About Kumarara Bheema Temple
One of the five Pancharama Kshetras designated as the holiest is the Kumararama or Kumarara Bhimarama temple.
The temple is based in Samalkota, Kakinada district of the Indian State of Andra Pradesh, the town is also known as Samarlakota.
This temple has a nationally proclaimed historical significance and is centrally protected by the archeological department of India.
Temple Timings
| Days |
Timings |
| Monday to Sunday |
6 am to 12 pm & 4 pm to 8 pm |
History
The temple has a great historical prevalence, in the sense that it was ruled by numerous families, starting from the Nandas of Pataliputra to the Asaf Jahis of Golkonda.
The temple has also seen a great deal of ups and down since the beginning of the Christian era.
The Eastern Chalukyas were the ones that had a huge impact on the development of the temple.
From AD 624 until AD 1076, the Eastern Chalukyas, often referred to as the Vengi Chalukyas, dominated the Andra region.
At its greatest size, the kingdom of Vengi covered the entire region between Mahendra Mountains in Kalinga to the Maneru River in Nellore.
With the continued rule of several kings of Eastern Chalukyas, the Samarlakota Shiva temple construction began in 892 AD and was completed in 922.
Between 1340 and 1466, the Munsunuri Nayaks ruled the state and they began reconstructing the temple with their unique Kakatiya Kind of Temmple architecture.
Hence the deity is also referred to as “Sundari Bala Tripura” in this region
Temple Architecture
The renowned Easter Chalukya King Chalukya Bhima-I Built the Kumaram Chalukya Bhimesvara temple towards the end of the 9th century AD.
The preceding deity is Lord Shiva, as a tall Shivalingam, installed by Kumara Swamy ( son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati), hence the name KumaraRama.
This temple was built in Dravidian style, by King Chalukya Bhima. Hence the name is Bhimeswara.
According to the inscription, Chalukya Bhima, the son of Vikramaditya, who had won 360 battles, ruled the place for thirty years.
Architecture-wise, the Bhimesvara temple in Samalkota is similar to another pancharama temple Daksharama in the Konaseema district of AP
Two prakara walls made of dressed sandstone encircle the temple, and on each of the four corners, a gopuram pierces the outer prakara wall.
On either side of the four gopura-dwaras, Ardha-mandapas are placed. A central crown separates the two horizontally separate pieces of the inner enclosure wall.
The inner side is covered with a two-storied mandapa with pillars
The inner enclosure’s center is occupied by the major shrine, a free-standing structure.
The limestone linga, erected in the shrine is huge and tall such that it emerges from the pedestal on the first level and enters the second floor.
Here, Rudrabhaga is worshipped by penetrating the roof, the main shrine’s current Vimana has been restored and is plastered over heavily.
There are flat pattas, kutas with a row of geese, salas, simhalatas, lotus and kalasa.
It is a Dravida order “Dvitala Vimana” with timely regional variants.
Similar to Daksharama, a tiny temple model depicting the entire temple with all of its architectural characteristics was discovered in the temple’s courtyard.
This model, which dates from AD 1147 to 1494 and records donations made to this temple, may have been used as a guide before the temple was built.
These inscriptions mention the mukhamandapa’s construction in AD 1394 at the Eastern entrance.
The inscriptions also describe the construction of other buildings like Srimukhamandapam and Niluvi mandapam on top of it in AD 1422
A monolithic pillar on the western side, known locally as Kappa Stambham, has an inscription that states that some thieves stole the Nandi from the pillars for financial gain.
Lakshmi, wife of Narasimudu is fabricated and installed as a new one after bringing the stone from Kotilingalu at Rajahmundry
A bull fashioned from a single piece of stone known as an Ekasila Nandi guards the Shiva Lingam at the temple’s entrance.
Deities in the Temple
The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva a Shiva Lingam known as Bheemeshwara.
His consort Goddess Bala Tripura Sundari is next to the main deity.
The temple also has Lord Ganesha, Nandi, and a centrally placed Stambham at the entrance of the temple.
Festivals Celebrated in the Temple
Maha Shivaratri, Karthika Masam and Sarannavarathri are the main festivals celebrated at the temple.
Dress Code & Temple Rules
To be followed on temple premises
- Devotees are expected to dress in traditional Indian clothing, for men: T-shirt, Dhoti, or Pyjamas with upper clothing
For Women the preferred attire would be a saree or half saree with blouse or churidar with pajama and upper cloth
- Avoid using mobile phones and outside food to maintain the sacredness and historical authenticity of the temple.
How to Reach Kumarama Temple in Samarla Kota?
There are numerous ways to reach the temple:
- By Air: The closest international airport nearby is in Visakhapatnam which is located 156 km away, local buses run to and fro Samarlakota for convenience.
Also, the domestic airport is at Rajahmundry which is 156 km away from the location
- By Road: Devotees can make use of the busses that are well connected with the National Highway Road that commute through Samarlakota in AP to other prominent cities
- By Train: The nearest railway station to Samarla Kota’s Kumararama temples is at Kakinada which is 12 km away from the temple
Accommodation (Lodging and Boarding facilities in and around the temple)
With many devotees flocking in to get the blessing of this famous pancharama temple, the Town of Samarla Kota provides numerous facilities for the convenience of the devotees at fair prices.
FAQ
- Why the temple is called Kumararama?
The temple was built by Chalukya Kumara Rama (son of Vikramaditya) at the end of the 9th century, hence the name.
- What is the station code of Samalkota?
SLO is the station code for Samalkot Jn’s name.
- What is the color of the Shiva Lingam in this temple?
The Shiva lingam in the Kumararama temple of Samarkota is ivory-white in color.
- What is the unique historical significance of the Kumararama temple?
The Chalukya king built this temple to record his history of 300 victories in wars, there are 100 pillars that support the Mandapam
