Sree veera venkata satyanarayana swamy,Annavaram.

 
          Annavaram is the holy place of Lord Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy, the presiding deity located in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh in India. The temple is about 3 hours(125 km)drive from Visakhapatnam and is well connected with Road and Rail network,and 40km from Kakinada,and 80 km from Rajamundry.

History:

          As per the puranas,the presiding diety of the place blesses the devotees with AninaVaram,which is the place is called Annavaram.The Small hill by the side of the village is considered to be sacrosanct.Meruvu the Lord of the hills and his consort Menaka did great penance and begot two sons by the grace of Lord Vishnu.One was named Bhadra and the other Ratnakara. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu and with his grace became Bhadrachalam on which Lord Sri Rama had permanently settled. Ratnakara desired to emulate his brother and succeeded in pleasing Lord Vishnu by his penance to settle on him as Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy, Ratnakara remaining as Ratnagiri hill.

          The temple of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy is the main temple on the Ratnagiri hill. There is also a temple of Sri Rama and the shrines of Vanadurga and Kanaka Durga nearby. The temple of gramadevatha (village deity) is in the village at the foot of the hill. It is said that Raja I.V.Ramanarayanam,the then zamindar of Gorsa and Kirlampudi estates, having been ordained by the Lord in his dream, traced the idol on the hill, worshiped it and installed it at the present spot on sravana suddha vidhiya of the telugu year Khara, 1891. The hillock it self is about 300ft above sea level, green fields all-round the hills and the pampa river encircling Ratnagiri. About 460 well laid stone steps leads to the top of it.

           The Akriti of any temple is, according to the Agni Purana, merely a manifestation of the Prakriti. According to this the chariot of the temple is intended as a symbol of the Seven Lokas and the seven Lokhas above, with the garbhalaya of the Lord at the heart’s center ruling over the entire Universe. The main temple constructed in the form of a chariot with the four wheels at each of the four corners. In front of the main temple is the kalyana mantapa, constructed and decorated with modern pieces of architecture. As we go down the way, we come across Ramalaya and then the shrines of Vana Durga and Kanaka Durga.

            The temple at Annavaram has been constructed to depict this idea concretely. The front side of the temple depicts the chariot. The Meru on the floor with the pillar at the center, and the idols at the top are intended to bring forth the idea that the Lord not only remains at the heart’s center but also permeates the entire universe. The wheels depicting the Sun and the Moon serve to remind us that this Juggernaut moves on the wheels of time, and goes on for ever and ever, Thus the Annavaram temple satisfies both the ritualistic values and the spiritual aspirations of the devotees. he most distinctive feature of Annavaram is the shrine to Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy situated upon the Ratnagiri Hills. The land of the Annavaram is considered to belong to both Lord Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami Temple and Goddess Anantalaxmi Satyavathi Ammavaru.

            The popularity and importance of the temple is increasing among pilgrims and this place is considered as second only to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Festivals are celebrated year-round at this temple with great pomp and show. Some of the popular festivals celebrated are the Kalyanam festival in May, the Devi Navaratri festival in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sraavana Suddha Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, Kanakadurga Yatra, Prabha Utsavam, Teppa Utsavam and Jalatoranam.

Darshan:

            Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami Temple is maintaing two different methods for the convenance of the piligrams to witness the diety.
1.Sarva Darshan
2.Seegradarshan

Sarvadarshanam:

         It means “Darshan for all”. Sarva darshanam is free and allowed between 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:00PM to 9:00 PM.

Seegradarshanam:
       
         It means “Darshan with less waiting time”. Piligrams who want to avail Seegradarshana,have to purchase a ticket costing Rs.25/-per head.One packet(100Gms) of bhogam Prasadam will be provided for  Seegradarshanam ticket.Timings for the Seegradarshan is same as Sarvadarshanam but allowed through a different queue.

Places to Visit in the Temple Complex:

·         The temple of sree veera venkata satyanarayana swamy in the main temple on the Ratnagiri hill.

·         The temple of sri rama,as keshatra palakulu.

·         The shrines of vana durga and kanaka durga near by Godess vanadurga held in great veneration and devi is said to be seen even to this day in the nights going about the holy precints perpectually guarding the lord.

·         The temple of gramadevatha(Village deity-Nerellamma) is in the village at the foot of the hill.

Adopted Temples:

·        Sri Bhuvaneswari temple ,kovvuru,West Godavari District.

·        Sri VenuGopala Swamy Temple, Gedhanapalli.

·        Sri Malleswara Swamy Temple,Sankhavaram.

·        Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple,Yeleswaram.

Location:

             Theere are many parking places for private vehicles on the hill surrounding the temple.well equipped lodge facilities are available.Free darshanam is with normal queue and special darshanam with additional fees of either INR 25/- or  INR 116/- are also available.Prasadam counter is available on the national highway for those who are not able to visit the temple. This temple is located at a hill top.

           Vehicles are allowed to climb up the hill. At the top of the hill there are guest houses available. Many marriages take place here so during this seasons you may have to book in advance if you a plan to stay here. There is a facility of quick Darshan in busy seasons. The main building has two floors. The ground floor is for Pada darshan or to view the feet of the god. The first floor is the upper part of the Lord Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy.

           From this hill top you can get a panoramic view of the surrounding green fields and villages. There is a river water barrage with boating facility and it can be visited while going up or while returning from the temple, near the main entrance of the hill. This place is called Pampa Sarovara. Boat rides are a memorable experience for visitors.

           Inside the main temple complex, photography is not allowed. However, around the temple there are many panoramic views available for viewing and enjoying nature's beauty.
From Anavaram:

·        Vizag-------------125KM

·        Kakinada---------40KM

·        Rajahmundry----80KM

           Other places near Annavaram important to tourism include Samalkot, Thalupulamma Thalli and Draksharama. Travelers interested in visiting Simhachalam in Visakhapatnamcan can reach it as APTDC has arranged bus service directly from Annavaram to Simhachalam (the hill near the temple).

Sevas:

1.Sri Swamy Suprabatha Seva
2.Sri Swamivari Vratham
3.Sri Swamivari Special
4.Sri Swamivari Vratham at Dwajasthambham
5.Sri Swamivari Visishta Vratham
6.Sri Swamivari Nitya Kalyanam.
7.Sri Swamivari Vratham After 'Pooja' prasadam send by Post
8.Sri Sitaramula (Kshethra Palakulu) Pattabhishekam on the lunar star day of Punarvasu in Sri Swamivari Temple
9.Sri Swamivari Pavalimpu seva
10.Sri Swamivari Laksha Patri Pooja
11.Sri Ammavari Laksha Kunkumarchana
12.Sri Swamivari Abhishekam on the lunar star day of Makha.

The Procedure Of The Vratham :

            Before the sankalpam (inauguration) the floor is cleaned with cow-dund, a square piece of new cloth is spread over it, after decorating it with muggulu with four of five colours. Rice is spread as a layer upon the cloth and a kalasam of silver, copper, brass or clay is kept and covered with mango leaves or betel leaves and a piece of new cloth. A small image of Lord Satyanarayana swamy made prerferably with gold or silver is kept on the cloth after abhishekam in panchamruham. Afterwards, Vighneswara, Lakshmi, Parvati, Siva, Navagrahas and Ashta Dikpalakas are worshipped in order. After wards Lord Satyanarayanaswamy is invoket and worshipped. The Satyanarayana prasadam prepared with plantains, cow's milk, cow's ghee, ravva of wheat or sojji and sugar or jaggery is offered to the Lord as naivedyam and distributed to the friends and relatives invited for this sacred vratham .The priest who conducts the puja is given dakshina. Satyanarayana Vratha Katha (legend about the efficacy of the vratham) is recited and listened to with rapt attention by all including those gathered to witness the vratham. It is said.

“Kathmva sruyadyasthu pasyedwam
Vrathamuththamam
Thasya nasyanthi papani Satyadeva   
Prasadithaha.” 

When one cannot perform the vratham, even witnessing the vratham, or listening to the story would remove the troubles and wash off the sins. The Satyanarayana Vrathams at the temple are generally commenced at 6-00a.m., and go on upto 6-00p.m., almost every day. On festival day vrathams have to be conducted even in the night s in spite of elaborate arrangements in spacious halls for as many as 1,500 vrathams at a time. The devotees, who want to perform vratham, pay the requisite fees for the Satyanarayana Vratham, purchase the tickets and get ready for the Satyanarayana Vratham. They are allowed one by one to the rows of seats in the vratha halls where everything is kept ready. A purohit, (or pujari) comes to each seat and attends to the reciting of the sankalpam (purpose of the vratham along with the name, gotram,etc., of the performer). After wards, the purohit stands at the head of the rows and dictates to the performers the detailed process with mantras, etc., as they go on doing the worship to his instruction. Thus the vratham or puja is conducted by batches of devotees at a time. This is a somewhat interesting feature here.

Sri Swamy Vari Kalyanam :

     Formerly, the kalyanam of the Lord was being performed on Megha Suddha Ekadasi (January -February). But now -a-days it is celebrated for six days beginning from Vaisakha Suddha Ekadasi (April-May). This change seems to have been made to suit the convenience of visiting pilgrims. The programme of rituals that are observed during the festival are as follows:

Vaisakha Suddha Dasami:Making up Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayanaa swamy as bridegroom; Vighneswara puja, giving vayanams to muthaiduvas; in the night Rama and Sita go out into the village on silver Anjaneya Vahanam to invite devotees of the village and pilgrims from outside to witness Satyanarayana swamy's marriage celebrations.

Ekadasi: Flage hoisting; bringing mangalasuthram, procession of Lord Satyanarayana swamy on silver Garuda Vahanam and of Sri Rama and Sita on silver Gajavahanam; Kalyanamahothsavam.

Dwadasi:Prathamahomam in the morning; asthanaseva in the afternoon, procession on Ravana Vahanam in the night.

Triodasi:Sri Veerak Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy's Kalyanasadasyam, Sri Rama sabhapathi, Panditasabha; mahadasirvadam; sabhasathkaram, procession on ponnavahanam in the night.

Chathudasi:Lord's Viharam in the garden on the north of Ratnagiri and return to Ratnagiri, mahanivedana; special Veena performance in the presence of the Lord; car festival at night.

Purnima:Chakra teertham and nakabali etc.,

Bahula Padyami:Pushpayagamahothsavam; conference of poets and scholars and music purty.

The following slokam is used at the temple as yanam :
                    
                     “Namovangmanasatheetharupayamisthasakthaye
                       Adimadhyanthahinaya nigunaya gunathmane
                       Sarvesha madibhuthaya bhaktha namarthinasane”
  
            The offerings by devotees are made in the form of cash, silver and gold jewellery and copper coins in the hundi that is kept in the upper sanctum. Cloth, rice, Jaggery, sugar,ghee,etc., and also cows and claves are handed over to the temple authorities. The pilgrims with vows, and most of them are so, remove their hair here as a sort of offering as is the practice in Tirupathi. A bath in the rivulet Pampa is believed to be efficacious and is not missed by the devotees. During the summer months, when there would not be enough water in it, the wells on the banks of Pampa are resorted to while climbing the steps to the hillock some of the devotees cocoanuts also.