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BHADRACHALAM - SITA RAMASWAMI |
Other Legends :
Much know legend associated with Bhadrachalam is that of Bhakta Ramdas. Later in 17th
century, Gopanna was the Tahsildar in the court of Abdul Hassan Tana Shah. He being a
strong devotee of Lord Rama, used the tax collections for renovating the temple instead of
remitting it into the treasury. He was imprisoned in a dungeon in the Golconda Fort for
misusing the government funds. But Gopanna’s devotion for his deity have not faded. His prayers were soon answered when Lord Rama himself appeared
before Tana Shah and made the payment of the amount in the form of Gold coins stamped with
the images of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam  and Anjaneya on either side.
These Rama Tanka coins as they are known as can still be seen at the
temple. The king awestruck by the miracle, released
Gopanna from the imprisonment and reinstated him as Tahsildar. Tana Shah then onwards also
announced grants to the temple. Ever since then Gopanna was called "Bhakta
Ramadasa". The eulogies sung by him in praise of Lord Rama are still in vogue as
"Ramadasa Keerthanas". Some existing ornaments of the deities that are known to
be presented by him include "Kalikiturai, Pachchala Patakam, Chintaku patakam,
etc."
Story of Kabirdas, a Muslim by birth
is another legend. It is believed that the images of the deities miraculously disappeared
when Kabir was refused entry into the temple and that they reappeared miraculously upon
his being permitted to enter. |
