Goopuram: UMA KOPPULINGESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE, PALIVELA

Saturday, 18 June 2011

UMA KOPPULINGESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE, PALIVELA

UMA KOPPULINGESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE, PALIVELA

This temple is located in Palivela. It is in East Godavari district. It is 168km from Vijayawada via Ethakota.

HISTORY OF THE LORD OF THE TEMPLE

The history behind this temple is, long ago Agastya Maharshi performed Penance on the bank of river Kowsiki near Palvalpuram. At the same time Kalyanam of Lord Siva and Parvathi Devi was also taking place. Agastya Maharshi wanted to attend the Kalyanotsavam, but due to some reason he could not attend the Kalyana Mahotsavam. So he wanted to see the Kalyanotsavam with his Divyadrishti.

Agastya Maharshi prayed Parvathi Devi and Lord Siva to give him darshanam. When Parvathi Devi and Lord Siva gave him darshanam, Agastya Maharshi requisted them to stay there on one peetam in the Palvalapuram. Lord Siva and Parvathi Devi agreed to stay there and bless the people. For this reason, the god here is called Lolla Agasteswara Swamy.

THE HISTORY HOW AGASTESWARA BECAME KOPPULINGESWARA

Lord Siva will usually have Jatajuta, but Sivalingam having Jatajutam (koppu) is a wonder. You can see this in Uma Koppeswara Swamy temple in Palivela. It is in East Godavari district.

There is a story behind this Jatajutam. Purohit working in this temple got used to bad habits and neglected the temple, he used to go to a Veshya. People in that village reported this to the king. The King came to the temple to check what’s happening, there he found a long hair in the Prasadam.The King asked Purohit about the hair. Purohit lied that this hair is from Lord Siva’s Jatajuta. The King said he wanted to see the Jatajuta. Purohit was frightened and said we have to wait until the next day as the decoration was completed and it should not be removed. The King agreed to come the next day.

Purohit was frightened and he spent the whole night in the temple praying Lord Siva to help him. Lord Siva was pleased and Jatajuta appeared on the SivaLinga. Next day king came and he saw the Jatajuta, he was unable to believe it and inorder to check if it is true or not he pulled the jatajuta and he lost his eyes. Later he prayed Lord Siva to forgive him and he got his eyes back.

FESTIVALS

The Kalyana Mohotsavam of Lord Uma Koppeswara Swamy takes place on the day of Mahasivaratri every year in Kalyana mandapam renovated by Rajaraja Narendra in 11^th century. People from far and wide come to see the Kalyanotsavam, Radhotsavam (chariot festival) that takes place on the day of Mahasivaratri.

HOW TO REACH THE TEMPLE

Palivela is 10kms from Ravulapalem, 7kms from Mandapalli Saneeswara Swamy temple. From Rajahmundry it is 43kms, 163kms from Vijayawada and 25kms from Amalapuram.