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Bhadrachalam
- Sri Ramaalayam
Strangely enough thin world renowned Hindu
thirtha kshetra emerged into unprecedented
eminence by the Muslim funds, and the farmana
issued by that illustrious refined Nizam is still
honoured by the successors. It, fantastic
background and the mysterious sport played by
BhagawanSri Rama has become a topic of
perennial interest and inexhaustible attraction.
Ramadas
Episode
An exciting historical evidence begins with the
appointment of Kancherla Gopanna, an ordinary
god-minded man as Tahsildar of the Revenue
Taluq of Bhadrachalam, enjoying the
sovereignty of Tanisha of Golkonda a staunch
Muslim, yet a renowned ruler, famous for
religious tolerance; who ultimately became
instrumental in throwing a halo round the
archamurti of the sacred shrine.
To begin with, Gopanna was a devout Brahmin
in whom theistic impulses were predominant
right from the birth. He hailed from a village
Nelakondapalli of Khammam district. He was
poor - unable to see both ends meet, tried
however much by right means. Strangely
enough, he had fortune in the persons of two
maternal uncles - Akkanna and Madanna, who
were then in the service of Abdul Hassan
Tanisha, the Nawab of Nizam, as ministers. It so
coincided that the Tashildar of Bhadrachalam
-Taluq died then. To filling in the vacant post,
Gopanna was preferred. Akkanna and Madanna
were pleased when their recommendation met
with success, more was the pleasure to the
Gopanna's family sinking in stark poverty, and
most to the cause of theism. Gopanna ably and
satisfactorily discharged his official duties and
became a popular officer. His devotion too was
slowly coming into the flood light of public gaze.
Just at this juncture a miracle happened Pokala
Dhammakka, a local devotee of considerable
fame, found to her good fortune the image of Sri
Rama. For installation and regular worship,
funds and patronage were found indispensable.
This news reached Gopanna. Soon he
launched out a modest programme of building a
temple for the newly found holy image. It began
rising quicker than expected, rather in tune with
him, theistic impulses. What little he earned and
saved went into construction along with public
donation. Alas! His zeal loomed larger than his
means. He determined to adorn the deities with
costly jewels, and the temple with architectural
adornments. When the spring of his finance was
completely dried up, he turned his eve to the
State Revenue collections. Huge. funds to a
tune of six lacs we're Soon diverted and
consoled to quench his devotional thirst. People
were profited by the big temple - 5wayantvyakta
archanturti was installed, regular prayer
services started; devotional activities multiplied;
influx of devotees increased; prosperous
business achieved and endless 'spiritural
programmes were carried on. When Gopanna's
theistic fragrance wafting across the truth
reached the Northern parts, the saint-poet and
pious minstrel Kabir, a remarkable Prophet
carne. down to Badradrachalam and conferred
the. title 'Ramadasu', on Gopanna, pleased with
his highly advanced stage of shakti. 'that fame
spread everywhere and reached the Muslim
nobility first and royalty next. "What! Muslim
funds for Hindu Cods! Gross injustice.!! Open
abuse. of delegated powers !!! -This
transgression must be nipped, and the. culprit
must be hooked up to the gallows !!"' These
uproarious out-bursts shook the tolerant ruler a
bit more. Svoon Gopanna was summoned and
asked for explanation by the ruler. -Tanisha.
The ministers were mute, throughout the.
enquiry. "Against the obvious evidence, would
the. commission of abuse. of power get any
remission?" Moreover, the Muslim bigotry
decided to sack him - imprison him, torture hint
and end him. A malicious delight! A marvellous
opportunity for revenge!! So Gopanna was
thrown into jail.
Ordeals
Of Ramadas
Then began a period of misery thrust upon him
by an endless series of torture. Result : hard
manual work, lack of rest, inadequate diet, in
sanitary cell, constant heckling etc. they sucked
up the. sap of his- body, and debilitated him to
the extent of sinking any moment. -Tried
however much, they could not interfere. with his
isttadaivam - Sri Rama and put out the ever
burning soul-power. He started pouring out his
unalloyed bhakti in the. form of songs that
enriched the religious literature of the. world.
Each of the gems that fell front his lips is in
praise of lord Sri Rama's glory and his
boundless faith in him. He appealed to him for
instant relief, when tortures subjected his
physical frame to unendurable agony. Falling to
sight the relief, he addressed his entreaties to
Mother Sita and prayed for her intervention
immediate to acquainting his plight to Sri Rama.
At last Sri Rama came to Tanisha along with
Ukshmana and paying the amount due,
released Ramadas. '.
The Temple
This sacred shrine, the biggest draw of course,
next to Tirupati in Andhra,Pradesh lies on the
Bhadragiri, drenched by the holy waters of ever
flowing river Godavari in Khammam. Built atop a
hillock, it is a landmark, inspiring devotion by its
high towers visible to people for some miles off.
There are broad flights of steps to reach the
sanctum, well-built with Muslim funds, but
augmented and expanded of great patrons and
philanthropists later. The inscriptions on the
walls and copper plates narrate date-wise
development of this hallowed shrine, growing in
importance with the passage of time faster than
the sophisticated institutions as testified by the
ever increasing repeated influx of pilgrims from
all parts of the world, particularly from the
communities of Rama bhaktas of Hanuman
type, who have enthroned Sri Rama in their
hearts.
Ascending the stairs, the devotees enter
through the main entrance adored with a tall
tower. The courtyard in the inner prakara is
quite spacious, and the halls too are huge
enough to accommodate thousands of pilgrims
congregating for several purposes. The images
of the Principal deity Sri Rama is about three
feet in height. He reveals himself in Padmasana
posture with four hands, two holding bow and
arrow, and the other two disc and conch.
Mother Sita is sitting on his left lap, while
Lakshman sitting adjacent. All these three are
extremely graceful and lift the souls of the theist
at the first sight, rather in a single flash itself.
The Vimanasikhara, made of single granite
stone weighs 30 tons, and according to local
version, it is beautified with sudarsan chakra
brought from the river, Godavari by Ramadas.
Images of several adorable deities, like Vishnu,
Garuda, Simha, Somaskanda, Dhakshinamurthi
are adorning the grand vimana, and its visual
appeal detains the viewers long. Another
strange feature that greets the visitors is the
figures of Dwarapalakas on horse back. An
oddity. The Kalyana mantapam, besides being
extensive in size is a specimen of exquisite
craftsmanship. And there is a speical room
specially built for preserving the Ramakoti
books written by devotees. Behind the
garbhagriha there is another shrine for Bhadra
and it is visit-worthy also.
Festivals
There are many festivals celebrated with great
gusto throughout the year. Of them, Sri
Ramanavami is by far the best and lasts for
more than a week. It is the auspicious day of Sri
Rama's birth, and the Kalyanotsavam
celebrated during then attracts lacs of devotees.
It was during then all the jewels made by
Ramadas are used and it is a gala day for
Ramabhaktas. The Vaikunta Eakadasi festival
celebrated for 10 days is equally grand and has
greater pull. All the pujas are offered according
to pancharatragama. Among other places
worthy of seeing here Narasimha shrine,
Yogananda Narasimhaswamy temple,
Ranganayakula Alayam, Sivaalayam,
Govindarajula Alayam deserve mention.
More than these, the Parnasala lying at a
distance of 35 km is the most visit worthy; for,
there are certain slabs of saffron and turmeric
colours supposed to have been used by Mother
Sita for drying up her sarees. A beautiful temple
came up on the exact site of parnasala of the
Tretayuga age. And there is a hot water pond at
a short distance, the water of which was
brought every day by Iakshman for the purpose
of bath to Mother Sita. Devout pilgrims miss not
these two sacred spots also. "Pay a visit ! Get a
boon to beget Ramabhakti!! Put a stop to
Punarjanma!!!" says the sthalagna with great
enthusiasm.
It lies 50 Km of Khamman in AP
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