हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Kumararama, 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.

Built: c. 9th–10th century, attributed to the Eastern Chalukya king Bhima IWhere: Andhra Pradesh (Kakinada district)Deity: Bhagwan Shiva as Kumara Bhimeswara, with Bala Tripura Sundari17.04° N, 82.17° E
  1. c. 9th–10th century
Photo: Divya Talla · CC BY-SA 4.0

01Where Kumara set the linga

Kumara, Bhagwan Kartikeya, broke Tarakasura’s linga, and at Samalkot he installed the piece himself. That is why the place is Kumararama and the Bhagwan Kumara Bhimeswara. The linga is tall and pale and passes through two storeys: the abhisheka is done from the upper floor, at its crown, while darshan of its base is taken below. Bala Tripura Sundari is the Devi here.

02Bhima’s two temples

An inscription at Pithapuram credits the Eastern Chalukya king Chalukya Bhima I of Vengi with this temple, and the plan matches the Bhimeswara temple at Draksharama so closely that the two are read as the work of one builder. A two-storeyed cloister of pillared halls rings the courtyard, with the main shrine rising in the middle. Inscriptions of the Chalukya-Chola and Kakatiya periods record later gifts. The ASI keeps the temple as a monument of national importance, while worship continues daily.

The life of this place

  1. c. 9th–10th centuryThe temple is built, by inscriptional tradition under Chalukya Bhima I of Vengi.
Visiting

Samalkot is about 20 km from Kakinada and has a railway junction. Combine it with Draksharama, about 45 km south, and Pithapuram, 12 km east.

Nearby

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