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| Jonnawada Kamakshi |
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| Utsava Vigrahas of the deities |
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| Idols of Nandi |
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| Kala Bhairava |
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| Sculpture of Shiva and Parvati |
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| Inside view of the temple |
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| Addala Mandapa ( Hall with mirrors) |
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| View of the Penna River |
This famous
temple is in Jonnawada village at a distance of 13 kms from Nellore town in
Andhra Pradesh. This temple was built in 1150 by Manumasiddhi on the northern
bank of the Penna river. The temple tower has many tiers with various statues
of gods and goddesses painted in various colors. There are five golden kalasams
on the top of the tower. The Penna river is seen on the left side of Kamakshi’s
temple. As soon as one enters the temple one can see a spacious yard with a
Kalyana Mandapa where the ceremonial wedding of the Gods are performed. On the right side of this mandapam is seen a Dwajasthamba
with a platform called Bali Peetham. After that one can see one big Nandi
statue along with a smaller one. After that one enters a hall called Artha
mandapa with many pillars decked with many sculptures depicting the legend of
the temple. After crossing the Artha Mandapa one can see the shrine of Lakshmi Ganapati. In the inner sanctum Lord Mallikarjuna is
seen. Beside that shrine Goddess Kamakshi is seen in standing posture with a
goad (ankusha) and a noose (pasha) in the upper pair of hands and showing Abhaya and Varada Mudras
with her lower pair of hands. The idol is tiny but is richly decorated with
golden ornaments and jewels. Beside the shrine Sri Adi Sankaracarya is seen. He
Installed Sri Chakra Yantra and made Her appear in benign form. In earlier
times people used to offer animals as sacrificial offerings to Her. Outside the
inner sanctum one can see the idols of Ganapati, Subrahmanaya with Valli and
Devasena, Durga, ,Tarakeshwara, Annapoorneshwari, Surya, Lord Vishnu and Kala
Bhairava. Beside the shrine of Durga Nava Grahas are seen on an elevated
platform.
According to the legend in Skanda Purana, Sage
Kasyapa searched for a holy place to conduct yagna. He came here and performed
yagna with three sacrificial kundas. Lord Mallikarjuna emergred from the
sacrificial kundam in effulgent form. Godess Kamakshi (a combined manifestation
of Kali and Matangi) also came there and graced the place beside the Lord. The
idol of Kamakshi was found by the fishermen in Penna River at Penuballi
Village. Later King Manumasiddhi built a temple and installed the idols in the
temple. The place where the yagna was performed was called “Rajathagiri” or “Yagnavatika”
in earlier times. Later it came to be called as “Jonnawada”. In past times
people used to sacrifice animals before the idol. Sri Sankaracharya installed a
Srichakra Yantra and with his penance pacified the Goddess to appear in benign
form.
Lord Indra worshipped Godess Kamakshi here and
got back his lost kingdom of heaven. Aswadhhama worshipped the Goddess and
bathed in Penna River to get rid of his skin disease. The river near the temple
is called Kasyapa Theertha and whoever bathes here will be relieved of his sins
and troubles. Devotees believe that sleeping in this temple premises will
bestow good fortune and progeny. People also believe that by taking Prasad
called Kodi Mudda (a dish prepared with rice and green gram) during Brahmostavam
will bless them with prosperity and good progeny. Many poojas and ceremonies
take place in this temple. Navavarana Pooja (from 9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m),
Sahasranamarchana (7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and 10.30 to 12.30 p.m.) and Kalyanosthavam
(10.30 to 12.00 noon) are some of the special poojas. Performing Sahasrarchana
Pooja to Lord Shiva gives merit equal to that of the merit acquired from
reading four Vedas.
In 1996 Maha Kumbhabhishekam was done when Sri
Kanchi Kamakoti Swamy Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswati attended the ceremony. The temple is very much crowded during
Fridays. Brahmosthsavam is celebrated every year from Vaisakha Bahula Shjashti
to Vaisakha Bahula Amavasya. During Dasara Navaratri Celebrations, special
poojas are performed here. Kalyonstavam is performed every day here. In the
afternoon Annadanam (distribution of free meals) is done ; Many mandapas are
seen all around the temple. The temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and
from 5.00 to 9.00 p.m. in the evening. There are many other temples nearby such
as Narasimha Konda, Sri Mulasthaneeswara swamy, Rajarajeshwari temple and
Talpagiri Ranganadha Swamy temple.
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3rd December, 2019 Somaseshu Gutala
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