View source for Ksheerarama

{{short description|Hindu temple in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name               = Ksheerarama
| image              = CompleteTempleComplex.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple
| map_type           = India Andhra Pradesh
| map_caption        = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|16.5333|81.7333|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| native_name        = 
| country            = [[India]]
| state              = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| district           = [[West Godavari]]
| location           = [[Palakollu]]
| elevation_m        = 
| deity              = [[Shiva]], [[Parvathi]]
| Direction_posture  = 
| Pushakarani        = 
| Vimanam            = 
| festivals          = [[Maha Shivaratri]]
| architecture       = 
| temple_quantity    = 1
| monument_quantity  = 
| inscriptions       = 
| year_completed     = 14th century
| creator            = Chalukya Bheema<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://templeindia.info/ksheera-ramalingeswara-swamy-temple-palakollu/ |title=Ksheera Ramalingeswara swamy Temple Palakollu &#124; palakollu Temple |access-date=8 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709095312/http://templeindia.info/ksheera-ramalingeswara-swamy-temple-palakollu/ |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| website            = <!--{{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
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'''Ksheerarama''' is one of the five [[Pancharama Kshetras]] that are sacred to the Hindu god [[Shiva]]. The temple is located in [[Palakollu]] of [[West Godavari]] in the [[Indian state]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. [[Shiva]] is known locally as Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy. It is believed that staying one day in Kshirarama is equivalent to staying one year in [[Varanasi]].{{clarify|date=July 2019}} It is one of the centrally protected [[Monuments of National Importance|monuments of national importance]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Centrally Protected Monuments|url=http://asihyd.ap.nic.in/monuments.html|website=Archeological Survey of India|access-date=27 May 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626104454/http://asihyd.ap.nic.in/monuments.html|archive-date=26 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
It is one of the five powerful Shiva temples in Southern India that form the ''"Pancharama Kshetram"''. The remaining four are [[Somarama]] Temple in [[Bhimavaram]]; Draksharama Temple in [[Draksharamam]]; Kumararama Temple in [[Samalkota]]; and Amareswara Temple in [[Amaravathi village, Guntur district|Amaravati]], state of Andhra Pradesh.

==Architecture==
The tower is one of the tallest among the temple towers in Andhra Pradesh. The height of the temple is 120&nbsp;ft and 9 floors and was constructed during the Chalukya period (9th century) during the reign of Chalukya Bheema.

The [[Lingam]] is a unique milky white in colour and the tallest. There are 72 pillars made of black stone in the temple [[mandapa]]. Inside, the [[Garbhagriha]]. the sanctums of [[Shiva|Gokarneswara]] and [[Ganesha]] are at the left. The main deity is in the center. To the right are the sanctums of [[Kartikeya]] and [[Vishnu]]; [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] is at the centre.

The Gostani River flows through Palakollu and there is a [[Confluence|sangam]] (confluence) near [[Narasapuram, West Godavari|Narsapur]] with the [[Godavari River]]. From here the river empties into the sea at [[Antarvedi]]. The [[lingam]], can be seen from the windows of the sanctum from all four sides.

The temple complex has many shrines, for many gods and goddesses like, [[Surya]], [[Parvati]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Shiva|Nagareshwara]], [[Ganesha]], [[Veerabhadra]], the eight [[Matrika]]s, [[Durga]], [[Brahma]], [[Saraswati]], [[Kartikeya]], [[Bhairava]], [[Nāga|Nagadeva]], [[Nataraja]], [[Dattatreya]], [[Shiva|Nageshwara]], [[Shani]], [[Krishna]] and [[Radha]], and [[Shiva]].

==History==
The Prakara was designed by Sri Velupathi during the 10th century. The construction technique resembles those built during the Chalukya Agnikuls period. Gopuram was constructed under the direction of sri Alladu Reddy during the 14th century.<ref>[https://tms.ap.gov.in/krlpkl/cnt/about-temple Temple history]</ref> During the 17th century, Kalyana mantapam (choultry) and Ashtha Bhuja Lakshmi Narayanaswamy alaya were constructed.

==Festivals==
{{Hinduism}}
[[Mahasivaratri]] is an important festival when thousands of people offer prayers to seek the blessings of the Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy to attain ''[[Moksha|Mukti]]''.

==Transport==
This temple is near the main bus station. Palakollu is connected to [[Indian Railways]]; the nearest railway station is {{rws|Palakollu}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.templenet.com/Andhra/ksheerarama.html Ksheerarama]

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
File:Palakol Temple Tower.jpg|Ksheerarama temple tower is the tallest in Andhra Pradesh at 120&nbsp;ft.
</gallery>

{{Shaivism}}
{{Shiva temples}} 
{{Pancharama Kshetras}}
{{Hindu holy cities |state=autocollapse}}
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Palakollu]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in West Godavari district]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Pancharama Kshetras]]
[[Category:State protected monuments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Palakollu]]