Amararama Temple

Getting there

• By train

  The village has no railway connection.

• By road

  Amaravathi is 35 km north-west of Guntur. APSRTC buses run from Guntur, Vijayawada and Mangalagiri to Amaravathi.

Why devotees come here

Amararama Temple stands in Amaravathi, on the banks of the Krishna river. It is one of the five sacred Pancharama Kshetras, and the only one of the five on this river; the others lie in the Godavari region. Shiva is worshipped here as Amareswara.

Amararama is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras, Shiva temples that are counted as sacred in this region. The main deity is Amareswara, also called Amaralingeswara, and his consort Bala Chamundika is with him. Legend links the temple's origins to the demon Tarakasura, who won a boon from Shiva and then defeated the gods. Devotees believe Indra worshipped the deity here.

The temple is believed to date from the 11th century. Of the 35 inscriptions on its walls, the earliest is from 1129 CE. Kota chiefs and the Vijayanagara Empire supported the temple, and Sri Krishnadevaraya made notable contributions. Navaratri and several Kalyana Utsavas are held at the temple, along with Maha Shivaratri.

It is built in the Dravidian style, with four gopuras and a central vimana. The sanctum is raised, so a flight of steps leads up to the main deity. Inside stands a 15-foot white marble Sivalinga, and priests perform the daily rituals on a platform.

Festivals

• Magha Bahula DasamiMaha Shivaratri

  Large crowds of pilgrims gather to worship Shiva here on the day.

Tips for your visit

• The Venu Gopala Swami temple is also in the campus of the main temple.
• Nearby in the same village, the old Amaravati Stupa is a Buddhist monument that dates from about the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

Questions people ask