Someswara Aalayam Temple
Location: Kotipalli, West Godavari
Deity: Lord Shiva
About The Temple :
This area is connected with Puranic legend and personages. It is here, according to legends, Indra, installed a great Sivalinga and offered Jalabhishekam to the Lord with the water from one crore rivers hence the name Koteeswara linga. Another legend states that the Moon-god got rid of his sin by bathing in the Pushkarini and worshipping the icon of Somasekhar installed under the guidance of Brihaspathi. He got back his lusture with the grace of Lord Siva; hence the deity is called Chaya Someswaraswamy. It lies 12 km off Draksharama in West Godavari.
The worship at this temple, is associated with a ritual bath in the river, specially during Kartika & Mahashivratri.
About The temple:
Someswaram Temple
Location: Kotipalli or Koti Theertham, East Godavari District is located at confluence of the river Godavari with the sea.
Deity: Shiva
Found at the origin is the Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga shrine, thus the worship at Someswaram is associated with a ritual bath in the river Godavari.
Legend:
Someswaram is rich in legend and tradition. Shiva is worshipped here as Someswara or Koteeshwara and Parvati as Rajarajeswari. Legend states that the moon God was cursed by Daksha and lost his brilliance but was relieved his curse after he offered worship to Shiva at Koti Theertham at the mouth of the river Godavari. Draksharama is one of the pancharaama shrines, and is associated with the legend of the destruction of (the vain) Daksha`s ritual sacrifice. The ritual bath in the river is symbolic of a new beginning in life, a change in direction.
The legend Ahalya-Indra Saapa Vimochanam in the Ramayana states that a rishi was married to Ahalya. Indra lusted after her and using a ploy, disguised as Gowtama embraced her. Enraged, the rishi cursed his wife who was petrified into a rock but was absolved of her curse by Rama (incarnation of Vishnu). Indra was cursed with a life of disease. He lived through his curse and performed severe penances (at the instance of Gowtama rishi) and was absolved of his curse after a dip in the Godavari river at Someswaram.
Thus a ritual bath in the river is considered special in the month of Kartika, and on Mahashivratri day earlier on in the calendar year.
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