Sri Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam, the abode of Lord Sri Rama had derived the name from “bhadra” (auspicious) and “achalam” (hill). Sri Bhadra, the son of Mount Meru and Menaka had done penance for having darshan of Lord Ramachandra. Bhadrachalam, situated on the northern bank of holy river Godavari and is famous for the Vaikunta Rama temple. This pilgrimage spot is situated in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam district. The sacred Dandakaranya forest where Lord Ramachandra spent the early portion of His exile prior to Sita devi’s kidnapping is located close to Bhadrachalam, making this area one of Puranic significance.

Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy with Sri Lakshmana, Bhadrachalam

At Bhadrachalam, Sri Ramachandra’s deity is in a very unique posture. The Lord reveals his full four-armed form in the temple, holding a bow and arrow in His lower hands and conch shell and discus in His upper hands. Sri Ramachandra is seen seated with Sri Sitadevi sitting on His left thigh. Standing next to Him is Sri Lakshmana with bow and arrow, affectionately guarding the Divine Couple. All three have their right hands in abhaya mudra, but interestingly, both Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana grasp an arrow in the same mudra (between the ring finger and thumb). Another interesting aspect of the Lord’s form is that the Lord holds His divine weapons – Panchajanya and Sudarshana- in reverse. Here, in Bhadrachalam, the Lord holds the conch shell in His right and discus in left hand. It is believed that the Lord holds Panchajanya in His right hand in order to sound it, and announce His arrival to Saint Sri Bhadra who was in the midst of doing penance.

During the 17th century, Pokala Dhammakka, a descendant of Sabari from the Ramayana was living near to the present Bhadrachalam. She was an ardent devotee of Sri Ramachandra. The presence of Vaikunta Rama and other deities in the middle of the jungle was revealed to this pious woman in a dream. She then spotted the site indicated in the dream, cleared the jungle and offered puja to the deities. With the help of local villagers she constructed a small temple for the deities. The present temple at Bhadrachalam was constructed by Bhakta Ramdas, and its construction is in itself an epic.

Sri Bhakta Ramadasa

Sri Kancharla Gopanna popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasa or Bhadrachala Ramadasa was born in 1620 AD in the village of Nelakondapalli. As per the last verse of his Dasarathi Satakam, his name was Gopanna the son of Linganna Mantri, belonging to Atreya Gotram. The Mantri surname is because of the fact that their ancestors were ministers of the king at the time. Born to Linganna Murthy and Kamamba, Gopanna was brought up as pious and devoted gentleman. He had developed good taste for music and was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. As a good singer he devoted his talents in singing in praise of Lord Rama. Many of his cousins and nephews were working in the administration of the royal treasury. His nephew Akkanna who was in the court of then Sultan Taani Shah of Golconda (Abdul Hasan Tana Shah the Nawab of the Qutub Shahi dynasty) had Goppanna appointed as the Tahsildar of Bhadrachalam.

Sri Vaikunta Rama Swamy with Sri Sitadevi and Sri Lakshmana

As a Rama bhakta, Sri Goppanna conducted the collection of taxes for the royal treasury while also devoting time for spreading the glories of Sri Rama Nama. During his course of duty he visited the temple of Lord Vaikunta Rama at Bhadrachalam. He was overwhelmed at the sight of Lord Vaikunta Rama. The temple was not in good shape and Goppanna felt strongly inspired about its renovation and reconstruction. He made an appeal to the people of the region to raise funds to this effect. As an agriculture dependent society, the villagers told him to use the tax collected with a promise to replenish the fund after the harvest. With this in mind, Goppanna spent the tax money towards the construction of the temple.

After completion of the construction, his misfortune began. Sultan Taani Shah of Golconda came to know of what Goppanna had done in Bhadrachalam, and he dismissed Goppanna from service for misappropriation of royal funds. Furthermore, the Sultan sentenced him for twelve years in imprisonment. Goppanna was kept in the prison at Golkonda and tortured relentlessly by the Sultan. During these twelve long years, Goppanna sought refuge in singing to Lord Rama to get away from the miseries he had to undergo. The out pour from his anguished heart is now popularly known as ‘Dasaradhi Sathakam’. His songs are a reflection of the bittersweet agony of his situation, and the ecstasy of his devotion to the Lord which took the form of ‘kirtanas’.

Sri Sita Devi, Bhadrachalam

On hearing His bhakta’s anguish, Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana went to the Sultan’s palace, woke up the Sultan, and paid the money due to the royal treasury on Goppanna’s behalf. The Sultan was perplexed to see the two effulgent youth, and in Their presence, the Sultan signed Gopanna’s release papers. Unaware about the repayment of the money, Goppanna awoke to find the signed release papers at his bedside. The mohars (the form of currency present at the time) repaid by the Lord were brought in front of the Sultan in the morning. The gold mohars had the Pattabhishekam scene on one side and the picture of another Rama Bhaktha, Anjaneya on the other side. The golden coins paid by Sri Rama are known as Ram Tanka coins. They can be seen even today at Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Vaari Devasthanam at Bhadrachalam.

Ram Tanka coins

The Sultan realized that he had made a grave mistake by imprisoning Goppanna, and that the two youth were none other than Lords Rama and Lakshmana. He gave all the mohars back to Goppanna, and requested him to continue his work in Bhadrachalam. Goppanna the Ramadasa spent the rest of his life and composed moving poems that inspired Saint Thyagaraja later. Ramadasa attained the lotus feet of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy at the age of 68.

Recently a movie about the life of Sri Bhakta Ramadasa was made in Telegu. Below is a clip of the song which shows the beauty of his prayers to the Lord, which were shaped by his intense suffering in prison. The movie increased awareness about the sacredness of the Bhadrachalam temple, and the illustrious life of Sri Bhakta Ramadasa.

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Bhadrachalam Rama

Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam (Telugu: భద్రాచలము) is a census town in Khammam district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Bhadrachalam Temple, where the presiding deity is Lord Rama, is an important site of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is situated on the banks of the river Godavari.

The town is connected to other major towns by rail and by road. Bhadrachalam is about 130 kilometers (approx. 82miles) from district head quarters Khammam and 320 kilometers from Hyderabad. The nearest railway station to Bhadrachalam is at a distance of 40 kilometers, in a town called Kothagudem. The railway station at Kothagudem was named as Bhadrachalam road due to its proximity to the important pilgrimage center. However, the Kothagudem railway station does not provide access to many important destinations, and hence to travel to other cities such as Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, etc., the district head quarters, Khammam is the nearest Railway station. Bhadrachalam's name has been derived from "Bhadragiri" (Mountain of Bhadra).

This shrine was built by a devotee of Lord Rama, Kancherla Gopanna popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu in the 17th century (1630 A. D.). Gopanna was the Tasildar of Bhadrachalam (in the second half of the 17th century) is said to have utilized money from the government treasury to build this temple, and was imprisoned in a dungeon at Golconda. Lord Rama is said to have miraculously given the Sultan the money spent by Gopanna, after which he was released. Gopanna then became Bhadrachala Ramadasa, and went on to compose innumerable number of songs in Telugu in praise of Rama.

Visiting places

Parnashala This is supposed to be the exact spot where Rama, during his vanavasa in Dandakaranya, constructed a hermitage and spent his exile with his concert Sita and brother Laxmana. Agastya had selected this spot for Rama and is about 35KMs from Bhadrachalam. The picturesque display of some scenes of vanavasa could be seen at Parnashala. One can see the foot prints of Sita devi, Mosaic of Maarecha in the guise of golden deer and Ravana in the guise of Sanyasi for Bhikshatana. Also found in the vicinity are Sita Vaagu-where she had bathed and collected the turmeric and Kunkum from near by stones and the marks of her saree on the rock near Sita Vaagu. These are all the visiting places for the piligrims. As Ravana kidnapped Sita, the deity at Parnashala is called Sokarama. The tracks of the chariot of Ravana while kidnapping sita can be seen on the mountain on the other side of the river bank at Parnashala temple. Jattayu Paaka (Yetapaka) This Place is situated from 2Kms away from Bhadrachalam. According to Itihasas, the bird Jatayuvu, a devotee of Rama had obstructed Ravana while he was proceeding on the chariot after kidnapping Sita. After the fearful battle between Ravana and Jataayuvu, the heavily injured bird had waited at this place in search of Rama. A wing of this bird fell at Rekkapalli, about 55 Kms from here, in V.R. Puram Mandal. Dummugudem Here Rama is called the Atmarama. The story reveals that Rama killed 14000 demons headed by Kharadeoshana. As the village was said to be built upon the ashes of these demons, the place is named after as Dummugudem. Gundala It is a place 5 Kms away from the sacred town Bhadrachalam, where springs of hot water could be traced on the river bank when we dig a pit at any place in this area. It is believed that the divine trios (Brahma Vishnu Maheswara) had their dips in winter season according to Brahma Purana. Sree Rama Giri This place is situated on the bank in the down stream of river Godavari, about 55 Kms from here. The deity of Yoga Rama Temple is on a hill and is named as Ramagiri.

Fairs and festivals

Two major festivals are being celebrated every year which were introduced and traditionally celebrated right from the tenure of Bhakta Ramadas. "Vykuntha Ekadasi" a religious festival that attracts lakhs(hundred thousand) of devotees from all over the country at this famous shrine Bhadrachalam, is celebrated in the months of either December or January in 'Dhanur Masam' on the day of either Pushya or Margasira shuddha Ekadasi. The ten day festival called Adhyayanotsavams and Dasavatara Mahotsavams(10 incarnations) of Sri Maha Vishnu are preceded to Vykuntha Ekadasi Fete. On Dasami day, the colourful Teppotsavam(boat festival) is a special attraction to the devotees. The deities of Rama and his consort Sita will be taken into rounds on the holy river Godavari on a well decorated "Hamsavahana" (on the swan shaped motor launch) amid display of crackers and stupendous illumination. And on the auspicious Vykuntha Ekadasi day on the early hours exactly at 5 am Vykuntha dwarams at Northern Gate will be thrown open for darshan to devotees. The devotees believe that they will attain salvation after having Vykuntha Dwaradarshan on the auspicious day. This holy festival attracts lakhs of pilgrims. Vaaggeyakaara Mahotsavams Vaaggeyakara Mahotsavams are being celebrated every year to commemorate Bhakta Ramadasa, a vaaggeyakara and an ardent devotee of Sri Rama. Dhyana Mandir, a prayer hall was constructed in 1972 in memory of Bhakta Ramadasa by Mr. Neelamaraju Venkata Sheshaiah, the then editor of Andhra Prabha by collecting funds from public through donations from Andhra Prabha (Telugu Daily News Paper) readers. Since then, the Vaggeyakaara mahotsavams are being celebrated during Mukkoti Ekadasi by inviting renowned musicians. Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams Another major festival, Sri Rama Navami(the most popular one at Bhadrachalam) is being celebrated on every 'Chaitra shuddha navami ' on the auspicious 'Punarvasu' -'Janma Nakshatra' (birth star), of Lord Sri Rama. The Kalyanamahotsavam of Sri Rama with his consort Sita is celebrated on the holy occasion which falls either in the last week of March or first week of April. This divine festival is celebrated in a resplendent manner amid chanting of hyms by priests in Kalyanamantapam, richly engraved and exquisite sculptures depicting events from our Itihasas and Puranas, at the vicinity of stadium, where lakhs of devotees congregate to witness the fete with great devotional spirit and pay their owes for favours received or Solicited. The kalyanamahotsavam is celebrated on the holy occasion between 10 am and 12.30 pm and the sacred Talambralu showered on the deities exactly at 12 noon. This Sri Rama Navami Festival occassion is being broadcasted by All India Radio and telecast through Doordarshan on the festive day from 10 AM to 12 Noon. This is the only festival which is being covered by Akashavaani and Doordarshan as a Live programme all over the state (Andhra Pradesh).

History of temple

A sacred place that attracts lakhs of devotees from all over the world, it is the abode of Lord Rama (The seventh incarnation of SriMahavishnu). This hill place which is encircled by holy river Godavari flowing towards southern direction is the famous shrine Bhadrachalam-The name derived from Bhadragiri (Mountain of Bhadra-a boon child of Meru and Menaka). According to a Ithihasas, the significance of this shrine dates back to the Ramayana Era. This coherent hill place existed in "Dandakaranya" Of Ramayana period where Rama with his consort Sita and brother Laxmana had spent their vanavasa- and Parnashaala(the place connected to the famous Golden Deer and the place from where Sita was abducted by Ravana.) is also in the vicinity of this temple site. It is at this Mandir site that, long after Ramavatara, Bhagawan Mahavishnu manifested Himself as Rama again to fulfil a promise He made to His Bhakta Bhadra, who continued his Tapas through Yugas, praying for the grace of the Bhagawan Sri Ramachandra murthy.

Exigency of Incarnation
The history depicts that the need emerged for the incarnation of Vykuntha Rama to fulfill a long desire of his ardent devotee Bhadra.

Maharshi Bhadra
Bhadra performed penance at the bank of river Godavari in this " Dandakaranya" to get grace of lord Rama and subsequently in the countenance of his beloved God-the exulted "Rishi" implored Rama to be seated on his head. But Rama who was in search of his consort Sita, gave promise to his Bhakta that his desire would be fulfilled on his way back, after finding Sita and accomplishing the process of punishing the wicked Ravana and establish 'Dharma'. Thus the sage had been in continuation of the frightened penance as Rama could not accomplish the promise in Ramavatara. Then, Sri Mahavishnu manifested himself as Vykuntha Rama and rushed to his devotee Bhadra, signaling his arrival by blowing 'Shanku'(Conch), accompanied by his consort Sita and brother Laxmana, resembling that of 'Gajendra Moksham'-Thus, the moorthies of Rama (having four hands)-Shanku(Panchajanya-Conch)on the right, Sudarshana Chakra at his left and Dhanurbhana (Bow and Arrow in the rest two hands), Sita had condescended on the left lap of Rama and brother (at Rama's left) have existed. And the hill place where the Deities were seated on, was the head place of Bhadra -achalam (hill), thus this shrine was transformed into Bhadrachalam.

The idols of Vykuntha Rama, Laxmana and Sita were found by Pokala Dhammakka. Pokala Dhammakka, an ardent devotee of Rama lived in the 17th century and was an inhabitant of Bhadrireddypalem, a mile away from this holy place. On one fine night, she had darshan of Rama in her dream who said "the saints and sages are worshiping my embodied moorthy settled on Bhadragiri" and asked her to trace them, perform pooja and attain salvation. On the very next day morning she started searching for the idols-peeped into an ant-hill and found the idols hidden in it. She poured hundreds of pots of Godavari water on the ant-hill which tardily dissolved and gave way for the appearance of the hidden Deities. Since then, she used to perform pooja daily and offer 'naivedyam' with fruits fallen from near palmyra tree and constructed a mandapam of thatch hut with the help of local villagers. Bhagawan Rama told Dhammakka that at a later date, one of his devotees would construct a Mandir at this site. Dhammakka waited patiently for the devotee. The devotee turned out to be Bhakta Ramadas.

Bhakta Ramadas and construction of temple
Bhadrachalarama temple was constructed by Kancharla Gopanna popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas in the year 1674 A.D.

Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as "Bhakta Ramdas", a fervent devotee of Rama, was born to Linganna Murthy and Kamamba in Nelakondapalli village of Khammamett Taluk in 17th century (1620 AD). He was nephew of Akkannna, the administrative head in the court of Nawab Abul Hussan shah known as 'Taneshah' of Golkonda (he was the last ruler of Golconda before Aurangazeb captured it in 1687A.D.) and was appointed by him as Tahsildar of 'Palvoncha Paragana'. Thus he was discharging his official duties earnestly and collecting revenues due to the Nawabs in continuation of daily preaches -Chanting of 'Ramanama' and the feeding the poor at his house. Ramadasa, who heard the news that the villagers of palvoncha paragana were proceeding to witness a Jatara at Bhadrachalam , became curios and he too visited Bhadrachalam. He found the deities in an amazing appearance. Ramadas, then asked the villagers to contribute liberally for the construction of the temple. After the contributions were found to be insufficient, the villagers appealed him to spend the revenue collections for the construction of the temple with a promise to repay the amount after harvesting the crops. Accordingly, Ramadas constructed the temple with an amount of Rs 6 Lakhs collected from the land revenues with out the permission of the Nizam Nawab.

When the temple reached to the nearing completion, he had a problem of fixing 'Sudarshana Chakra' at the crest of the main temple. He was deeply distressed and fell into sleep. On the same night, Rama in his dream asked him to have a holy dip in river Godavari where he will find that-accordingly. On the next day morning Gopanna did so and found holy Sudarshana Chakra in the river with out much difficulty. He presumed that Sudarshana Chakra itself was shaped up with the divine power of his beloved God Rama. Soon after the construction, his miseries started. He was dismissed from service for mis-utilisation of revenue for constructing the temple and was kept in jail for 12 long years in Golkonda Fort and was tortured. Unable to withstand the miseries, Ramadas implored Rama to relieve him by singing many praising and emotional songs which got popularized from the stanzas of 'Dasaradhi Sathakam' and 'Keertanas' of Bhakta Ramadasa.

The Nizam Nawab Tanishah, the then ruler of Nizam's territory became a devotee of Rama who realised the devotion spirit of Ramadas after his imprisonment and took over the charge of temple administration. This resembles the communal harmony amongst the Hindus and Muslims. The Nizam Nawab realised Ramadas'devotional spirit and dedication towards Rama, when Rama and Laxmana repaid 6 lakh Mohurs exposing themselves as Ramoji and Laxmoji, the servants of Bhakta Ramadas to get release of their devotee from the imprisonment. Thanisha gave voucher to these divine looking persons who approached him at his house during late night. Then they kept the voucher under the pillow of Gopanna where he was jailed. Tanishah who woke up on the very next day morning realised that those divine looking persons were none other than Rama and Laxmana and made arrangements to get release of Gopanna and prayed to forgive him by placing all the Gold Mohurs received last night at the feet of Gopanna. But, he refused to take back those mohurs except two as a mark of divine significance. (Those two can still be seen kept in Bhadrachala Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy vaari Devasthanam).

Influenced by the majesty of Lord Rama, Golkonda Ruler Tanishah earmarked the income derived from the said Palwoncha paragana which came to Rs 20,000 and odd for the maintenance of the temple which was continued during Nizam's reign and offering Pearls (Mutyala Talambralu) on the occasion of kalyana mahotsavam (Sri Rama Navami) to Deities on an elephant through a specially sent messenger. That procedure of sending pearls to the Deities is still followed by present state Government and continues to offer during Sri Rama Navami Festival (Kalyana mahotsavam). Tumu Narsimha Dasa,Tahasildar of Palwoncha paragana,along with his associate Varada Ramadasa came here from Guntur and took over the charge of Bhadrachalarama temple after Ramadas made inscripted the performance of Nitya Poojas and sevas right from early morning "Suprabhata Seva" till night "Pavalimpu Seva" before closure of the temple as "Silaasaasanaalu" on these two pillars. This inscription gives details of daily dictum and daily rituals also.

The historical temple constructed by bhakta ramadasa

The Sree Seetha Ramachandra Swamy shrine at Bhadrachalam, the most famous temple in the country dedicated to Lord Rama, is situated on the left bank of the Godavari river. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus, considered to be one of the greatest holy shrines in South India with a very rich and unique historical background. The Temple was constructed in the 17th Century by the local Tahsildar, Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas, a fervent devotee of Lod Sree Rama.

The puranic and historic facts relate that Lord Rama long after he had shed his mortal coils manifested himself to save his devotee Bhadra Maharshi whom he promised 'moksha' after intensive prayer. That is why the village is named after Bhadra as Bhadradri or Bhadrachalam. Srirama appeared in a dream to a woman called Pokala Dammakka and informed here about the existence of vigrahas on Bhadragiri hills. To her surprise she found the "Vigrahas" and put up a modest structure. This was the origin of the present temple.