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DRAKSHARAMAM
- BIMESWARA SWAMI |
About the Temple :
Draksharama is considered to be one of the five Arama kshetras dedicated to Lord Shiva.
This is located in East Godavari District near Kakinada. The place also known as
"Dakshina Kasi" (Southern Banaras) along with SreeSailam and Kaleswara
constitute the three sacred Shivalingams of the State, giving its ancient name "Trilinga
Desa".
The Bhimeswara temple at Draksharama has two
prakaras. The inscriptions here suggest that the temple was built by Bhima, the Eastern
Chalukyan King of Vengi(9th -10th centuries), when his kingdom was under attack by the
Rashtrakootas. The temple art thus shows the influence of a blend of sculptural traditions
of Chalukya and Chola styles.
The temple has four entrances in the outer
prakara each marked with a gopuram, facing the four cardinal directions. On the south is
the entrance to the inner prakara, which is lined by a pillared two-storeyed verandah.
The main temple is twin storeyed. Two
flights of stairs lead us into the upper level of the sanctum. This has a pillared
pradakshina on three sides and a Garbhagriha. Bhimeswara is enshrined in the form of a ten
feet high Shivalingam in this Garbhagriha. Another feature of the temple is the narrow
mantapam that is seen in the premises. Shiva's consort here is Manikyamba. The temple
walls and pillars are decoratively carved with mythological figures.
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