Somarama Temple Bhimavaram

Getting there

• By air

  Rajahmundry Airport, 80 km from Bhimavaram, is the nearest.

• By train

  Bhimavaram Town station has daily trains to Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupathi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Nellore and Hyderabad.

• By road

  National Highway 216 passes through Bhimavaram, and APSRTC buses run from Bhimavaram bus station.

Why devotees come here

Somarama Temple stands at Gunupudi in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district. It is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras sacred to Shiva. Shiva is worshipped here as Someswara, and Devi Annapurna has her shrine directly above the sanctum.

Somarama is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras, the temples of Shiva linked by one story. Legend says a Sivalinga broke into pieces, and Surya set up the pieces where they fell and built temples over them. At Bhimavaram, the piece is said to have fallen from the neck of the demon Tarakasura and to have been installed by Chandra, the moon. That is why the linga is called Someswara. Devotees believe Chandra freed himself of his sins by worshipping Shiva here.

The earliest inscription in the temple dates to the Eastern Chalukya king Saktivarma I (1001 to 1011 CE). It is a centrally protected monument of national importance.

A large gopuram marks the entrance, and a 15 ft pillar stands in front of the main door. A big Nandi sits in the hall. Devi Annapurna's shrine is built above the sanctum, and Devi Adilakshmi is seen to its south. The linga is said to change colour with the phases of the moon, and this is said to happen on full moon day and Amavasya.

Festivals

• Maha Shivaratri nightMaha Shivaratri

  One of the main festivals here, and pilgrims rush to the Shiva temples of the area.

• SarannavarathriSarannavarathri

  The other main festival celebrated at the temple.

• Kartika masamKartika Masam Mondays

  Large crowds of devotees come, especially on the last Monday of the month.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the Chandrakundam, a lotus pond at the front of the temple, and the Soma Gundam pushkarini on the east side.
• Hanuman, Kumara Swamy, Navagraha, Surya and Ganesha are installed inside, so allow time to see each shrine.
• Ksheerarama, another Pancharama Kshetra, is at Palakollu, 20 km away.

Questions people ask