Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

Introduction to the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

The Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple is the most famous in Rayachoti (old name Rachaveedu), Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. This one thousand-year-old Temple is otherwise known as Dakshina Kasi, and devotees who may be unable to travel to Benares or Varanasi for some reason can compensate by visiting this temple.

Legend of the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

According to the temple legend, Sati, the daughter of King Daksha, went to the Yagna conducted by her father without an invitation. King Daksha humiliated her and Shiva, his son-in-law, before his guests. An angry Sati self-immolated in the Yagna fire.

When Shiva learned about Sati's death, he tore a lock of hair and created Veerabhadra. Shiva ordered Veerabhadra and his Ganas to destroy Daksha and the Yagna. During that time, the sage Mandavya was doing penance for the darshan of Shiva. He sensed the anger of Shiva and wanted to calm him down. So, he pleaded with Devi Ambika to pacify Veerabhadra.

Hence, she took Mother Bhadrakali's form to cool him down. Once the situation was resolved, the sage requested Mother Bhadrakali and Veerabhadra to stay in the spot of penance. It is where the present Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple stands.

The Architecture of the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

Nissankapratapa Raya built the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple in the 12th century. Later, Kakatiya Ganapathi and King Krishna Devaraya renovated it in the 15th century. The temple is facing towards East, and it features the Vijayanagara architectural style.

The temple has three main Gopurams in the East, North, and South directions. East-facing Gopuram has a three-tier Rajagopuram with five Kalasa and sculptures of deities. A single rock cut 56-foot tall Deepa Sthambham is one of the major attractions of the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple. Visitors can see Dwaja Sthambham (flagstaff) followed by the Nandi statue after entering the main Gopuram. There are shrines for Ganesha, Shiva, Subramanya, Kala Bhairava, and Bhadrakali. There is a Nandi before Mother Bhadrakali.

The primary deity of the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple is Veerabhadra Swamy. He receives the Sun's rays directly for five days in March. The rays fall at the feet of his idol on the first day. They rise upwards and touch his face on the fifth day. The Shiva linga worshipped by Sage Mandavya is on the right side of Veerabhadra Swamy. Daksha idol is seen near the main deity in a worshipping posture.

The main deity appears in a youthful form and sports a moustache. The Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple offers betel leaves as Prasad. There are two Nandis called Veera Nandi and Siva Nandi. One is for Veerabhadra, and the other is for Shiva. The priests offer the Poojas first to Shiva Linga and then to Veerabhadra Swamy. Every Monday, Veerabhadra and Mother Bhadrakali bless devotees from a palanquin. The sacred Theertham of the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple is Mandavya Theertham. There are several images sculpted on the outer walls of the temple.

Festivals in the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

The temple celebrates Masi Brahmotsavam grandly for eleven days after Shivratri Poojas in February-March. The enactment of the killing of King Daksha takes place on the eighth day. The Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple cooks 365 measures of rice with pumpkins, Athirasam, etc. These are heaped in the shape of a hill.

The priests spill the rice throughout the temple with the sword of Veerabhadra aggressively to mimic the way the Yagna Shala of Daksha was ransacked by Veerabhadra. Then, the priests at the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple offer the spilled rice as Prasad to the devotees.

Thiru Kartikai is another festival grandly celebrated between November and December in the temple. The best months to visit the Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple are September to February. Thousands of devotees throng the temple to attend these grand celebrations.