| The
Sapta Godavari has the Pakasasanalaya on its West. The legend about this is that at the
time of the manifestation of Bhimeswaraswami in Lingakara, and when the Saptarishis were
performing the Archana to the Lord, all the thirty-three crores of the Devatas came to
have the darshan of the Lord, when a divine voice ordained that whoever, at that
auspicious moment, installs a Linga at any place near Sapta Godavari Pushkarani will get
eternal bliss." Thereupon Lord Indra installed a Linga, over which a temple was
raised under the name Pakasasana Devalaya. Innumerable Lingas by other Devatas were also
installed here. There is a temple called Sri
Sankara Narayanaswami temple at the pathway to the Eastern Gopura. To right in front of
the Dhwajastambha are two big trees, one the Ravi tree, and the other, the Neem tree,
which are intertwined together. At the foot of this, there is a Shivalinga and also Vishnu
Vigraha called Sankara Narayana Swami. This is said to be a symbolical representation of
the oneness of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu. Popular belief is that if Pradakshina in the
prescribed manner is done to this the barren people are blessed with children. |
