Thread by @rasu667

Sri Bhimeswara Swamy temple - Bhimavaram

#WalkToTemple
Sri Bhimeswara Swamy temple of Bhimavaram, which is more than 1000 yrs old, is often confused with another illustrious temple of Bhimavaram, the Soma Rama, which is one of the Pancharamas.

As soon as we enter through the gopuram, we are in the Mandapam of the Rama temple which is in the complex. The Sri Bhimeswara Swamy temple is straight ahead. This temple has many more gudis constructed in later years in the same complex.

The Sita Rama aalayam that we see as soon as we enter the complex.

This complex apart from the main temple and Sita Rama aalayam, has the gudis of Anjaneya Swamy, Sri Subramanya Swamy and Radha Krishna gudi.

The other temples of the complex.

Sri Bhimeswara Swamy aalayam was built between 890 & 918 CE by East Chalukya king named Chalukya Bhima. He is said to have laid the foundation for this temple & named the place Bhimapuram, which was later changed to Bhimavaram. Varam means something that is bestowed in Telugu.

You can notice the sculpture of Meenakshi ammans wedding on the Vimana
Pillars in the Mandapam and the floral design on the ceiling of the Mandapam
Details of this temple.

Sri Jagannath Swamy is the Kshetra palaka of this temple.

Sri Bhimeswara Swamy is the main Bhagvan & Mahishasuramardini is in the temple beside him.
Amma is depicted in Vaishnava form, having 4 hands. She has a Shank in her right upper hand and Chakra in her left upper hand & the rest she is in abhaya mudra.

Dwajastambham & Nandi

It is the only gudi in Andhra where she is depicted thus. She is believed to be very powerful.

Opposite end of the Mandapam has 2 alcoves. One holding Dattatreya and the other has Brahma.
This gudi is in the Gandhinagar area of Bhimavaram.

Though I had passed it the previous day, I didn't realise that it was an ancient temple. The list of temples that I planned for that day was Yanamadurru & 4 of the Pancharamas.
While going to the 1st Pancharama, we were passing this gudi when I saw mention of Chalukyas outside.

This made me stop immediately and go inside. When Mahadev decided that I should have his darshan, he made sure that I stopped. Grateful for his daya.
This way I had the chance of visiting another ancient temple.

Om Namah Shivaya 🙏