DRAKSHARAMAM

ARCHAMURTHI

It is 15 feet high. And one was to ascend the stairs to reach the second tier, where the Bhimeswar is seen in all his splendour and lusture; it is a spatika linga; all prayer services are offered here only. It is an elevating experience to see such a huge, high linga, coming from below and worshipped in the second tier. The image of Manikyamba is installed to the North of Sivalinga. The utsavamurthis of several deities are extremely grand, and their visual appeal detains the viewers long.

There are huge halls in the inner courtyard to accommodate thousands of devotees congregating on special festivals, celebrated periodically with unusual fervour. Among them, Bhishma Ekadasi, Karthika Jwalatoranam, Mahasivaratri deserve mention and they have great pull. During the Bhishma Ekadasi Ratotsava - Car festival is celebrated on the 4th day when thousands visit and overflow courtyards in and out of the prakaras. Other special and plus points this temple boasts is the Sapta Sagar - the temple Pushkarini which is lying outside the first Prakara, and it has a story to tell and a sanctity that draws all for a bath; for it is said that a bath in this confers the same merit as Godavari when bathed. Legend says that when the Saptarishis - Atri, Kasyap, Goutama, Jamadgni, Vasista, Bharadwaja and Viswamitra visited the temple, they found water scarcity. So created a Pushkarni, and by their atmasakti brought the Godavari water through antarvahini and filled this Pushkarini. So it acquaired the name of 'Saptasagaram'.

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