakhapatnam. Annavaram is at 2hrs distance from Visakhapatnam.
The nearest Airport on the West side of Annvaram is situated at Rajahmundry. Annavaram is at 1hr distance from Rajahmundry.
