Sarpavaram - Bhavanarayanaswamy Aalayam

This ancient Vaishnava kshetra is dedicated to Sri Mahavishnu 9n His forms multifarious and names numerous. Its legends fascinate the readers by their oddity and uncommon devotional fervor.

Legend

According to the legend, Kadruva, the first wife of Kasyapa Maharshi asked her sons to hold on to the tail of Uchchaisrava and make it appear black to winning the bet she made with her savati, the second wife of her husband. When they refused on the ground of its unrighteousness, she cursed them to get burnt in the Samayaga to be performed by Janamejaya emperor. One among them by name Anantha did penance, propitiating Sri Mahavishnu here and turned into his couch in accordance with his desire. As the sarpa did tapas here, it was called Sarpapuram and later acquired the present name Saipavaram. Another legend narrates that Narada was rid of his illusion here by bathing in a kunda and thinking intensely on the glory of the name of Mahavishnu, and so the Lord was called Bhavanarayanaswamy. The mulavirat blesses the genuine adorers by mere thinking of him on surrendering unconditionally all to Him.

The temple is fairly a big one exuding Chalukya style of art from every frame of its construction. Although it is on the verge of total collapse, its architectural pattern and sculpture detain the viewers long. More than this, the unparalleled benevolent attitude of the archamurti to the pious bhaktas has made it a popular and much-visited moskhadham of eternal importance. The black granite image of the Lord with Mahalakshmi adorning his chest, and potent weapons in his four hands lifts the viewers and assures protection with his abhayahastam always. It is a miss-not shrine of great importance. The annual Kalyanotsav falling in the month of Vaisakha masa is the star-attraction of this temple. The Sundays of Magha masa lure thousands of devotees due to special prayer services conducted then.

It lies 5 km off Kakinada in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, commanding all transport facilities.

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