Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/yvPebSj1gNA
Location: "X25X+QC5, Bikkavolu, Andhra Pradesh 533343"
References:
https://eastgodavari.ap.gov.in/temples/sri-golingeswara-swami-vari-temple-biccavolu/
https://www.tripoto.com/india/trips/10th-century-temple-biccavolu-5c84bfc3be64c
https://www.visittemples.com/hindu/srigolingeswaraswamytemplebikkavolunearkakinadaandhrapradesh
Bikkavolu is
a village in East Godavari district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. The village is known for its famous Subrahmanya Swamy Temple.
During the reign of the Vengi chalukyas, Biccavolu was known as “Birudanka Rayapuram”. Located around 30 KMs from Kakinada, 40 KMs
from Rajamhundry and 55 KMs from Amalapuram, Biccavolu is known for its
Beautiful Stone Temples of Lord Shiva. All the temples were constructed by the
Eastern Chalukyas in the 9th and 10th century, the
temples are a fine example of the architectural grandeur that was typical of
the Dravidian style. A stone sculpture of Ganesha in the village is a
masterpiece of Chalukyan craftsmanship.
Sri
Golingeshwara Swami Temple is also locally called as Sri Kolingeshwara Kumara
Subramaniya Swamy Temple. Initially the Temple's name stood as Sri
Golingeshwara Swamy Temple but gradually Subramaniya Swamy's fame and
name spread like wild fire and in recent days many local people call this
Temple as Subramaniya Swamy.
Legend:
Culture and History
The name
of the village Biccavole is derived from the ruler Turupu Chalakya Vamsam
(849-892 AD) and the rulers constructed
number of temples during the period around the Biccavole village. The
village is named after the King Gunaga Vijayaditya III. The Golingeshwara
Temple is situated in the main Biccavolu town and is around 33 KMs from
Kakinada. In the vicinity of the village, but in the fields stand three temples, and a monolithic Ganesh and within
the village another group of three Siva temples still under worship, including
Ganesh in the fields.
Main
Golingeshwara Temple: The central shrine of Golingeshwara Temple is filled with brilliant
iconography all through along with a shivalingam with 33 lines sasanam on the
door jambs. The masterpieces of Eastern Chalukyan architecture is visible all
throughout the temple. 2 exquisite masterpieces one including Shiva and Parvati
in the form known as Alingana Chandra Sekhara Murthy and the other a seated
figure of Ganesh are there in the Mukhamandapam.
The
complex houses three shrines, all of which are dedicated to various
manifestations of Lord Shiva. The linga in the main shrine represents Sri
Gopaleswara Swamy and the adjacent room houses an idol of Kumara Swamy. There
is a platform in the temple complex where several turtles brought from the
nearby pond are being taken care of. There are also Chalukyan-style Shivalingas
and Nandi in the courtyard of the temple. Opposite the complex is another
temple dedicated to Laxmi Ganapathi. It houses a stone sculpture of Lord
Ganesha, a fine example of Chalukyan craftsmanship.
It is
interesting to note sculptures of Gautama Buddha at the top of some of the
gopurams.
They might be relics of buddhist worship in at the site in the bygone era.
Additional
Information: The
Temple is East facing with a four tiered Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram has been
coloured in Yellow and opposite to it is a huge car parking area and more than
50 cars could be amply parked. There is a tinned roofing with 8 pillars just
before the Rajagopuram. This Temple is said to be very old and now the Temple
has been taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Temple is
slightly elevated and the Devotees may have to climb 4 steps to reach the premises.
There is a pair of Dwara Paalakas at the entrance of the doorsteps. There is a
Bali Peedam and a Dwajasthambam before which 3 Nandhi Vaahanam in black Idols
and one in the form of a standing Panchaloga Nandhi is found. Close to the
Dwajasthambam is a black Idol for Goddess Goumari who is one among the
Sapthamathas. Just before entering the Sanctum Sanctorum is a big bronze gong
and above the threshold is a rectangular Image of Lord Shiva, Parvathi,
Ganapathi and Subramaniya Swamy. On entering the Main Shrine are the Idols of
Subramaniya Swamy, Bhadrakali Samedha Veerabadrar, Ganapathi, Rowdhirini Devi,
Mahisharasura Mardhini, Maheshwardu, Goddess Parvathi Devi. The Temple is very
unique since the entire family of Lord Shiva could be seen in and around the
Sanctum Sanctorum reverred as Idols. Shri Golingeshwara Swami who is an
incarnation of Lord Shiva is seen in the Sanctum Sanctorum as a Brahmma Sutra
Shiva Lingam which means that there is an angled circular line running across
the Shiva Lingam which is very rare. Actually the Eastern Chalukyas had built
around 108 Shiva Temples which means that they have built a Temple every time
they won a war. Of the 108 Temples thus built, only 4 still remains and this
Temple is one among the 4 Temples which is still surviving. All other Temples
had been destroyed either during Moghul Invasion or due to vagaries of Nature.
On the
outer peripherals there are a spate of Naga Devathas Idols smeared with Kumkum
and Turmeric and kept beneath a Tree. Other than this there are few other
Nandhi Idols and Shiva Lingams in the outer peripherals. There are Sub Shrines
for Raja Rajeswarar and Chandrasekarar who are worshipped as Brahmma Sutra Shiva
Lingam. There are two Sthalams for Subramaniya Swamy. One is located in Chennai
and known as Kumarakottam whereas the second Sthalam happens to be here in Bikkavolu. There
are several turtles in a nearby pond close to the Temple and a few of them
enter into the Temple premises and could be seen moving here and there. The
Devotees do no harm to these turtles but take photographs and enjoy to be with
them. Pradhosham, Maha Shivarathiri, Thai Poosam, Kiruthigai are some of the important festivals that are celebrated here
annually and during these days the Temple atrracts several Devotees not only
from the local Biccavolu but from other far flung areas.
Shiva
Temple I (close to field) and Shiva Temple II (inside the field): While we visited both the temples,
the first temple we were told is permanently closed for some time, regarding
the second we couldn’t find a way through the fields to visit. We could just
view the temples from outside and capture them through our lenses. The first temple Situated on the out skirts of the village with
features similar central niches on the three sides with the makara decoration
and with figures in them. One of these and a striking one is Siva dancing in
the chatura pose in his Nataraja from. One such prominent feature here is the
presence of
Lakulisa is exactly the same from as occurs in Orissan sculptures it
should be remembered that at Mukhalingam even in the Eastern Ganga temple
Lasulisa is substituted from Dakshnamurty as this figure is a favourite one.
Siva styled shrine (Sivalingam) is the main attraction to the devotees.
The
second temple on the field: Large plain temple in fields. In this there is an
almost total absence of figure sculpture as even the niches are bare and except
for the carving of the dvarapalas on the door-jambs and Lakshmi on the lintel.
Still from the point of view of architecture the features are very interesting
for a study of Eastern Chalukya temple structure which follows the Dravida type
inspired by Southern traditions. The vimana here immediately bring to our mind
the Pallava type which has been the main source of inspiration even for the
Pattadakal group and the famous Rashtrakuta monument at Ellora.
Shiva
Temple III (in fields)
The doorway of this
temple has a unique feature as it shows the two River Goddesses Ganga and
Yamuna on either side. (PI.XVII). On the tiers above there are several figures
representing ieconographic forms and motifs like the mithuna which are
excellent material for study. The figures of Surya (PI.XXIIa) and Vishnu
(PI.XXXVa) are similar to the figures on the tiers of Sri Golingeswara Swamy
temple.
Finally, some loose
Sculptures of great beauty lying in the courtyard of the main temple Sri
Golingeswara Swamy suggest what a wonderful group of Saptamatrika has been lost
of which only these few remain, Viz., Kaumari (PI.XXIXb). The figure is a very
lovely one. 2) Chamunda, 3) Veerabhadra. The Archaeological Survey of India
looking after the temple monuments carefully.
Monolithic Ganesh In Fields
The height of the Ganesa
is 11ft, the biggest in the history of Eastern Chalukyan Sculpture attracting
hundreds and thousands of devotees day by day, a tourist spot, with green
fields. Till the time of Ganesh Vijaditya the single pair of arms of Ganesh
continues though in his time the additional pair is also introduced. But even
also on the seal of Gunaga Vijayaditya from Sataluru (PI.VIII) This seal is
beautiful work. Two views of the seal of Gunaga Vijayaditya from Sataluru showing
similar Ganesa on one side and Lakshmi on the other. The seal is now at Chennai
Govt. Museum, Chennai.
When we visited
Biccavolu, we could see the monolithic Ganesha inside the Laxmi Ganapathy
Temple in Biccavolu, so we are a bit confused over which Ganesha it is
referring too.
Architectural Style
While the golingeshwara Temple is a typical
Chalukyan Dravidian style temple with a big compound surrounding the main
Garbagriha, and a Gopuram, the field temples resemble more of a Kalinga style
of architecture with a Rekha Deul.
Under each cases, the iconography and sculptures on
the wall are beautiful.
Parking and Photography:
Golingeshwar Temple:
No issues with photography. Drone should be
used from some distance outside the temple.
Parking is a bit of an issue with not much
of space in front of the temple, but can be mostly managed.
Brick Temples which are on fields:
Currently not approachable. Zoom cameras can be used for photography and Drones
can be used
Brick temple barricaded: Its currently
closed so only Drone can be used and cameras from outside.s
LakshmiNarayanaDevasthan-GanapathyTemplej:
Parking is a big problem. We managed to somehow park outside the temple and go
inside. Photography is allowed.
Temple Timings:
Golingeshwara
and Laxmi Narayan swamy Temple: 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 7.30
PM
The field
temples have no timings specified
Route and Location:
We were
staying at Kakinada and covered this temple along with chalukya Bheema temple
and biccavolu temples. Kakinada has lots of hotels to stay. We stayed at Hotel
Lotus Park, which is situated at a very good location and very descent too. The
route we followed was:
