Annavaram

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.