This temple is dedicated to Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami and is built atop the Ratnagiri.
Annavaram Satyanarayana Swami
Temple Location: Annavaram. (40 km from Kakinada, 80 km from Rajahmundry and 125 km from Visakhapatnam) East Godavari Dist, Andhra Pradesh.
Deity: Satyanarayana. The presiding deity is installed along with Shiva representing the oneness of Shiva and Vishnu.
The shrine to Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy situated upon the Ratnagiri Hills. The land is considered to belong to both Lord Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami Temple and Goddess Anantalaxmi Satyavathi Ammavaru.
The temple, situated on the hill top, is about four furlongs (almost a kilometer) away from its base. It can be reached either by steps covered with canopy, via Ghat road, or trekked via a stone path.
The popularity and importance of the temple is increasing among pilgrims. This place is considered as second only to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Festivals are celebrated year-round. Popular festivals are Kalyanam in May, Devi Navratri in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sraavana Suddha Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, Kanakadurga Yatra, Prabha Utsavam, Teppa Utsavam and Jalatoranam.
The hill top offers a panoramic view of the surrounding fields and villages. A river water barrage with boating facility is near the main entrance of the hill. This place is called Pampa Sarovara.
The temple resembles a chariot. The distance from the foot of the hill there is a path laid out in stone steps. The temple is of recent origin. There is no Sthalamahatmyam (epigraphic record) in the temple. The temple has its own choultries. The river Pampa is considered sacred and runs close to the temple. Devotees bath and then go to the temple since the temple has no tank of its own. There is also a pathasala-school for students. The Satyanaravana Vratham is dedicated to Vishnu Sahasranamam, which has to be performed on the Bhishma Ekadashi day, and Annavaram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Satyanarayanaswami where this Vratham is performed.
Legend: There is an interesting legend about the discovery of the idol. The Lord revealed himself in a dream, where he told his vigraha was abandoned on a hill without worship and the local people must consecrate again. The local people discovered the idol at the foot of a tree, worship was offered and the idol was installed at the present spot. (The idol was discovered a little to the northeast of the main temple).
There is a yantra here based on the Tripad Vibhuti Narayana Upanishad, and is a part of the Devarshi Sakha of Atharvaveda. The shrine is constructed in two stories, the lower one contains the yantra, and the upper one contains the vigrahas of the Lord. The garba griha has four entrances. The center is like a panavattam under the Shivalinga, three peethas are constructed here and on top is the chiseled Beejakshara Samputi of the Yantra. At the apex there is a monolith pillar and on top is the idol of the Lord with the goddess to the right and Shivalinga to the left. The idols are exquisite and covered in gold.
On the ground floor of the sanctum are the idols of Aditya, Ambika, Gananatha and Maheswara at the four corners with the Lord in the centre forming the Vishnu Panchayatanas. The main temple is constructed like a chariot with the four wheels. In front of the main temple is the Kalyana mantapa decorated in modern style. There are other shrines dedicated to Ramalaya, Vana Durga and Kanaka Durga. Goddess Vana Durga is said to be seen here every night going around the temple, guarding the Lord. The temple is built according to shilpa shastra and reminds one of the Prakriti-universe. The chariot acts as a symbol of the saatloks (seven worlds) underneath, and the seven above, with the sanctum at the heart ruling the universe. The wheels depicts the Sun and the Moon. Thrikala archana is performed every day to the Yantra as well as the idols. Salagramas and Sri Chakram in crystal are worshipped along with the idols.
Festivals: There are many festivals held in this temple including Kalyanam, Devi Navaratri in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sravana Sudd a Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, the Kanakadurga Yatra, the Prabha Utsavam, the Teppa Utsavam and the Jalatoranam.
SWAMY vari pooja ki kavalsinavanni temple vaaru chusukuntaraaa
ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅನ್ನಾವರಂ ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ ಇಂದು ರಾತ್ರಿಯೊಳಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಕೈ ಕಾಲಿಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನೀಡಿ ಹರಸು ತಂದೆ, ನಿನ್ನಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ದರ್ಶನ ಪಡೆದು ಅಲಂಕಾರ ಸೇವೆ, ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ ಪೂಜೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ನನ್ನ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷ ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ ವ್ರತ ಆಚರಿಸಿ, ಅನ್ನದಾನ ಸೇವೆ ಹರಕೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿಸುವೆ ತಂದೆ, ನನ್ನ ಮನೆದೇವರು ಕನಕೂರು ರಾಮಲಿಗೇಶ್ವರ ಮೇಲಾಣೆ.