Bhimavaram Someswara Swamy Temple, is one of the Pancharama
Kshetras, and is located at Gunupudi Village in Bhimavaram, West Godavari
District, Andhra Pradesh. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Someswara. The
shrine is at walking distance from Bhimavaram Junction Railway Station. Bhimavaram
is located around 105 km east of Vijayawada. The shrine is around 140 km west
of Kakinada.
Unique Shivling at Gunupudi Someswara Swamy Temple
Unique Shivling at Gunupudi Someswara Swamy Temple
The unique aspect of the Shivling worshipped in the temple
is that it changes color depending on the size of the moon. On Purnima or full
moon days, the Shivling is white in form. The Shivling brightens. On Amavasya
or no moon day it turns into black in form. The Shivling brightens during the
waxing phase of moon and darkens during the waning phase of moon.
Goddess Murti atop Shivling
Goddess Annapurneshwari is worshipped in the sanctum
sanctorum and she is the divine consort of Shiva in the shrine. But the
interesting aspect is that murti of Goddess Annapurna is located atop the main
Shivling in the temple. One can have darshan of Goddess only from the first
floor of the temple.
Structure of the Temple
The temple is a two-storied structure and was constructed
more than 1000 years ago. The temple faces east and is protected by a side walled
compound. There is a tall stone pillar surmounted by Nandi statue in front of
the temple. There is another Nandi statue in the center of the big temple tank.
Open mandapa and a narrow corridor are found in the interior of the shrine.
The big pond in the temple is believed to have been built by
Chandra, the moon god, and is known as Chandra Pushkarini. The pond is also
known as Somagundam.
There are a total of five Nandi murtis in the temple.
The temple complex also has small shrines of Lord
Janardhana, Muruga, Hanuman and Surya. There is also a separate Navgraha
worship place.
Another name of the temple is Sri Uma Someshwara Janardhana
Swamy Temple. Shiva is also known as Somarama.