Amaravathi temple...One of the famous place in guntur dist

SUMMARY :

Amaravathi is on  the southern bank of the River Krishna in Guntur district.Amaravati is located in Sattenapalle Taluk,  35 km from Guntur and approximately 47 km from Vijaywada. Sattenapalle (sattenapalli) is a town and a municipality 20 miles west of Guntur City in Guntur district. Amaravati, an ancient city, locally known as Dipaldinne or 'Hill of Lamps',Amaravathi  is famous for its Amareswara temple where the Shrine of Lord Shiva  is worshipped in the name of  Amara lingeswara/ Amareswara. deriving its name from the first worshipping deity Indra, known as  the king of deities.The temple is one of the famous Pancharamas .The temple was later  developed by Sathavahanas. as Amaravathi was capital of their city,It was also called Dhanyakataka & Dharnikota.  (Town of Paddy)This place is also one of the Datta kshetras where Lord Dattatreya is worshipped. Amaravati contains a huge Buddhist stupa covered with marble sculpture built in pre-Mauryan times. which is 38 metres high and has a number of carvings describing the life of Buddha. Today Amaravati was considered the most sacred pilgrim centre of Buddhists in India

History :

As per Vajrayana traditional sources the Buddha preached at Dharanikota/Dhanyakatakam and conducted Kalachakra ceremony, which drives Amaravati back to 500 BCE.This shows that Dhanyakatakam (Amaravati) was a very important place at the time of composition of this tantra. Amaravathi was the capital of Andhra Satavahanas who ruled from 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE, Later Andhra Ikshvakus , Pallava kings ruled Krishna river valley. After then Eastern Chalukyas and Telugu Cholas took control over the region. Kota Kings were in control of Amaravati during the medieval times.Kakatiyas conqured  Kota kings in 11th century CE and Amaravati became part of the unified Telugu empire.

The stupa :

During the rule of emperor Ashoka a great Buddhist stupa was built at Amaravathi.The stupa was decorated  with carvings describing the life history of Buddha.Dharanikota near Amaravati was made  the capital of the city during the Satavahana period (2nd century BCE-3rd century CE), As the place between Krishna and Godavari rivers was an important place for Buddhism some ancient sculpture in low relief has been found here.During the decline of buddhism this stupa was also neglected .

In the year 1796 CE, Colonel Colin Mackenzie,  visited the site and  prepared drawings/ sketches of the place  later several European scholars including Sir Walter Smith, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Alexander Rea recovered many unearthed sculptures that were earlier decorated to the stupa. the stupa was  richly adorned with carvings which include the  teachings of Buddha,his  life history  and events of Jataka Stories,This Stupa  is India's biggest heap, built in 3rd century BC, was made of brick with a circular dome measuring 27 meter in height and  50 meters in diameter. The rectangular shape platforms of this Stupa is projecting into four cardinal directions measuring 7.20 X 2.10 meters each.

This stupa  related to the Vajrayana teachings of Kalachakra, is still practiced in Tibetan Buddhism. Amaravati artis known for its  three major styles of ancient Indian art, exhibit  Ancient Romanstyle,Gandhara style and the Mathura style. History revealed that Chinese traveller/ Buddhist monk called  Xuanzang visited Amaravati in 640 CE, stayed for sometime and studied 'Abhidhammapitakam and wrote a glorious account of Viharas and the residence of religious community that existed here.Recent excavations  revealed the  remains of an Ashokan pillar, which would be the first example of Mauryan art to be found in South India.

On the bank of river Krishna the famous  Amareswara temple is located on a small hill konwn as Krouncha Shaila in Amaravti about 15 miles away from Guntur.The Shrine of Lord Shiva  is worshipped in the name of  Amara lingeswara/ Amareswara.Lord Shiva in five linga forms  namely. Pranaveswara. Agesteswara. Koseleswara, Someswara and Parthiveswara is worshipped. Lord Amareswara  is accompanied by his wife Bala Chamundika facing towards south direction is considered as the fourth of the 18 goddesses.The temple is one of the famous Pancharamas other four include Draksharama,Kesheerarama,Bheemarama and Kumararama.The specialty of pooja here is Abhisheka done from the upstairs, as the tip of the shiva cannot be reached from the ground level. The temple was later  developed by Sathavahanas. as Amaravathi was capital of their city,This place is also one of the Datta kshetras where Lord Dattatreya is worshipped.

Amaralingeswara swamy is present on Krouncha giri, a small hill, The temple campus is very large and it has three circles. In the first circle we can see temples of Mahishasura mardini, Veerabhadraswamy, Omkareswara swamy ,Guru Dattareya, and Agasteswara swamy. In the second circle we can see temples of Vinayaka,Kalabhairava, Anjaneya, Nagendraswamy, Kumaraswamy and an idol of Lord Krishna under a tree. From the second  circle there are some steps showing  in upward direction to reach the third circle were we can find the temples of Kasi Viswanatha,Mallikarjuna, Pushpadanteswara swamy,and Kalahasthiswara. In the middle of these three circles the temple of Amaralingeswara swamy is present. where a tall Shivalinga can be seen. The base of Shivalinga in the temple  is not seen as the temple was built in two stairs hinding the base. which stops  the Krishna river entering the temple. The temple is surrounded by gopuras on all four sides in usual  Dravidian style.  The Amareswara temple walls having lot of inscriptions giving  information about the kings who ruled over the area.Another specialty of the temple is  the river Krishna, flows adjancent to the temple of lord Amareshwara in north- south direction for a short distsance while  the main river flows from west to east. The ritual dip in this river is considered to be holy and  praiseworthy.  

The present  shrine of Amaralingeswara (Lord Shiva) temple is associated with Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu who ruled the region before the advent of the British rule (See Amararama). People around Amaravati widely believe that he temple was constructed to install peace after a massacre of 1000 violent tribesman plotting against the king in a sinister carnival organized to capture them. Later Venkatadri Nayudu built a temple in the same spot upon guidance from scholars of his court. He was well-known for his benevolence , munificence and construction of a large number of temples and education centers in the Krishna river delta.

Extra temple Information :

•   one can visit the temple in between 6 am to 1pm and after 4 pm to 8 pm.

Amareswara swamy temple :

•   Ideal time to visit the temple is during the Festival of Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri and at the time of Kalyana Utsavas .

•   Darshanam tickets starting from Rs 20  (There is also free darshanam available).

•   Temple incharge include Guduru Subba Rao (Asst. Commissioner & Executive Officer)

     Sri Dabbugunta Venkateswarlu    (Superentendent)

•   Tourists can avail accomidation at the Tourist complex or PWD travellers bungalow.

TEMPLE POOJA RELATED INFO  :

•    The ticket for Nithanadana padakam is Rs 1116/- (once in a year annadanam is done)

•    The ticket for Nithya abhisheka padakam is Rs. 3016/-(Eligibility till one year)

•    Masa shivarathri Abhishekam ticket Rs. 216/- (Eligibility for 12 masa shivarathrulu)

•    Karthika masa Abhishekam ticket Rs. 516/-(Eligibility 1 month in karthika masa)

•    Dasara Navarathri ticket Rs. 216/-(Eligibility 10days at the time of dasara)

•    The Rs. 516/- ticket is eligible offer pooja to Amavaru on evry friday through out the year.

•    The Abhishekam  on our Gothranaman is done  once in a year as per our mentioned date ticket costing Rs516/-.

•    The Nithya pooja padakam ticket Rs.1516/- (Eligible for Ashtothara pooja till 1 year).


Stories Relating to Amaralingeswara swamy :

There are many stories telling the importance of Amaravathi temple.

1) History revals that the land of  Amaravati was earlier known as the house of the gods.( the devas. the yakshas  and the kinnaras). It said that in order to get relif from the illtreats of demon Tarakasura these gods performed penances to Lord Shiva to destory the mighty demon(Tarakasura ) .Lord Subramanya the son of Shiva kills Tarakasura. The legend  says that the Shivalingam was shattered into five pieces among which the  biggest piece of white marble is worshipped  at Amaravati temple. As soon as the linga fell here it was growing longer and longer towards the sky. Then Devendra planted a nail in it’s top and it stopped growing then the shiva linga bleeded and those blood markings are now revealed as stripes on the linga. it is said that the Lingam was installed by Lord Devendra/indra king of devas, Brihaspati the guru of the  Devas and Sukra the  preceptor of the Asuras at the end of Dwapara Yugam,  

2) Another story Panditaradhya Charitham telling the imporatnce reveals that  Sripati Panditaradhya known as the embodiment of Lord Mallikarjuna swamy. who was born directly from Srisaila Mallikarjuna swamy jyotirlinga at the time of Lingodbhava  on  Shivarathri . He started Surya Simhasana Panditaradhya peetham and spread devotion on Lord Shiva. Some Buddhist monks misguided the king,and the  king  want to test Panditaradhya's  greatness While  he was wandering  in Kondaveedu area,  The king removed the eyes of Sripati Panditaradhya three times, but  surprisengly Sripati Panditaradhya got his eyes back two timesn normally. On third time the king removed the eyes and destroyed them and also pour Calotropis milk ( poisonous plant) in sockets of Panditaradhya's eyes. But this time though he got his eyes back he was able to see only with one eye.Later when he visited Amaralingeswara swamy he got complete vision. This shows the greatness of both Sripati Panditaradhya and Amaralingeswara swamy.

3) Many years ago some people belonging to a paticular group called chenchu, looted the surrounding villages disobeying the king. It was called chenchula peturi. Knowing this  the king was angry and ordered  his army produce them infront of him.later the soldiers made the people to stand in a row and mercilessly chopped their heads. The king was punished by Lord Amareshwar  for mercilessly of kílling the innocent people.The king became blind and was unable to eat food because of  his false perception that the food seemed to be worms. As days passed the king became weak and suffered a lot. Then the ministers of the king called for great savant (pundits) to their kingdom asking them to show a way to get rid of their kings suffering. Then the pundits revealed the fact that the king was cursed for his sin of kílling innocent people. they advised the king to undertake Rudra abhisheka for lord Amareswara for 11 days 11 times a day which can make him get rid of his suffering.As said by the pundits the king  Immediately performed Rudraabhisheka for Lord Amaraswara with great devotion. then he was blessed by Lord Amareswara and  got his vision  back and was able to eat. Later Lord Amaralingawara  appeared in his dream and ordered the king to place shiva linga in the place he kílled the innocent people. The king obeyed the order and he placed 108 shiva linga in the places and built temples. It is believed that worshipping those shiva linga prevents the sin of kílling someone by mistake.

Transport :

As  per their intrest and convience there are many alternate modes of transportation available here.

By Air : Vijayawada Airport is the nearest one located 52 km from Guntur. there are many government and private buses available to Guntur.

By Train: Vijayawada Junction is the main junction Guntur is 32 km from here. Other nearby stations are Pedakkurapadu,Lingamguntlawhich are 19 km -20 km from Guntur approximately.

By Road: Amaravathi is connected with Guntur by well motorable roads. Excellent private and government buses takes to Amaravathi from Guntur.

Once you reach  the temple, walk towards the right side. where you will  find a small office selling tickets for different Poojas and darshans.