5. Amaravati

Name: Amareshwara Swamy Temple, Amaravati
Deities: Amareshwar (Lord Shiva)
Location: Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati is located on the banks of the River Krishna in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. Amareshwara Swamy Temple, which is one of the five Pancharama Lingas is located in Amaravati. According to Vajrayana tradition, the Buddha preached at Amaravati (also known as Dharanikota and Dhanyakatakam) and conducted Kalachakra ceremony. This ancient temple dedicated to Shiva enshrines a 15ft high white marble Shiva Lingam, and is surrounded on all the four sides by towering gopuras of the usual Dravidian type of temple Architecture. The 'Vimana' of the temple also shows the same style of architecture. Amaravati was also the capital of Satavahanas, the first great Andhra kings who ruled from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, after the downfall of Maurya empire.

Mahachaitya Stupa, being the biggest of its kind, is a major attraction of Amaravati. As per the historical records the Mahachaitya Stupa of Amaravati had been formed during the reign of king Ashoka. The unique features of the great Stupa in Amaravati include platforms with 95 feet high cardinals and circular vedika. The entire Stupa was constructed with bricks. A property of the Government museum of Chennai, this Stupa of Amaravati is visited by large number of tourists round the year. Art historians regard the Amaravati art as one of the three major styles or schools of ancient Indian art, the other two being the Gandhara style and the Mathura style. Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited Amaravati in 640 AD who stayed here for sometime and studied Abhidhammapitakam. The Dalai Lama of Tibet conducted a Kalachakra initiation in Amaravati in 2006.

According to the ancient Hindu beliefs, the places where the river takes a different course for short distances were considered to be very holy and sacred places and thus, temples were built there to pay homage to the Gods. The present holy shrine of Amaralingeswara (Lord Shiva) Swamy Temple was constructed during the reign of Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu who ruled the region before the advent of the British rule. The Mula Virat in the Garbhagriha is a long vertical marble cylinder that have been used extensively in the Buddhist monuments and the white marble lotus Medallion above it has the delicate and ornate style, typical of the early Buddhist sculptures.

Amaravati is situated 35 Km northwest from Guntur and 46 Km southwest from Vijayawada. Buses and private vehicles are available from Guntur. The nearest railway stations are at Guntur and Vijayawada.

2. Rameswaram

Name: Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
Deities: Lord Shiva
Location: Ramachandrapuram District, Tamil Nadu

Rameswaram is famous pilgrimage center in Tamil Nadu. Rameshwaram is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Rameshwaram is a town located on an island separated from the mainland India by the Pamban channel. Rameshwaram is the place where Lord Rama has built the bridge across the sea to Lanka. This is also the place where Lord Rama worshipped Shiva after killing the demon Ravana. This place is known as the Varanasi of the south. Pilgrimage to Kasi is incomplete without the visit to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is Rameshwaram is Sri Ramanatha Swamy.

According to the legend, upon the advice of rishis, Lord Rama installed and worshipped the Siva Linga in Rameshwaram to expiate the sin of killing Ravana who is a Brahmin. Lord Rama sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. When Anjaneya returned with a linga from Mount Kailas the linga was already installed and Anjaneya was disappointed. So Lord Rama also installed the Visvalingam brought by Anjaneya along the side of Ramalinga. Devotees first visit the Visvalinga and worship it before visiting the Ramalinga.

The places of interest in Ramaswaram are Ramanathaswamy Temple, which was built in the seventeenth century. There is a place known as Agnitheertham where Rama worshipped Lord . There is a temple called Gandamadana Parvatham 2 kms away from Rameshwaram. A place called Dhanushkodi named after Rama's bow at a distance of 8 kms from Rameshwaram.