VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY TEMPLE
AT
EAST GODAVARI
Annavaram
is one of the most famous Holy Shrines in India and enjoying second place after
Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh
Annavaram is located about 72 kilometres from
Rajahmundry and 51 kilometres from Kakinada. This town is a popular pilgrimage
destination because of the presence of the beautiful Lord Veera Venkata
Satyanarayana Swamy Temple at the top of the Ratnagiri Hills. The temple is
located along the banks of Pamba River.
The Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy
Temple is located on the hill and is constructed in the Dravidian architecture
style. The presiding deith of Lord Satyadeva and His consort, Sri Anantha
Lakshmi are housed one and Lord Shiva the other side.
The temple is designed as a chariot with four
wheels, which are situated at each corner of the structure. The shrine is
two-storey high; and devotees can view the feet of the deity from the ground
floor, while the upper body of the deity can be clearly seen from the first
floor. The deity is 13 feet tall and in a cylindrical form.
The deity housed in the temple represents the
Hindu Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; and on the four sides of the
shrine, there are four other deities, namely Ganapati, Suryanarayana Swamy,
Bala Tripurasundari and Maheswara Swamy.
Apart from the main temple, there are other
temples in the vicinity. Devotees also can visit the temple of Lord Sri Rama,
temple of Kanaka Durga and the temple of Vana Durga. At the foot of the hill,
there is a temple dedicated to the village deity.
There are many
other attractions within the temple compound that visitors can see and enjoy,
such as the sun dial, which was constructed in 1943; the massive mandapam,
where 1,000 Satyanarayana Vratams can be performed simultaneously; and the Veda
Pathshala, where religious discourses are held on Kalyanam days and special
festivals.
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.
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.
By Air
Nearest airport is Visakhapatnam or Rajahmundry.
By Train
Annavaram railway station is located at main Chennai –
Howrah (Kolkatta ) railway line. Many trains stops here and from the railway
station the temple is 3 KM.
By Bus
The bypass road (NH - 5) goes straight and to visit the
temple take right turn ( while travelling from Vizag to Rajahmundry ) in the junction near the Annavaram. It takes two and
half hours from Visakhapatnam and from Rajahmundry side it will take 2 hours.
