This privately run temple in Andhra has no 'hundi'

For those who can’t afford to travel and offer prayers at the Pandharpur in Maharashtra, the Keer Pandharikshetram with Lord Panduranga Vittal as the main deity is an alternative place of worship. This temple is located near the coastal city of Machilipatnam, the district headquarters of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh.

The temple was built in 1929 after the God manifested in the form of Panduranga Vittal and the idol is similar to the one ar Pandharpur of Maharashtra. The idol measures about three feet in height and is in black basalt rock but shining. The diamond in the crown that comes onto his forehead glows and sparkles in such a way the devotees waiting for darshan can clearly see the face from a distance despite dimly-lit sanctum sanctorum.

Lord Panduranga mesmerises the devotees with a mysterious smile and typical to the charm of Lord Krishna, resting hands on his waist. Two bright, big and diamond-studded ear ornaments shaped as fish show the love of fishermen for the god located on the sea coast of Andhra Pradesh.

According to legend, the temple is associated with the life of Bhaktha Narasimham, a native of Vutharavelli in Bobilli Taluk of the Visakhapatnam district (now Srikakulam District). After a pilgrimage to Goddess Kanaka Durga of Indrakiladri (Vijayawada) he proceeded to Machilipatnam (Krishna District) to see his relative. He settled there and on April 3, 1925, he purchased a piece of land where the temple is now located and wanted to build a choultry.

Deep in devotion, he sent an invitation to even Lord Panduranga, in Pandharpur and started visiting Pandharpur thereafter. He dreamt of building a temple similar to that of Pandharpur in Chilakalapudi.

It is believed that Narasimham never ordered for an idol as the lord said to have assured him that he would appear all by himself (swayambhu) on the day of installation. On the day fixed for the installation, thousands along with a few British officers gathered there to witness the amazing spectacle.

A night before the auspicious day Narasimham was worried whether the lord will keep his word and appear at the time fixed for the installation. It is believed that lord Hanuman appeared in his dream and assured him that the god will appear at the specified time. Narasimham went ahead with the ceremony and the replica of Pandharpur idol appeared.
The temple is still managed by successors of Narasimham, who refused to hand it over to the Endowments Department of the government. Even today there are no hundis collecting donations at the temple, which is spread over 6 acres. The main entrance has a huge tower welcoming devotees into the temple.

Shops and free rooms and dormitories have been built on the way to the temple. Unlike other temples, devotees will have to enter the sanctum sanctorum from west, and the idol faces east which is very rare.

Also, there are no restrictions on devotees as everyone is allowed to touch the feet of the lord. In front of the sanctum sanctorum a vast hall has been built to accommodate devotees for darshans, bhajans etc,. Another important feature of the temple is the Abhayanjaneya Swami idol in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

Massive parikrama on four sides of the premises also have idols of Radha, Rukmini and Satyabhama, all consorts of Sri Panduranga Vittal Swami. The temple tank is currently under repair. The sleepy town witnesses heavy rush of devotees during Pournamis, especially on Karthika Pournami also on Ashadha Shudda Ekadasi.

The temple also proved to be a beacon for those in distress. It was in 1970 that a Maharashtrian family flying over Chila­kalapudi in a private airplane landed in an open land nearby due to bad weather and was looking for a land mark. The old couple was praying the god and they finally saw the temple, which resembled the one in Maharashtra, their home state. They reached the temple and eventually approached the district authorities who helped them to return.

The temple also has its share of movies made with the lord in the background. Two movies of NTR clan, a generation apart were shot here. “Panduranga Mahatyam,” was a hit devotional film in which the late NT Rama Rao acted as a prodigal son of a Brahmin priest in 1957 under the direction of Kamalakara Kameswara Rao.

NTR’s son N Balakrishna acted in its remake in later years under the direction of Ragahvendra Rao. The audio launch of the latest movie was organised in Chilakalapudi itself to rekindle the NTR nostalgia.

Chilakalapudi, which is also famous for imitation jewellery, tops the list of people travelling to religious places during Dasara along with their families. “Over 100 buses leave from the town as large united families here prefer to travel together and travelling in separate taxis is cumbersome and expensive,” Totha Nagamalleswar Rao of Kuchipudi says.

However, residents of the temple town are unhappy with the state government for not developing the temple and its surroundings. “There is not even a sign board to inform the odd traveler the way to temple. No lodges and hotels for the devotees,” Veeranjaneyulu of Fancy Gold Covering said.

A temple like the one in Pandharpur is being meted out a step-motherly treatment by the government as it is managed by a family Trust, he said.