Punyagiri-Dharmavaram

My mother-in-law wanted to visit the Punyagiri and Dharmavaram temples in Vizianagaram. She said that it is a popular saying in Telugu "Puttiki Punyagiri, Dhaggiki Dharmavaram", meaning, for childless couple, Punyagiri Lord blesses couples with Children and Dharmavaram blesses these children with long life.

Punyagiri is 65 kms from Vishakapatnam (Vizag) in Vizianagaram District. From our home in Vizag it is just 55 kms. We started at 7:15 am in Vizag and reached Punyagiri by 8:30. S. Kota is a junction at which we need to turn left to reach Punyagiri. We have to climb for 20 minutes. The steps are neatly maintained and not very tough to climb. On the way we can see the waterfalls. There is a linga on the way on which water drops from the falls keeps falling.

The deity is Uma Kotilingeswara swamy and it is said that if one dies in the hills or his ashes are immersed in the water of the stream, then one reaches Kailasa. There is a path, which is a difficult trek to a place where you can find lots of lingas (a crore and hence kotilingeswara). There is another trek path called Parvathi dhari. We did not do these treks. People perform annual rites and last rites in this place. The hills are called Virata Parvatha, and it is said that this is the place where the Pandavas were on Agyana Vaasam.

Directly across the temple in the Valley is Dharmavaram. Legend goes that there lived a demon who used to kill and devour children. When people prayed to Uma Kotilingeswara to save their children, Lord Shiva went to Dharmavaram in the form of a Sanyasi or sage. The demon told Shiva that he will not kill any children if Shiva agrees to stay in Dharmavaram forever. So Shiva stayed in Dharmavaram, and hence the temple with the deity Sri Sanyaseswara.

The linga here has a well defined face with eyes. There is also a Suyambu Vinayaka. Dharmavaram is 6 kilometers from Punyagiri, and 3 kilometers from S. Kota.

The temples are developed to a small extent and are not managed privately using funds available from the Hundi. A lot neeeds to be done in improving the temples and the people around.

Photos from:
Vizianagaram Website: http://vizianagaram.ap.nic.in
Photos@Family Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21538358@N04/