Draksharama ,Andhra Pradesh,India is the place where the Devi‘s Left Cheek fell.
These 51 sylllables are represented in the 51 Shakti Peetas.
The temple has four entrances in the outer prakara each marked with a gopuram, facing the four cardinal directions. On the south is the entrance to the inner prakara, which is lined by a pillared two-storeyed verandah. The main temple is twin storeyed. Two flights of stairs lead us into the upper level of the sanctum. This has a pillared pradakshina on three sides and a Garbhagriha. Bhimeswara is enshrined in the form of a ten feet high Shivalingam in this Garbhagriha. Another feature of the temple is the narrow mantapam that is seen in the premises. Shiva’s consort here is Manikyamba. The temple walls and pillars are decoratively carved with mythological figures.
How to Reach Draksharamam.
Draksharamam is 28 km from Kakinada .
And 40 km from Rajahmundry .
Nearest Railway stations are Kakinada, Samalkot,and Rajahmundry.
Airport:Kakinada,Rajamundry.
Temple Timings.
Morning: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Evening: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
But in every month on the day of Masa Shivaratri and in a year on the day of MahaShivaratri temple is opened all the time starting from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Draksharama is also one of the Five Powerful Temples of Lord Shiva.Pancharama Kshetras of Shiva.
According to local legend, the temple was built by angels in one night. The construction of the perimeter wall could not be completed before sunrise and still stands incomplete. Several attempts have been made to construct the uncompleted part of the wall but all those efforts have failed with the constructed wall collapsing within a few months.
The Siva deity is known as Bhimesvara Swamy. The temple is situated on the eastern bank of Godavari River. The consort of Lord Bhimesvara is Manikyamba. According to local belief the Siva linga at the temple was installed and established by the god Surya. Maha Shivaratri, Devi Navaratrulu, Karthika Masam, and Dhanurmasam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple.
108 Shivite temples were built after 800 around this temple in a radius of 40 kilometers. Some purohits have this list.
The village is called Dakshina Kasi. The Siva Linga in this temple is said to be one large crystal which is 2.6 meters high.
The Legend:
There are three stories related to Manikyamba devi. First one is, A Brahmin widow made a golden idol to remember her ďied daughter. But after some time, the idol got talking power. This idol was decorated with Manikyas(gems), hence the name Manikyamba or Manikyeswari. Bhimadeva, a new king came to this area taken that idol and worshiped her as his Kula devata. Some stories also tells us that Manikyamba name comes from a word Mainakamba, That means she was the daughter of Menaka devi, wife of Himavanta. Gradually the word Manikamba turned as Manikyamba in time period.
There is another important story regarding Manikyamaba devi. Manikyamba devi is a daughter of a prostitute. One day she saw Lord Bhimeswara in her dream, and decided that she will marry Lord Bhimeswara only. She showed great devotion towards Lord Shiva, and finally got Lord Bhimeswara swamy as her husband. A great Poet Srinatha, belonging to 14th century also mentioned this story in his great work, Bhimakhanadam. From there onwards Manikyamba devi was worshiped as Mother goddess. Manikyamba devi also considered as Kula devata of vesyas.
On every Ekadasi day Lord Bhimeswaraswamy and Manikyamba devi ekanta seva will be performed. Eight slokas will be sung by priests regarding Manikyamba devi and Bhimeswaraswamy and their romantic love story.Fridays also important days to worship Manikyamba devi. Kumkumarchana will be done in Fridays.
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