Badrachalam:
Badrachalam Town is about 300 Kms from Secunderabad.
Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple of Badrachalam is situated on the bank of River Godavari.
Main Arch of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple.
The temple dates back to Rayamana Era. The temple was constructed in 17th century by Kancharala Gopanna who is popularly known as Baktha Ramadas a great devotee of Sri Rama.
The temple has main Raja Gopuram with five tiers. We climb few steps to enter into the temple. Inside the temple as we go around we see small sanctums for acharays, and other Gods.
Main Deity is Sita Ramar. Here we see Sri Ramar in sitting posture with Sanku, Chakkra, Bow and arrow in his hands. Sita is seen seated on his lap. Next to them Lakshmana is seen standing with Bow and Arrow in his hands.
Sthala purana: The idols of Vaikuntha Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, were found by Pokala Dammakka ardent devotee of Lord Sri Rama, lived in 17th century in Bhadrireddy palem about a Km away from Badrachalam. One day she had darshan of Sri Rama in her dream. Lord Sri Rama asked her to trace out the idols, which were worshipped by sages. He asked her to perform pooja and attain salvation. He said one of his devotee will construct a Mandir here. Next day when she went in search of the idols, she found them hidden in an ant hill. She poured water from River Godavari to wash the mud of Anthill, removed the idols and installed them on the hill in a small hut. She performed pooja for the idols of Lord Srirama, Lakshmana and Sita.
In the year 1674 AD Badrachala Rama temple was constructed by Kancharla Gopanna popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas.
Maharishi Badra penanced in this Dandakarnya, on the bank of River Godavari to be blessed by Lord Sri Rama. Sri Maha Vishnu manifested himself as Sri Vaikuntha Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana in front of his Baktha. Badra Rishi requested him to be seated on his head. Lord Sri Rama temple is on the head of Maharishi Badra. Achalam means hill, hence the place was known as Badrachalam.
Bhakta Raamadas: He was born Gopanna to Linganna Mantri and Kadamba, in a small village Nelakondapalli of Khammam District AP., in the year 1620. He composed several kritis on Lord Sri Rama. His devotion towards Vaikunda Rama of Badrachalam earned him fame as Badrachala Ramadass. Sri Raghunadha Battacharya is his Guru.
During the reign of Abdul Hasan Tana Shah, Gopanna (Ramadas) was appointed as Tasildar for Palvancha Paragna, this includes Badrachalam Town. Gopanna‘s devotion and love towards Lord Sri Rama compelled him to build temple for Lord. He collected money from people for construction of the temple. It was not sufficient so he borrowed from the Tax Revenue, owing to return the money. The Nawab was furious and sentenced him for 12 years in prison. Ramadas composed few finest kritis during that period. Rama and Lakshmana in disguise of two youngsters paid his dues and got his released papers. Lord Rama paid gold coins, which is known as Ram Tanka coins. Pattabishekam scene is seen to one side of the coin and to the other side Baktha Hanuman.
Nawab recognized the greatness of Ramadass and released him from prison and gave him land around Badrachalam. Baktha Ramadass spent rest of his life dedicated to Lord Sri Rama.
Parnasala: This place is about 35 kms from Badrachalam. The place was chosen by Agyasthya for Sri Rama to spend his vanavasa period in Dandakaranya.
Sri Rama constructed a Hermitage, and stayed here with his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana during his exile
Here we see padukai.
Stream of water is flowing which is known as Sita Vaagu, where she used to bathe and wash her clothing’s. The stones here appear in yellow and red colour. It is believed she used these stones powder as Turmeric and Kumkum.
Temple of Sri Rama at Parnasala.
Dwajasthambam in Sri Rama Temple.
The Deity of Parnasala is known as Sokarama.
We see Rama nama pillar.
Here near Parnasala in the same premises there is a temple for Lord Siva known as Ramalingeswara Swamy.
Here in this temple under the vruksham we see stone sculpture of Sri Rama with Sita sitting on his lap
Sree Rama Kshetra:
After our visit to Dhrmasthala, we continued our journey towards Katteel Durga temple.
On our way we saw the arch of this temple as Sree Rama Kshetra.
Shri Shri Athmananda Saraswathy is founder of this temple. He is disciple of Sri Nityananda Swamiji. The temple Rama kshetra was built in Dharmasthala village as per the wish of his Guru.
The magnificent temple structure was so colourful and attractive; we stopped and visited the temple.
We have to climb steps to reach the main entrance. The temple was in the style of Iscon temple. We entered into a big hall with high ceiling.
To left we see steps leading to the main sanctum of Sri Rama and Seetha made of granite stone, which is very attractive. To other three sides we find about 36 small individual sanctums.
In these sanctums, we see Ganapathy, Hanuman, Brahami, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri, Chamunda, Durga matha, Soorya, Chandra, Budha, Bruhaspathy, Sukra, Sani, Raghu, Kethu, Bairava, Lord Siva, parvathy, Vishnu, Brahma, Saraswathy etc.
We find steps leading us down from another side. In the main hall there are marble idols of Swamiji and Shiridi Baba.
The premises are clean and well maintained. Out side the main temple within the compound we see Navagraha’s with their vahana in individual small mandapam.
There is a separate mandapam with a small sanctum for Nagar.
Side view of the temple.
- Sree Rama temple.
The temple is in Sitaram bagh, Hyderabad city. The temple is about 400 years old.
The temple is a private temple managed by Rajastani family. There is a main Raja gopuram in different form. There is no hundi in the temple.
As we enter through the main entrance we see many families residing inside the compound. There is a way leading from side to the temple. The place looks like a fort.
We see different vahanas which is used during the festival time .
There is a sixteen pillar mandapam as we enter inside.
we cross and enter inside and we see a separate sanctum for Lord Ganesha.After worshipping Lord Ganesha we climb few steps, to Lord Srirama temple.
We enter into a maha mandapam of Srirama sanctum.
Here we see Dwajasthambam and a small sanctum attached to it with Garudazwar and Hanuman for darshan. we seek the permission of Garudazhwar and visit the main sanctum.
Inside the main sanctum we see Lord Rama with Seetha, Lakshmana, Baratha and Saturugnan. This is rare thing. Main deity of Srirama and Baratha are of black stone and the rest are white stone.
In front of the main deity there are three steps. To the top most one we see brass idols of Sri Rama, Seetah and Lakshmana. In the second step we see Radha krishnar and in the last one saligrama stones.
As we come out there is another perumal temple with separate entrance. As we enter in we see garudazwar in a small sanctum near Dwajasthambam. In front of Garudazhwar we see Perumal with Thayar. There is a separate sanctum for Thayar.
As we walk out from a side entrance we enter in to see a sanctum for Sri
Hanuman and near by a separate sanctum for Mataji. there is a big pipal tree in front of Hanuman mandir.
- Hanuman Mandir
Hanuman Ghat is the place on top of a small hill where we see Viswaroopa Hanuman carrying Sri Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders. We had to climb few steps to the main sanctum. Near the entrance to left we see Makardwaj (son of Hanuman). In front of Sri Hanuman sanctum we see idols of Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana
- Sukha Maharishi temple
This is near Hanuman Mandir. Here we see Sukar in bronze idol in a separate sanctum. In front of this sanctum we see a room in which books of all 18 Puranas and Vedas are preserved.
- Balaji Temple
Here as we enter we see Dwajasthambam, and we enter into a hall where we see Balaji in main sanctum and Padmavathy Thayar in different sanctum.
- Durga temple:
Durga Devi is considered as sister of perumal here. In the main sanctum we see Durga Devi and as we go around we come across another small sanctum in which we see Durga matha in Aruruvam, which is supposed to moolavar and nothing is clear to vision.
- Chakkra teertham
This is in round shape and we have hectogn sort of pond around the chakkra teertham. we have steps to reach the water in the pond. The steps are too slippery. This is the pushkaram of this place. We have a sanctum for SriChakkrtazwar and Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana.
- Ahobila Matt:
One of Ahobila Matt jeeyar attained paramapadham here and as a rememberence they have a sanctum for him. The sanctum is in the mutt premises. We have darshan of Sri Lakshmi Narashimar idols to which pooja’s are performed by a preist.
Priest family takes care of the piligrims who visit the place. There are rooms to stay and food is arranged in mutt, if informed in advance. This is only for Brahmin community.
- Sitamari
This place is about 7 kms from Raiyapur.
As per Purana Sita was abandoned by Sri Rama. She stayed in Baradwaj Ashram and
gave birth to Lava and Kusha. After the kids grew up and they met Sri Rama, she wanted to leave the world and she merged with her mother Bhoodevi forever in this place.
UP tourism has developed this place as a tourist spot. we see a Hanuman statue, siva lingam and Sita in a basement room relating to the story of he merging with her mother.
There is a big hall where they have kept Sita idol as if she is within the earth. beautiful glass paintings are to the walls. The doors are adorned with pictures relating to Ramayan. There is water running to the sides of this place.
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