Yanamadurru near Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh is home to a
very unique Shiva temple. Lord Shiva murti worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum
of the temple is in Shirshasana form. Goddess Parvati in the same sanctum is
depicted as holding child Subrahmanya Swami.
Shiva murti is found in the shrine in upside form.
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| A drawing of the sanctum sanctorum of Yanamadurru Shiva Temple |
The temple is around 10 km south of Bhimavaram in Andhra
Pradesh.
The temple is known as Sri Parvati Sameta Sri Shakteeshwara
Swamy Vaari Temple.
Another name of the temple is Sri Shakteeshwara Temple.
It is believed that the murti worshipped in the shrine
belongs to the Treta Yuga. Lord Shiva is known here as Shakteeshwara and also
Shirshasana Swamy.
The temple has a Nandi facing the sanctum. There is another murti
of a five-headed serpent. It is believed that live serpents always visit the temple.
The pushkarini or pond of the temple is known as Shakti
Gundam. The water in the pond is believed to have curative properties.
Story Of Yanamadurru Shiva Temple
Yanamadurru is associated with Yama, the god of death in
Hinduism. A demon named Sambhera was
wreaking havoc in the region. People asked Yama to help them. The demon was too
powerful and Yama could not defeat him.
Yama went to Kailash and sought the help of Shiva. But Lord
Shiva was performing Yoga. Goddess Parvati was holding little Subrahmanya in
her arms. She blessed Yama with a part of her.
With the help of Goddess Parvati, Yama defeated the demon
and rescued the people of the region.
Yama then requested Goddess Parvati and Shiva to come and
settle in the place in the same posture as he saw them in Kailash. The wish of Yama was
granted and the deities protected the region from demons and diseases by residing in the temple built for them by Yama.