Bhadrachalam Temple History

Bhadrachalam 

Bhadrachalam is also often referred to as Bhadragiri or Bhadradri. This is well-known for Telangana’s Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple. This temple is frequently referred to as South Ayodhya, reflecting its significance as a sacred pilgrimage site, and is regarded as one of the holiest locations along the Godavari River. It is considered to be a well-liked manifestation of Lord Vishnu.

where is bhadrachalam temple located

Situated in Bhadrachalam, eastern Telangana, India, on the banks of the Godavari River, is the famed Hindu shrine known as Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple, which is devoted to Lord Rama.

The temple’s main icon shows Lord Vishnu’s four-armed incarnation, Vaikuntha Rama, answering Bhadra’s petitions. Rama’s brother Lakshmana and wife Sita accompany this celestial figure. Some legendary stories claim that Kancherla Gopanna, a well-known devotee who is also known as Bhadrachala Ramadasu, rebuilt and repaired the Bhadrachalam temple in the 17th century.

Under the late Sultan Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (Tana Shah) of Golconda, Gopanna served as a tax officer and was charged with embezzling money intended for the Sultanate treasury to build the Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple. Subsequently, he was imprisoned for 12 years. Many of the devotional hymns that Gopanna wrote while he was imprisoned are still sung at the temple today.

Sultan Tana Shah freed Gopana prior to the Golconda Sultanate’s fall to the Mughals under Aurangzeb. According to legend, Rama himself and Lakshmana appeared before the Sultan and offered gold coins as payment for the gold that was required in order to free Gopana. Gopana kept writing religious poetry for Rama in the temple after he was freed.

Varada Ramdas and Tumu Lakshmi Narasimha Das carried on the temple’s ceremonial traditions after Gopanna. Similar to Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, the temple follows the Vaishnava Pancharatra Agama tradition in its worship activities. The temple complex has four entrances; the North Vaikuntha gate is the Rajagopuram, or main gate. Visitors can view a number of mandapas and sub-temples within the complex.

Bhadrachalam is famous for its presiding lord Rama. Through bhajan, Gopanna used Bhadrachalam as a platform to spread awareness of the Vaishnava tradition. The most significant event of Bhadrachalam is the yearly Brahmotsavam, which is followed by the Sri Sitarama Thirukalyana Mahotsavam, which commemorates the marriage of Rama and Sita on Rama Navami. Vijayadashami, Vasanthotsavam, and Vaikuntha Ekadashi are some of the other significant festivals of Bhadrachalam.

bhadrachalam temple history

An important part in the temple’s history was played by Kancherla Gopanna of Nelakondapally village in Telangana. During a period of severe drought, he was appointed a tehsildar (revenue officer) by his uncle, a Golconda Sultanate official. The Jaziya, a religious tax imposed on Hindus, was enforced by Gopanna under the rule of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, the final Sultan of Golconda (1672–1686) them to convert to Islam.Its purpose was to coerce Hindus into becoming Muslims.

The local Hindu population fiercely opposed Gopanna’s implementation of the tax. He chose to redirect a portion of the tax revenue to the temple because he was fed up with the opposition and conscious of the possible repercussions. According to one story, he used these funds to build the temple, but another claims that he used them to repair the temple’s deterioration and solicit donations to cover excessive taxes.

At an approximate cost of six lakh varahas, the temple was finished in the latter part of the 17th century.

Shah was furious to hear the truth and called Gopanna to court. Gopanna clarified that he had no intention of misusing treasury funds and that he would pay them back with future donations. Gopanna was imprisoned and told by Shah that if he did not pay the debt within twelve years, his soldiers would execute him.

According to one version of events, Rama and Lakshmana showed up in Shah’s dream on the final day of the twelfth year, marking the end of the 12-year reign, and they paid back the amount in Rama madas (gold coins bearing Rama’s inscriptions). Shah fled Gopanna after seeing the actual gold coins when he woke up.

In a different account, Shah also gifted the land surrounding Bhadrachalam to the temple and granted Gopanna a life pension. The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, claims that other academics rejected the notion that Rama would pay money, claiming that “Gopanna was captured by his enemies out of jealousy.” Following a fair trial, Shah released Gopanna and sent him to Bhadrachal.

These tales are all untrue because Gopanna was imprisoned in the Shah’s Golconda prison for 12 years until the middle of the 1680s, when the Shah’s 14-year rule came to an end of the Golconda Sultanate. In 1686–1687, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s army invaded Golconda for eight months, engaged Shah’s forces in combat, overthrew Shah, and imprisoned him in Aurangabad at Aurangzeb’s request. These are the last Golconda records from the Shah reign that are known to exist. He expanded his authority over the Deccan.

A Muslim monk named Kabirdas traveled Telangana in the fifteenth century, singing devotional hymns to Lord Rama, according to another narrative that was printed in Indian newspapers and regional periodicals. Kabir was so moved by Gopanna’s devotion and compassion in the 17th century that he bestowed upon him the title of Ramadasa (Servant of Rama).

The temple’s history states that Tumu Lakshmi Narasimha Dasa of Guntur and his companion Varada Ramadasu of Kancheepuram spent their entire lives in Bhadrachalam after praying there every day the death of Gopana. Narasimha Dasa drowned Varada Ramadasa after carrying his body into the Godavari.

bhadrachalam temple photos

bhadrachalam temple timings

Bhadrachalam Temple Timings: A Guide for Devotees
In Telangana, India, the Bhadrachalam Temple is a significant shrine devoted to Lord Rama. Understanding the temple’s hours is crucial for efficiently organizing your journey if you’re planning a visit.

Temple Timings:

Although exact timings may differ slightly, the following general schedule may help you plan your visit:

Morning: At 4:30 am, the temple often opens.
Evening: At 9:00 PM, the temple often closes.

Important Note:

Festival Seasons: To accommodate the higher volume of devotees, the temple’s hours may be extended on significant holidays like Rama Navami and Vaikunta Ekadashi.
Look for any updates: It is always a good idea to inquire with the temple administration about the most recent hours or to look for any updates on their official website or social media accounts.

Planning your visit:

Take into account the following to make the most of your visit:

Early morning visit: Try to visit the temple early in the morning for a more serene and uncrowded experience.
Evening Aarti: The captivating evening aarti is a lovely custom that draws a lot of followers.

The clothing code at the Bhadrachalam Temple is modest, ideally in traditional Indian garb.
Photography: In some parts of the temple, photography may be prohibited.

bhadrachalam temple dress code

Respectful Behavior: Be quiet and respectful when on temple property.
You can have a spiritually satisfying experience at Bhadrachalam Temple by adhering to these rules and scheduling your visit during the temple’s hours.

Tips for Visiting Bhadrachalam Temple

Wear modest apparel, such as a saree or salwar kameez for women and a dhoti or kurta-pajama for males.
Keep quiet: To preserve a tranquil ambiance, keep quiet within the temple grounds.
Offer up prayers to receive blessings from Sita and Rama.

Investigate the Temple Complex: Take some time to go around the complex’s numerous mandapas and sub-temples.
Attend Aarti: Take in the captivating Aarti rituals, which are performed multiple times daily.

best time 

The winter months of October through February are the ideal times of year to visit Bhadrachalam. With temperatures between 15°C and 30°C, Bhadrachalam experiences excellent weather during this time of year, making it the perfect time to explore temples and take in the sights.

The yearly Brahmotsavam, which commemorates the birth of Lord Rama, is also a wonderful celebration (with Sri Rama Navami). Typically, this celebration occurs in March or April.

Accommodations: Because of the surge in tourists, lodging costs are at their highest during this period.

bhadrachalam temple images

Legends of Temple

There are numerous temples in India that are associated with the epic Ramayana tale of Bhadra. According to this narrative, during the Treta Yuga, Rama (the god Vishnu’s avatar), his brother Lakshmana, and his consort Sita were exiled in the Dandaka wilderness for fourteen years.

By the grace of Rama, a stone named Bhadra—who was considered to be the son of Mount Meru—became a human. Bhadra started an upadesam (instruction) of the Rama Taraka mantra after meeting the sage Narada, who was devoted to Rama.

Bhadra chanted the mantra while mediating on the banks of the Godavari River for several years. Rama was happy to find Sita, who had been abducted by Ravana, the demon king, and vowed to return to meet Bhadra. However, Rama failed to fulfill his promise throughout his lifetime.

Later, Bhadra’s dedication pleased Vishnu. To fulfill the pledge his Rama incarnation had made, he appeared before Bhadra as Rama. In his hurry, Vishnu forgot that Rama was a mortal with two arms and instead manifested his four celestial arms.

Rama held a bow and arrow in his lower hands while holding a shankha (conch) and Sudarshana Chakra (discus) in his upper arms. Lakshmana was standing on his left, while Sita was sitting on his left thigh. To the west of all three lay the Godavari River.

Rama held the conch in his right hand, which was better than Vishnu’s, in order to save Bhadra. The Bhadra story is the mythology that underlies Bhadrachalam and other Indian temples and locations with the name Bhadra prefixed.

bhadrachalam road to bhadrachalam temple distance

bhadrachalam railway station to temple distance

The railway station on Bhadrachalam Road is the closest to Bhadrachalam Temple. It is near Kothagudem town. Hence it is also known as Kothagudem. The distance between the Bhadrachalam Temple and Kothagudem Railway Station is the same. Many devotees travel from all across the nation to visit Bhadrachalam, a well-known and well-liked shrine.

Distance:

About 40 kilometers separate Bhadrachalam Temple from Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station.

How to reach:

Auto-rickshaw:

The most popular and practical route to the temple is this one.
At the train station, autorickshaws are easily accessible.
The trip takes between thirty and sixty minutes, and the fares are often fair.

Taxi:

Taxi service is also available at the rail station. Although this option is more costly than autorickshaws, it is also more handy.

Bus:

Between the train station and Bhadrachalam, there are both public and private buses.
Although this is a less expensive choice, the frequent pauses may cause it to take longer.

bhadrachalam temple darshan timings

The hours of operation for the Bhadrachalam Temple are 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Darshan takes one to two hours. On weekends, you can come between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.

bhadrachalam accommodation near temple

Accommodations: From affordable lodges to opulent hotels, Bhadrachalam and Parnashala provide a range of lodging choices. Even though Parnashala offers a few lodging choices, it is best to make reservations well in advance, particularly during busy times of the year.

Local Cuisine: Don’t pass up the chance to savor delectable regional cuisine, particularly vegetarian options.

Transportation: As previously said, Parnashala can be reached by boat or by car. If you decide to go by boat, find out when boat services are available.

bhadrachalam temple to parnasala distance

Pilgrimage to Parnashala

After seeking blessings at the temple, many devotees frequently travel to Parnashala, another sacred location connected to Lord Rama.

Devotees of Rama frequently visit Parnashala, a revered location connected to the Ramayana. During their exile, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are said to have spent some time here.

Two significant sanctuaries that Hindu devotees hold in the highest regard are Bhadrachalam and Parnashala. Numerous pilgrims frequently combine their visits to these two sacred sites.

How to Reach Parnashala

Road: The most common way to reach Parnashala is by road. From Bhadrachalam, you can rent a bus or a taxi. By automobile, the trip takes 30 to 40 minutes.

Natural Beauties: There are peaceful river vistas and verdant landscapes along the route between the two locations.

who built bhadrachalam temple

According to some, Lord Rama, his wife Maa Sita, and Lakshmana constructed this temple in order to appease the sage Bhadra. Others, however, believe that an idol of Lord Rama was discovered in the local jungles and that the temple was constructed by a devotee by the name of Bhadra.

bhadrachalam road to bhadrachalam temple bus timings

Bus Schedule from Bhadrachalam Road to the Temple of Bhadrachalam
Frequent bus services are available from Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station to Bhadrachalam Temple. These buses usually run in line with the trains throughout the day. However, as the real bus timetable can change occasionally, it is better to verify with the local bus stand before you leave.

Bus travel is very convenient and is the best way to reach the temple from the railway station.The bus travel time depends on the bus and the number of stops. There are regular stops at food joints. The journey time usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. The journey takes one to one and a half hours, depending on traffic.

First bus: 1:40 AM
Last bus: 5:30 PM

Instructions:

Booking in advance: Buses are crowded during peak periods, especially during festivals. So it is better to book in advance.
Ask a Local: If you have any doubt, feel free to ask a local. They will give you the right guidance.

Local Travel Agents: If you need further information, local travel agents can also assist you.

Note: If there are any changes to the bus schedule, you can also get in touch with the local RTC office.

Bus Station: The Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station is next to a bus stop. You may simply take a bus to the temple of Bhadrachalam from there.

Additional Information: It’s a good idea to have adequate cash on hand before you leave. To purchase prasads and other products at the temple, you might require cash.

bhadrachalam temple darshan tickets

There is no special ticket required to receive Lord Rama’s darshan at the Bhadrachalam temple. You must, however, purchase tickets in advance for special pujas and events, such as the yearly Brahmotsavam or unique abhishekals. These tickets are typically sold at the temple counter . The price of these special darshan tickets varies depending on the service and ranges from a few hundred rupees to several thousand rupees.

 

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