Sri Seeta Ramachandra Swamy temple: Badrachalam

Bhadrachalam, a temple city in the state of Andhra Pradesh is a renowned pilgrim centre in South India. This hill place which is encircled by holy river Godavari flowing towards southern direction.

Overview
The town is famous for "Sri Seetaramachandra Swamy temple" which is the unique temple built in the 17th century, dedicated to lord Rama. It is said that this was the place where Bhadrachalam stands is the place where Ram crossed the Godavari River during their exile (vanavasam).

The speciality of this temple is the main deity faces westside towards river Godavari. The idol of Sri Rama has distinctive features. The deity is in the padmasana pose with four hands, (Chaturbuja Rama) - Shanku on the right , Chakra at his left and Dhanurbhana ( Bow and Arrow in the rest two hands ) The Sankha is held in the right hand and the Chakra in the left. And the hill place where the Deities were seated on , was the head place of Bhadra - achalam ( hill ) ,thus this shrine was transformed into Bhadrachalam.

To the left of Sri Rama is Sita and Lakshmana is on her left. But in the utsava vigrahas, Sita and Lakshmana are on either side of Rama, he is also known as "Vaikuntha Rama".

There are many other legends associated with lord Rama and the Ramayana that are found here.


History behind the name of Badrachalam
According to legends, Bhadrachalam's name has been derived from "Bhadragiri" (Mountain of Bhadra - a boon child of Meru and Menaka).

Etymology
Bhadrachalam is most picturesquely situated in an area, which once formed part of the Dandakaranya forest, visited by Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana during their exile (vanavasam). The forest in the vicinity of the temple was the actual site of Rama's retreat and it was at the parnasala (32 km from here) that he built a hut for himself and Sita and from where Sita was abducted by Ravana. The history of this shrine stands for the significance of Ramayana era, and vicinity of the temple had its incongruous add mixture of another story which depicts the exigency of Sri Maha Vishnu to manifest himself as Rama long after Ramavatara was to fulfill his promise to his sage Bhadra (a mountain king), who had been continuing the frightened penance to get grace of Lord Rama.



History
The temple at Bhadrachalam has the Archa Murthys of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana and are considered to be Svayambhu Murthys (self-manifested ones).

Lord Sri Rama appeared in a dream to a woman called Pokala Dammakka and informed here about the existence of vigrahas on Bhadragiri hills. Pokala Dhammakka, an ardent devotee of Rama lived in the 17th century and was an inhabitant of Bhadrireddypalem, a mile away from this holy place. On the very next day morning she started searching for the idols-peeped into an ant-hill and found the idols hidden in it. She poured hundreds of pots of Godavari water on the ant-hill which tardily dissolved and gave way for the appearance of the hidden Deities. Dhammakka, cleared jungle and offered puja to the deities. This was the origin of the present temple.

The temple was constructed in the 17th Century by the local Tahsildar, Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas, a fervent devotee of Lord Sree Rama.People called Gopanna by the name familiar to us as Bhadrachala Ramadas, because of his devotion to the Vaikunta Rama enshrined at Bhadrachalam.

Bhakta Raamadas
Myself in front of
Ramadas statue

Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as "Bhakta Ramdas", a fervent devotee of Rama, was born to Linganna Murthy and Kamamba in 17th century (1620 AD) in Nelakondapalli village of Khammam district, Andhra Pradesh. He was nephew of Akkannna, the administrative head in the court of Nawab Abul Hussan shah known as 'Taneshah' of Golkonda (he was the last ruler of Golconda before Aurangazeb captured it in 1687A.D.) and was appointed by him as Tahsildar of 'Palvoncha Paragana'.

Ramadas was always distracted and his intense love for Lord Rama compelled him to build a temple at Bhadrachalam. He collected money for the construction from the citizens, but was not enough. So he borrowed from the tax revenue of the nawab and gave his god a worthy abode, vowing to return the money.


Accordingly, Ramadas constructed the temple with an amount of Rs 6 Lakhs collected from the land revenues with out the permission of the Nizam Nawab.


Soon after the construction, his miseries started. He was dismissed from service for mis-utilisation of revenue for constructing the temple and was kept in jail for 12 long years in Golkonda Fort and was tortured. Unable to withstand the miseries, Ramadas implored Rama to relieve him by singing many praising and emotional songs which got popularized from the stanzas of 'Dasaradhi Sathakam' and 'Keertanas' of Bhakta Ramadasa.

It is said that Rama & Lakshmana in the guise of two youngsters paid up his dues 6 lakh Mohurs and got his release papers, exposing themselves as Ramoji and Laxmoji,. The golden coins paid by Rama are known as Ram Tanka coins. They can be seen even today. These coins have the Pattabhishekam scene on one side and the picture of another Rama Bhaktha, Hanuman, on the other side. The nawab was moved and recognized the greatness of Ramadas and released him immediately and gave him land around Bhadraachalam to continue his dedicated service to Bhadraachala Raamamoorty.

Godavari river

Visiting places around Badrachalam
Besides Sri Seeta Ramachandra Swamy temple the other important places are as follows:

Dummugudem
Gannavaram
Gundala
Jattayu Paaka (Yetapaka)
Parnasala
Sree Rama Giri
Venkatareddipeta


Temple Timings
The temple is kept open from 4:30 in the morning and stays so till 1:00 in the noon. The temple usually remains closed during the noon hours, and reopens in the evening at 3:00 p.m. The temple closes in the night after the last pujas are performed by 8:30.

Rivaer: Godavari

How to reach Badrachalam

Bhadrachalam is located in Khammam district at a distance of over 309 km from Hyderabadand Bhadrachalam is 161 kilometres from Rajahmundry and 201 km from Vijayawada.

Air:

Vijayawada is the nearest airport.

Boat:

One can reach Bhadrachalam, from Burgampad, from the northern side of the river Godavari. From Burgampad, boats ply over the river Godavari to Bhadrachalam.
One can also reach it from Rajahmundry by steamer over the river Godavari.

Bus:

Bhadrachalam is reachable from all major cities in Andhra Pradesh, and other states. There are regular buses plying in that route.

Rail :

Kothagudem is the nearest rail head at a distance of 40 km.

Accommodation

In Bhadrachalam, excellent accommodation facilities are available - Government Guest Houses, Tourism Hotels, Cottages and Sadanams.
Accommodation is also available in private hotels and lodges.