Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Rayachoti, Kadapa

SRI VEERABHADRA SWAMY TEMPLE

Rayachoti, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India

God

Veerabhadra Swamy is the main deity of this temple. Here lord Veerabhadra Swamy is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The Siva Linga worshiped by Mandavya is located to the right of Lord Veerabhadra.

Interesting Facts

It is a wonder in the temple that the Sun rays fall on Sree Veerabhadra Swamy for five days in the month of March.
Rays Starts from the feet on the first day and goes upward each day and touches the face on the fifth day.
One of the major attractions in this temple is single stone 56 feet Deepasthambham, which is very rarely seen temples of South India.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38 °C during day and 22°C during night)Average - May (33.7 °C during the day and 25 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (26 °C during day and 17 °C during night)Monsoon season - June to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
APSRTC Kadapa	52.4 KM	0866-2570005
Kadapa Railway Station	51.6 KM	1800111139
Tirupati International Airport	129 KM	0877-2275354

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Kadapa Railway Station	51.6 KM	1800111139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Tirupati International Airport	129 KM	0877-2275354

Architecture

Veerabhadra Swamy manifestation of Lord Shiva's wrath. Veerabhadra is Shiva in ferocious mood, indeed Shiva manifested himself as Vira. This fierce warrior's story is simply a symbolism of ego-shedding. He is a form of Rudra-Shiva who created him to act as his henchman in his quarrel with Daksha. Veerabhadra Swamy temple facing towards East and constructed in Vijayangara style of architecture. The temple can be seen with three major gopurams, three gopuras at East, South, North sides to temple. East facing gopuram is three tier with 5 kalasas, sculptures of hindu god and goddess on it. Highlight of this temple is the very tall single rock cut Dhwajasthambham out side main entrance. Daksha Prajapathi appears in worshiping form near the lord in the sanctum sanctorum.

The outer walls of the temple are sculpted with various images. In the texts and scriptures, the scared spot name is cited as Rajaveedu. Interesting are the Nandis and the figures carved on the floor of the mandapam before sanctum. Vijayangara style temple having broad mandapa and exquisitely carved deities inside. The sacred spring is the Mandavya theertham. The Medieval brick gopurams of the Vijayanagara era are now replaced by modern cement structures.

Religious Significance

Daksha Prajapathi organized Yagna (Homam) without inviting Lord Shiva purposely to humiliate him. On knowing this, Sati or Dakshayani, youngest daughter of Dakshan want to visit her father’s house after taking permission from Shiva. Sati was not received properly at her father’s house. Daksha then went on insulting Shiva, after seeing all these events, sati turned furiously and set ablaze at the Yagna mandapam itself. On knowing this Lord Shiva burned with anger and tore a lock of hair. Lord Veerbhadra took birth from Lord Shiva’s anger and went to execute Shiva’s will along with Shiva ganas to destroy Daksha’s Yagna. Meantime, Mandavya maharshi doing penance on Shiva for Veerabadhra Darshan. Maharshi begged Ambica to soften Veerbhadra, Ambica appeared as Bhadrakaali and cooled him down. Sage requested them to stay in the place of his penance. That place is now called Rayachoti. The temple is in the town of Rayachoti (old name Rachaveedu).

Legends of the Place - According to the legends, Daksha did not invite Lord Shiva at the Yagna conducted by him. Knowing about this, Sati went to the yagna uninvited even when Lord Shiva asked her not to go to the yagna. Sati reached the yagna place and asked her father Daksha the reason for not inviting Lord Shiva while Daksha invited all other Gods. Daksha insulted Lord Shiva and Sati became angry and felt sad for not obeying Lord Shiva. Sati immolated herself. Hearing about the death of Sati, Lord Shiva became angry and plucked a lock of hair from his head and smashed it on the ground, breaking it into two with his leg. From it emerged, Lord Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali. Lord Shiva ordered Veerabhadra to destroy the yagna and kill Daksha. Veerabhadra killed Daksha.

History

Veerabhadra Swamy temple was built in 12th century A.D. by Nissankapratapa Raya, lord of Karkatapura. The renovation work of this temple is recently completed and it is attracting devotees in large numbers from all over the states. Vijayanagar kings was contributed for Veerabhadra Swamy temple. Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar used to visit this temple to offer prayers.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:00 AM - 12:00 PM	05:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757