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| Uma Brahmendra Swamy shrine |
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| Mandeswara Swamy |
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| Uma Brahmendra Swamy |
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| Parvati Ammavaru |
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| Uma Nageswara Swamy |
From Amalapuram this temple is just thirty kms and the road winds through fertile fields, coconut groves and gardens revealing the sylvan beauty of Kona Seema region. As it was Shani Trayodashi day the temple was littered with heaps of banana leaves, gingelly seeds, pieces of jaggery and black cotton strips everywhere. As it was late afternoon very people were seen. We walked very cautiously avoiding to tread on things scattered all over the temple premises. Later we came to know that nearly forty thousand devotees visited the temple on that day. No surprise that the premises were completely flooded with so many things. As there was no shoe stand we left our sandals near the temple compound and entered the temple. Later one of our members had to walk barefooted as he lost his chappals and had to console himself thinking that the loss of his chappals meant that his Shani Dosha was gone.
This temple is very famous as a holy spot where Lord Shani
Himself installed Mandeswara Swamy to get rid of the sins of Brahma Hatya when
He killed two Asuras called Pippala and Aswathha who tormented Brahmins and
sages and cruelly killed them. After getting divine power from seven sages Lord
Shani fought with these two demons for one year and finally killed them. In the
inner sanctum a black Shiva Lingam is seen over which a pipe is seen. Devotees
who pour oil flows through the pipe and falls over the Shiva Lingam. People who
have Shani Dosham perform Tailabhishekam (doing Abhishkam with gingelly oil) to
get rid of bad effects caused by the adverse position of Lord Saturn in their
horoscopes. Homam for averting Shani Dosha and Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam are also
done here. People who cannot personally visit this temple can avail these sevas
by sending money through online. Just beside this temple there is a shrine for
Parvati , the consort of Lord Shiva. There is one more shrine near it where one
can see Uma Brahmendra Swamy which was installed by Lord Brahma. Near the Shiva
Lingam one can see a tiny idol of Goddess Uma. The seven sages and their wives
worshipped Brahmendra Swamy
At this
place there is another temple for Uma Nageswara Swamy which was installed by
Karkotaka, one of the mighty serpent-kings. Worship of this Lingam will
neutralize Naga Dosha. On the left side of the main shrine one can see a
beautiful idol of Venu Gopala installed by Sage Gowtama who made holy Ganges
flow here to extinguish the blazing sacrificial fire of the Homa Gundam. Lord
Venu Gopala is the Kshetrapalaka of this temple. Special poojas and Abhishkams
are done on Shani Trayodshi days, Masa Shiva Ratri days, Devi Navaratrulu,
Kartikamasa poojas, Maha Shiva Ratri and on Magha Bahula Ekadashi.
Just near
the temple there is Aswatha Theetha , a holy pond where having a holy dip
confers merit equal to performing Hema Dana. The temple authorities should
provide basic facilities such as shoe stand, toilet facility, queue system and
maintain clean surroundings. Otherwise this will create a very bad image and
also cause inconvenience to devotees who come from far off places to get rid of
Shani Dosham.
The temple timings
are from 5.00 a.m to 12.00 p.m.when Abhishkam poojas are done. In the evening
the temple is open from 4.00 to 8.00 p.m. when only Darshan is provided. On
Saturdays the temple is open from 4.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 4.00 to 8.00
p.m. in the evening. The nearby temples are Ainavilli,Pithapuram,Samarlakota, Annavaram.,Ryali, Kotipalli and Draksharamam.
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20th February, 2018 Somaseshu Gutala
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