Annavaram is one of the most famous Holy Shrines in India and enjoying the
second place after Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The temple is built in the
Dravidian style and the glory and richness of Lord SATYADEVA was widely
described in Revakhanda of Skandhapuranam. The presiding deity Lord Satyadeva
with his consort Sri Anantha Lakshmi on one Side and with Lord Siva on the other
side took his abode on Ratnagiri, which is named after Ratnakara, son of Meru
the king of holy mountains. Like in all Divyakshetrams as surrounded and
followed by holy rivers, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram is also followed
by sacred Pampa River touching the feet of the hill. Lord Satyadeva the god of
truth is showering his eternal blessings on mankind in his beautiful manifested
form of the DIVINE TRINITY namely Hari Hara Hiranya Garbha Thrimurtyatmaka.
Hence this is only the temple that is attracting the Pilgrims of both Vishanava
and Saiva Hindu religion and thousands of pilgrims from all over the Country are
worshiping daily by Lord Satyadeva forgetting all sectional difficulties.
Enriched by the installation of SRIMATHRIPATHVIBHUTI VYKHUNTA MAHA
NARAYANA YANTRA, which plays a dominant and important role with the power of
attraction of both money and men (Dhana Janakarsha). The Peetham of Swamyvaru is
highly adorned with the installation of Panchayatana befitting the glory and
sanctity of the deity.
The unique natural location of the temple on National Highway No.5
Calcutta to Chennai and railwayline touching the holy Godavari river is all
entering large number of devoties. There is hardly a vehicle which never stops
at the feet of the hill and break the coconut at the first step down the hill in
token up the fulfillment of the vows of the inmates.
STHALAPURANAM AND STORIES BEHINDTHETEMPLE &LEGENDS:
Situated At a distance of two miles from Annavaram Railway Station on
the Vijayawada-Waltair Broad gauge section of the South Central Railway, 30
miles from Kakinada, about 20miles from Prathipadu and 50miles from Rajahmundy.
There is a regular bus service to this village. Buses running to Tuni, Kakinada,
Rajahmundry, and Yeleswaram pass through Annavaram touching warm pass through
Annavaram touching the foot of the sacred Ratnagri Hill on which the temple of
Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana swamy is situated.
The distance from the foot of the hill to the temple at the tope is
about 4 furlongs by a foot-fath well faid out with stone steps, and over 2miles
by a ghat road. It is believed that the place was known for constant food
distribution (free feeding) by the benevolent Zamindars of the locality and that
therefore the place was called by the name Annavaram(annam means food in
Telugu). Another version is that because the presiding deity of the place
blesses the devotees with anina varam (pronounced or wanted boon), the place is
called Annavaram.
The hillock by the side of the village is considered to be very sacred.
Meruvu, the lord of the hills and his consort Menaka did great penance and begot
two sons by the grace of Lord Vishnu. One was named Bhadra and the other
Ratnakar. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu with his devotion and penance and with His
grace became Bhadrachalam on which Lord Sri Raman had permanently settled.
Ratnakara desired to emulate his brother and succeeded in pleasing Lord Vishnu
by his penance to settle on him as Veera Venkata Satyanarayanaswamy, Ratnakara
remaining as Ratnagiri (hill). Ratnagiri Hill ranges are said to be connected
with two strategic incidents. Tradition says that Sri Krishadevaraya of
Vijayanagar used the secret underground passages in the hills to attack the
enemy from both sides during his invasion of these parts. The Andhra
revolutionary late Alluri Seetharama Raju had some of the secret quarters for
himself and his followers in these hill ranges, when he rebelled against the
British Rule.
The total population of the village is 2,550 and it is made up of the
following communicaties: Caste Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Velama,Kapu,Vantari,
Perika, Chakali, Mangali, Kummari, etc; Scheduled Castes (651)- Mala and Madiga,
etc. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricultural
labour, services to the pilgrims, trade, employment in the temple and other
traditional occupations.
The temple of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayanaswamy is the main temple on
the Ratnagiri hill. There are also a temple of Sri Rama and the shrines of Vana
Durge and Kanaka Durga nearby. The temple of gramadevatha (village deity) is in
the village at the foot of the hill.
