Visakhapatnam Archives

02/Sep/2022

Location:

Annavaram is a village on the banks of the Pampa River in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. There is a very famous temple in this village which is famous in the name of Annavaram Temple. There is a very famous and old temple of Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Bhagwan in the village. Veera Venkata Satyanarayana considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Such a holy and famous temple is found on the hill of Ratnagiri.

The hill is about 300 feet above sea level with lush greenery and the Pampa River surrounds the hill. The temple has 460 stones from the base of the hill.

Legend of Annavaram Temple

Such a holy and famous temple of Hinduism comes at the top of the hills and everyone knows that hill by the name Ratnagiri hill. Why was that hill named Ratnagiri, there is an old story behind it too.

It is said that once the god of mountains, Meruvu, and his wife Menaka, together did severe penance for Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu pleased to see their severe penance and gave both of them the boon of two sons. One of them had a son named Bhadra and the other was Ratnakar.

Bhadra also pleased Lord Vishnu by doing severe penance and God also pleased with his penance and granted him the boon of becoming Bhadrachalam and the form of Lord Shri Ram established on him forever.

Following in the footsteps of his brother, Ratnakar also pleased Lord Vishnu by doing penance. Pleased with his penance, Lord Vishnu granted him the boon of becoming Ratnagiri (hill) and Lord Vishnu himself sat on that Ratnagiri hill and the form in which he appeared was his incarnation of Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami.

History of Annavaram Temple

The famous temple of Satyanarayana Swami built in the Dravidian style in 1891 by Raja Ramnarayan, who was the zamindar of Gorsa and Kirlampudi estates. Lord Ramdev came in the dream of King Ramnarayan and ordered the construction of the temple. Raja Ramnarayan placed an idol on Ratnagiri hill and started worship. Later the temple constructed in the year 1933-34 and again in 2011-2012.

The glory and prosperity of Lord Satyadeva (Satyanarayana Swamy) widely described in Revakhanda of Skandapuram. According to the legend, Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara during his capture of Kalinga used the secret underground passage in the hills to attack the enemies. The famous Indian revolutionary Alluri Sitarama Raju used the secret underground in these hill ranges during the British Raj.

The temple we see today is the same old temple that everyone knows from Annavaram temple today and the idol of God in that temple is also on the same hill.

Annavaram temple built in the Dravidian style

The main temple here built in the form of a chariot and has four legs. The structure of the temple made according to the Agni Purana so that it looks like nature. The temple shown in the form of a chariot because that chariot represents the seven worlds of the world and at the top is the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord, where the Lord seems to be running the whole world.

Apart from the Annavaram temple, there also more important Prabhu Shri Ram temples and temples of Van Durga Devi and Kanaka Durga Devi and they worshiped with great reverence.

On the right side of Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy temple, there is a Ram temple, a resting place and on the left side, there is a Kalyana mandapam. Adjacent to the Ram Temple is the Vratala Mandapams and Bhojanshala. As a large number of devotees perform Vrata to Satyanarayana Swamy, there are many Vrata Mandapams around the temple. Also, there are many cottages on the mound behind the temple.

It is a Hindu tradition that newly married couples must observe Satyanarayana Swamy Vrat. Keeping the matter of fasting at home, fasting in the temple of Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy is considered to be the best. Some even insist on doing so.

The experience of the devotees is the sense of tranquility upon entering the Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy Temple. The entrance of the temple, the idol of Swami, and the Gali Gopuram are all very beautiful.

For the convenience of the travelers, arrangements have been made for Kalyan Mandap and Gauri Kalyan Mandap in front of the temple. Both the pavilions are also built-in new architecture.

In the northern direction of the temple, in July 1943, people can know the time, that is why the same clock is seen in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as ‘Sun Dial’.

Story from Sthala Purana

Formerly, the Anaraju kingdom was occupied by a powerful king. So Anaraju went to the forest in the grief of losing his kingdom. He wandered around and reached Ratnagiri hill. Staying there, he worshiped Satyanarayana Swamy. Swami pleased with Anaraju’s sense of devotion. Appearing to the king in a dream and saying, “Don’t worry, your kingdom will be yours…”, Satyanarayana swami went into the mountain forests of Ratnagiri.

After some time, the head of Undur Sansthan had a dream. The summary of the dream that the temple of Satyanarayana Swamy will be built on the hill of Ratnagiri and it will bring good. The officer wondered what was the meaning of that dream and immediately set off for the hill of Ratnagiri. Surprisingly, an idol of Satyanarayana Swamy appeared under the Ankudu tree on the hill.

And the head of the Undur Sansthan did not do delay. He immediately built a temple on Ratnagiri hill. He installed the idol he got in the temple. It is the Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy Temple.

Devotees believe that the wishes of those who visit the Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy Temple will be fulfilled immediately.

A large number of devotees from different states flock to the Sriveeravenkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple on Ratnagiri in Annavaram, East Godavari district. Lord Vishnu and Lord Parameswara measured here.

Pujas and Rituals

The traditional dress code came into force at the popular shrine Annavaram Satyadev temple. Like Tirumala Srivari Temple and Vijayawada Kanakadurga Ammavari Devasthals, it was decided to implement the traditional dress code in Annavaram. Accordingly, the authorities have taken various measures to create awareness among the devotees. In the Annavaram Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, Vratas are especially important. More than six lakh vratas are performed here every year. There will be eternal welfare for Swami and Ammavar. About seven to eight thousand couples participate in Nitya Kalyanam.

In addition to these, Suprabhata Seva, Ayushya Homam, Abhishekam to Ishwar, Sahasra Dipalakanrana, Pavalimpu Seva, Ashtottaram for Swami, Ammavars, Abhishekam on the day of Sahasram, Makha Nakshatra, Swarna Pusparchana, Harati Seva, Shiva Abhishekam, Pratyangira, Chandi Homams etc. are performed in the temple of Vanadurga Ammavari. Men participating in special pujas should wear panche, scarf, or kurta, pyjama, women saree, jacket or chudidar, chunni, children should wear only skirt, jacket, and voni. If the devotees do not bring traditional clothes with them, shops have been made available so that they can buy them.

A large percentage of devotees attend the Vratas, Kalyanam, and other programs in traditional clothes. However, as some come into the temple wearing modern clothes, a new rule is being implemented to completely block this.

Religious Services

A school of Vedas has been arranged on the campus so that all the students of Brahmins can study here. Facility for their accommodation and food is also available in the school. On the days of welfare and during the days of festivals, discussions on religious matters are organized here.

How To Reach Annavaram temple

Air:

Major airports that are on the east side of Annavaram are Visakhapatnam, and Rajahmundry on the other side. Journey of 2 hours and 1 hour respectively from Visakhapatnam, and Rajahmundry.

Train:

All trains that run between Visakhapatnam & Vijayawada normally stop at Annavaram station.

Road: