The Sree Seetharamachandra Swamy shrine at Bhadrachalam, the most famous temple in the country dedicated to Lord Rama, is situated on the left bank of the mighty river Godavari in Khammam District. The uniqueness of the temple is that the idol of Lord Rama has a bow in one hand along with Shanku and Chakra, amalgamation of two avatars - Vishnu and Rama. Also, unlike in other temples Sita is seated on Rama's lap. The holy soil is believed to have been trodden by Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana during their stay at Dandakaranya.

The temple is associated with puranic and historic facts. According to a legend, there was a rishi (sage) named Bhadra, son of Meru, an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, who was promised moksha by Him. Bhadra Maharishi did intense penance until Tretha yuga was over and Lord Rama, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was back to his original avatar. Pleased by Bhadra's devotion, He appeared in the form of Lord Rama (as per Bhadra's wishes) and granted him moksha. This explains the unique form of the deity at Bhadrachalam. The hillock on which Bhadra Maharishi did penance and attained moksha, is called Bhadragiri / Bhadrachalam after the rishi. Another legend associated with the place is that Lord Rama once appeared in the dream of a woman called Pokala Sammakka and informed her about the existence of idols on the Bhadragiri hills. To the astonishment of the woman, the idols were found on the hill, where she got a modest structure built.

Later in the 17 century, Gopanna, commonly known as Ramadas (devotee of Rama), a Tahsildar (town administrator) in the court of Abdul Hassan Tana Shah, spent the tax revenues to embellish the temple and the idols. Being a fervent devotee of Lord Rama, he used the tax collection to renovate the temple, instead of remitting it to the royal treasury. As a punishment for misusing the government funds, he was arrested and confined in a dark cell in the Golconda Fort, which can be seen even today. Even in the solitude of the cell, Gopanna's belief and devotion in Lord Rama were undeterred. His prayers were soon answered when Lord Rama himself appeared in Tana Shah's dream and produced a receipt denoting payment of the amount back to the king. The king was awestruck by the miracle and released Gopanna from the prison and reinstated him as Tahsildar. Tana Shah also announced annual grants to the temple. Even to this day, some of the jewels like 'Kalikiturai', 'Pachchala Pathakam', 'Chinthaku Pathakam' presented to the deities by Gopanna can be seen at the temple.

The place is associated with Rama in more than one way. He spent a part of the 14 years of his "Aranya vasam" (exile) accompanied by his spouse, Sita and his brother, Laxmana. A few kilometers away from the temple is the Ushnagundam. It is said that Lakshmana had brought hot water from here for Sita to bathe. About 35 km away from Bhadrachalam is the Parnashala, believed to be the hut where Rama, Sita and Lakshamana lived during their exile in the forest and where Sita was abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Parnashala: This is supposed to be the exact spot where Rama, during his vanavasa in Dandakaranya, constructed a hermitage and spent his exile with his concert Sita and brother Laxmana. Agastya had selected this spot for Rama and is about 35KMs from Bhadrachalam.

The picturesque display of some scenes of vanavasa could be seen at Parnashala. One can see the foot prints of Sita devi, Mosaic of Maarecha in the guise of golden deer and Ravana in the guise of Sanyasi for Bhikshatana. Also found in the vicinity are Sita Vaagu-where she had bathed and collected the turmeric and Kunkum from near by stones and the marks of her saree on the rock near Sita Vaagu. These are all the visiting places for the piligrims. As Ravana kidnapped Sita, the deity at Parnashala is called Sokarama. The tracks of the chariot of Ravana while kidnapping sita can be seen on the mountain on the other side of the river bank at Parnashala temple.

Jattayu Paaka (Yetapaka): This Place is situated from 2Kms away from Bhadrachalam. According to Itihasas, the bird Jatayuvu, a devotee of Rama had obstructed Ravana while he was proceeding on the chariot after kidnapping Sita. After the fearful battle between Ravana and Jataayuvu, the heavily injured bird had waited at this place in search of Rama. A wing of this bird fell at Rekkapalli, about 55 Kms from here, in V.R. Puram Mandal.

Dummugudem: Here Rama is called the Atmarama. The story reveals that Rama killed 14000 demons headed by Kharadeoshana. As the village was said to be built upon the ashes of these demons, the place is named after as Dummugudem.

Gundala: It is a place 5 Kms away from the sacred town Bhadrachalam, where springs of hot water could be traced on the river bank when we dig a pit at any place in this area. It is believed that the divine trios (Brahma Vishnu Maheswara) had their dips in winter season according to Brahma Purana.