Pancharama Kshetras
Five Shiva temples of Andhra Pradesh hold the pieces of one linga.
The Skanda Purana tells that Bhagwan Kartikeya, killing the asura Tarakasura, shattered the linga the asura wore at his throat, and its five pieces fell at Amaravati, Draksharamam, Bhimavaram, Palakollu and Samalkot. Each was installed as an arama, a sacred grove: Amararama, Draksharama, Somarama, Ksheerarama and Kumararama. The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi built or rebuilt several of them in the 9th and 10th centuries, and Draksharama and Kumararama share the same two-storeyed plan, with the linga rising through both floors.
Temples in this circuit
StandingAmararama, Amareswara Temple, Amaravati
The first of the five Pancharamas, on the south bank of the Krishna at Amaravati. The linga here is held to have been installed by Indra, which gives the place its name, the arama of the Amaras.
StandingBhimeswara Temple, Draksharamam
Daksha’s aramam, where Daksha Prajapati held the yajna that Sati entered: one of the five Pancharama shrines and a Shakti Peetha of Manikyamba, in the Godavari delta.
StandingSomarama, Someswara Temple, Bhimavaram
The Pancharama of Chandra, at Gunupudi on the edge of Bhimavaram. Its linga is known for changing colour with the moon.
StandingKsheerarama, Ksheera Ramalingeswara Temple, Palakollu
The Pancharama of Vishnu, in the delta town of Palakollu, where the sthala purana says milk sprang from the earth at Shiva’s trident. Its gopuram is one of the tallest in Andhra.
StandingKumararama, Bhimeswara Temple, Samalkot
The Pancharama installed by Kumara himself, at Samalkot near Kakinada. Built under the Eastern Chalukyas as a twin of Draksharama, it is protected by the ASI.