Youtube channel link: https://youtu.be/rxW88BMLAoM
References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramateertham
http://www.fizzflyer.com/2017/04/sri-rama-temple-ramatheertham-part-1.html
Ramateertham is a village panchayat in
Nellmalla mandal of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. It is around 12
KMs from the city of Vizianagaram. The city is considered to be an ancient
pilgrimage site since 3rd century BC.
Ramateertham is a big place and there is a
lot to enjoy with beautiful lakes and views all around. Please reserve and
entire day and enjoy the entire area covering all the hills.
Legend
and and History
As per Sthala Purana during pandavas exile,
they asked Lord Krishna to come with them but Krishna rejected their proposal
and gave idols of his previous avatar Rama,Sita and Lakshmana. They prayed here
for some period and while leaving this place they gave these idols to priest
vedagarbha to look after. He and his later generations performed pujas and
abhishekams regularly for so many years, During the period of Buddhism to
protect the idols in fear of demolition they buried in pit and covered with
mud.
Later in 16th century King Poosapati Sita
Ramachandra of Gajapati Dynasty Ruling Kumbilampuram (Kumili Village
present) as Capital, he came to know about these idols through an old lady and
ordered his staff to recover from pond. Later on Bhishma Ekadasi King and his
priests built a temple on this swetachalam hill.
As per ASI report 1903, Ramateertham is one
of the places made sacred by a traditional connection with Lord Sree Rama. The temple and village
at the base of a chain of hills of solid rock on which are some perennial
springs of water, and various places each in a way associated with the name of
Rama. The Jains have
also had a residence here, their remains consisting chiefly of natural caves
with slab sculptures set in them, and some small ruined brick temples. It is
one of the few places in this direction where Jains remains
exist. The only notice of buried remains here is in Sewel's Lists (Vol. I, page
15) where mention is made of great heaps of broken bricks and cut stones on a
hill which is difficult of access. It was hitherto unknown that these remains
were Buddhist.
Since that time, excavations have been conducted and resulted in the unearthing
of an extensive part of what has undoubtedly been a large and important Buddhist monastery.
There are 3 lines of hills standing
parallel east and west and each separated from the other by a narrow valley. Ramteertham
has the following archaeological and historical sites:
1)
Bodhikonda: The southernmost
hill is known as Bodhikonda, which is a black granite hills containing ruins of
some Jain structures. Jain remains consist of majorly natural caves, rock art,
images and ruin brick temple towards the south west of the hill. There are
spots connected with Rama present on the hill too.
2)
Durgakonda (Ghanikonda): 3rd
century BC having Buddhist monasic complex remains and rock-cut jain
Tirthankara images on the walls of the caves. This is the northern hill. The
hill is so named because of an image of goddess Durga stands in a natural cave
at its western base.
3)
Gurabaktakonda: 3rd
century BC having Buddhist monasic complex remains and rock-cut jain
Tirthankara images on the walls of the caves. This is the central hill. The ruined
Buddhist monstry stands here. The hill is formed of precipitous bare solid
rock, rounded on the top and about 500 feet in height. Near its south summit,
under a vertical wall of rock is a perennial spring,
beside which are a ruined brick mound and some Jaina images. On the rooky
summit are some brick mounds. On the north face of the hill at a height of
about 400 feet from the base is a long irregular rooky platform 903 feet in
length and averaging more than 100 feet in breadth. The hill above it extends
throughout its whole length in a vertical wall of rook about 100 feet high.
Natural irregularities in the northern face of the platform have been made up
by retaining walls of stone masonry. Along the whole platform is a series of brick mounds which were
covered with dense jungle.
Post independence
excavations by ASI have revealed more remnants along with Buddha and Jaina
Relics.
4)
Rama temple: The famous ancient
temple of Ramachandra Swamy can be found here. The beautiful idols of Lord
Ramachandra Swamy, Sita and Lakshmana in Silver kavachas can be seen at this
temple. There is a beautiful lake in vicinity of the temple.
5)
Shiva temple: Next to Rama
temple, there is a Shiva temple constructed in 2007. Goddess Shri Kamakshi in
the Shiva temple is must see for everybody. There are a lot of religious
activities which takes place in the Shiva temple for every full moon and during
navaratri celebrations. Many devotees visit both the temples during important
days. This place has lot of religious importance and is historical too.
Rituals
and Festivals
The festivals of Sri Ramanavami and
Vaikuntha Ekadasi are celebrated with pomp and fervour here. Every year
Ramateertham GIripradarshana will be organized during Vaikuntha Ekadasi. You
can see many tortoises with Vishnu Namams on their backs, roaming around in the
temple. There is also a Rama Stambham installed by Pedda Jeeyar.
Architectural Style:
Dravidian
Photography:
Photography
is a bit restricted inside the temple, especially garba griha. Taking pics of iconography
is a bit difficult. Drones can be used but from a distance outside the temple,
because there is a lot of space all around
Parking
is not a problem, but there is no dedicated parking here.
Temple Timings:
6 Am - 5
Pm
Location:
Since we
were with an infant, we could only visit the Ramateertham temple and not the
remaining three destinations.
