Shri SitaRamachandra Swamy

Bhadrachalam has a special place in Sri Rama's exile.Bhadrachalam in Bhadrachalam district of Telangana According to legends, the importance of Bhadrachalam dates back to Treta Yug. Kancherla Gopanna.reputation is the origin of the present temple.The life of Kancharla Gopanna, who was known as Bhakta Ramadasa, is associated with the construction of the templefive hundred years ago.Kancharla Gopanna was born to Lingamoorthy and Kamamba in Nelakondapalli village in Khamman district. Realizing that the donations were not enough, the villagers assured that they would repay the entire amount received from the crops and asked Gopanna to spend the government revenue on the construction of the temple.According to the desire of the villagers, with the permission of the Nizam Nawab, Ramdas alias Kancharla Gopanna built the temple with 6 lakh mohiris collected towards land tax.There was a problem in installing the 'Sudarshan Chakra' on the main temple peakat the end of the temple construction. Rama appeared in the dream of Gopanna and told him to take bath in River Godavari and he will find the 'Sudarshana Chakra'. The next day Gopanna did so and found the sacred Sudarshana Chakra in the river. Kancharla Gopanna was sacked from office and imprisoned in Golconda Fort for 12 years and tortured for misappropriating government funds without the knowledge of the government for the construction of the temple.Gopanna sang 'Dasaradhi Shatakam' and 'Kirtans' and begged Rama to relieve him of his torment since he wasUnable to endure the hardships,Tanisha realized with the devotion of Ramadas to Ram when Rama and Lakshman appeared in a dream in the divine forms as Ramoji and Lakshmoji, servants of Ramdas paid the six lakh mohars to him for the release of their devotee from his captivity. Rama took the receipt from Tanisha and kept the receipt below to the pillow kept in the jail.In the morning, Tanisha released Ramdas from prison and asked Ramdas to take back the Mohar. Ramadas refused and took only two Mohar as divine symbols. Those Mohar are present in the Bhadrachala Devasthan. Tanisha took over the management of the temple and became a devotee of Rama inspired by the devotion of Gopanna. This inspiration shows religious harmony between Hindus and Muslims. Tanisha was impressed by the glory of Lord Rama, allocated the income of the Palvancha pargana for the upkeep of the temple and for the offering of Pears as Talambas on the occasion of Lord Rama's marriage every year on Sri Rama Navami. Accordingly, the present state government is also offering Talambras and Silk Clothes to Sita and Rama on the Kalyanotsavam which will be held on Sri Rama Navami. In Godavari district one crore of Talambra rice are offered by husking each grain of paddy with devotion.After occupation of Golkonda by Aurangzeb the temple fell into disrepair during the Muslim and British rule, and the temple was rebuilt about sixtyyears ago, when the Restoration Committee was formed and collected donations from all parts of the united Andhra Pradesh state. But since Bhadrachalam is a remote forest, there were no facilities for the pilgrims in olden days. Ganapati Sthapathi, a sculptor from Tamil Nadu, found the stones for Kalyana Mandap in Dindivanam, transported them by train and lorry, and built Kalyana Mandap in Bhadrachalam. Ramadasu Dhyana Mandir was built right next to the temple. A six feet statue of Ramdas was installed in the mandir. The main temple is built entirely of nearby collected black stone. The Maha Mandapa is decorated with sculptures of Ashtalakshmi, Dashavatar and Alvars. The temple Viman (Tower) was constructed with 32 tons of single rock. The three floors of the tower are carved with sculptures of deities. Lord Rama is seen in the sanctum of Sita Ramachandra Swami temple, with four arms as Vishnu form, conch in right upper hand, chakra in left upper hand and bow in left down hand, arrow in right down hand, Sita Devi sitting on his left thigh while Lakshman is standing on left.The territory of Akhanda Bharat between the Vindhya mountain range to the South Indian peninsula was known to be Dandaka forest during the Treta Yug of the Ramayana period, Bhadrachalam and Rishyamook Mountain are the important places in Dandaka Forest. Rishyamook Mountain is the divine place where Rama, during his exile from Bhadrachalam in search of Sita, met his devotee Hanuman for the first time. .Ramadas wrote many hymns in Telugu praising Lord Rama. Bhadrachalam existence and Sri Sita Ramachandra Swami was known to people during the lifetime of Ramadas only. Sri Vaishnavas brought by Ramadasa from Srirangam to the temple are offering adorations like the deity at Srirangam as instructed by Ramanuja and are still working as priests in Bhadrachalam. The temple is kept open from4-30 AM to1-00 PM and again from 3-00m 3-00 PM to 9-00 PM.