Srikakulam - Srikakolaswamy  Aalayam

The legend of this famous kshetra is vividly described in the Brahmanda Purana, apart from a wide variety of literary works of great merit, enshrining its past splendour in many popular genres. It is said that a valorous Andhra king belonging to Sathavahana dynasty killed Nisumbhu, a demon who with his reign of terror converted this territory into Yamaloka. This king, says some legends was an incarnation of Mahavishnu, who by taking birth in the royal family kept up his word given to Navabrahmas once.

The Background

The story goes that once the Navabrahmas were in search of a suitable place for installation of Mahavishnu's icon to emancipating people and relieve them from asurabadha. To their surprise, the Lord appeared before them unsolicited and promised to incarnate himself as royal prince on the holy land of Andhra drenched by the sacred waters of Krishna and Goutanu. People deemed him the Lord of Vaikunta and adored him as Andhra Vishnu, Telugu Vallabha, Andhra Nayakaswamy a tc. His dauntless prowess and benign rule ushered in a progressive rule akin to Ramarajya the like of which was never witnessed. Later the swayamvyakta icon was installed by Atri mahamuni and an imposing temple with huge dimensions was built. The six-foot-high icon in standing posture installed on a high dias affords a delightful sight. The enchanting icon of Mother Rajyalakshnu Devi in sitting posture is set up next to him.

There is a fantastic story of the archamurti's having massive growth of hair on his head; and the devout priest was decorating it with garlands. The priest was a Vesyalola and kept a paramour secretly. He was offering the very same garlands to the Lord after worn by his paramour first. On one occasion, he gave a garland to the king, which contained a long hair. On being questioned, he lied to him saying that the Lord had a tuft. The king went to the temple next day to verify the priest's statement. And lo! he found a big black tuft to the Lord as said. The convinced king endowed some lands for regular offering of grand garlands. This testifies to the Lord's infinite compassion to his genuine devotees. Another story current in this parts is that the renowned Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar empire authored his mater-piece Amuktamalyada only, when bidden in dream by this benign Lord, when visited the temple. There are very many exotic stories revealing the infinite sports of this Andhra Mahavishnu in Skanda and Padma Puranas. The Sathavahana dynasty made this place as their capital and later changed to Dhanyakataka. There is a Sivaalaya popular as Mallikarjuna temple and that Lord is the kshetrapalaka of this place. The nityanaimithika pujas are offered with unprecedented devotional fervor. Among the annual festivals, the Kalyanotsav falling in the month of Vaisaka is the star-attraction of this temple.

It lies 36 km off Machilipatnam in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, having train and bus facilities.

[ Back ] [ Temples Of India ] [ Up ] [ Next ]