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| Draksharama is one of the Pancharama Kshetras in
South India. It is located approximately 18 km from the city of Kakinada, in the
East Godavari |
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| This village is called Dakshina Kasi. The siva
linga in this temple is said to be one large crystal, which is 2.6 meters high.
Shiva is accompanied by Dakshayani, who is the first wife of Shiva (also the
daughter of Daksha, so is the name Dakshayani). Manikyamba goddess, said to be
one part of Sati Devi, among 18 pieces, that fell here, is a Shakti Peetha. It
has one of the world's longest siva linga. |
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| It is colloquially known as Draksharama carrying
the implied meaning as "Draksharama" meaning the Abode of Daksha Prajapathi -
the Father-in-law of Lord Siva and the beloved Father of 'Sati' the spiritual
spouse of Lord Siva. |
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| The history of the Sacred Pilgrimage is
exhaustively dealt within the 'Skanda Purana' of Sri Vyasa. To give a brief
narration of the same the story goes thus. Once Daksha Prajapathi decided to
perform a Yaga. In pursuance of the same, he had been to Kailasa to invite Gods
and Goddesses to sanctify his 'Yazna' and accept his hospitality. But when he
had been there, Lord Siva was in his Court immersed in his spiritual splendour.
But Daksha Prajapathi out of his ego of being the father-in-law of Lord Siva,
mistook the Lord's trance as indifference towards him. |
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| Sati in her womanish nature requested Siva to
permit her to attend, the sacrifice at her parental home, even uninvited and
have the pleasure of the performance and the association of her kith and kin.
But Siva explained her the tragic implications that she might have to face at
her parental house and let her to at her own wish. But, when she actually
stepped into her parental home, none greeted her or even just asked her a mutual
exchange of her well-being. |
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| Then Sathi was put out with the humiliation she
had to face amidst her own blood and then and there, decided to give up her body
instead of facing her beloved husband with a fallen face. So, she gave up her
body then and there and fell down dead. |
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| Siva having come to know of the tragic end,
sent his son 'Veerabhadra' to boot down the ego of Daksha. Siva in his pangs of
separation with Sati came down to her dead body and shoultered the corpse over
his shoulders and danced in 'Pralaya Thandava'. |
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| At this juncture, the Lord Vishnu, the
presenting, force of Universe, sent his 'Chakra' to cut down the body of Sathi
and redeem the grief of Lord Siva. The Chakra came and cut the body of Sati into
eighteen pieces feel in eighteen parts of this 'Punyabhoomi' of ours and came to
be known as 'Ashta Dasa Peethas' and out of these eighteen Sri Manikyamba of
Draksharama is the Twelfth. |
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| This Holy Pilgrimage is one of the rare few,
where the God and Goddess are equally important. One is Varanasi in Northern
India with Viswanatha and Annapurna. Second is Srisailam in Southern India with
Sri Mallikharjuna and Bramaramba and third is Draksharama with Bhimanatha and
Manikyamba. There are many mythological anecdotes scattered in many of the
Sacred puranas about the 'Swayambhu' aspect of the Lord's existence here. |
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| One of many is for once who is curious to know
that Bhimanatha came down from Kailasa and settled here at the request of
Parvathi herself who happened to be the daughter of Dakhsa.The historical aspect
of the temple goes from the thirteenth century onwards. |
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| This temple is one of the "Pancharamas". This is
an ancient and holy pagoda. This is one of the reputed piligrim centers in
Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit the temple and worship
the Lord to receive blessings. |
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| This temple is a protected Monument. The
Archaeological Department has to undertake the renovation works of this temple
to create beauty and divine atmosphere. |
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| The wealth of inscriptions and epigraphical
details that can be glanced from the inscriptions on the walls of this temple
are a paradise for the epigraphist and the historian. |
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| Sarrannavarathri Festival from Asviyuja Suddha
Padyami to Dwadasi every year (October), Kartheeka Monday Festivals and
Jwalathoranam in Karteeka masam every year (November), Sri Swamyvari Birthday on
Margasira Suddha Chaturdhasi every year (December), Shasti Festival in the Month
of December every year, Sri Swamyvari Kalyanam on Bhisma Ekadasi Day in Magha
Masam Every year (February), Mahasivarathri Festival in Maghamasam every year
(February-March) are some of the festivals celebrated in the temple premises. |
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| Draksharamam is located 28 Km from Kakinada,50
Km from Rajahmundry and 25 Km from Amalapuram. This village is well connected by
road. There is a railway station in Draksharama in Kakinada-Kotipalli railway
line. |
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| Content from
http://eastgodavari.nic.in/Draksharamam.html |
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