Someswara Swamy Temple, Bhimavaram – Legends

Someswara Swamy Temple, Bhimavaram – Legends

Pancharama Kshetrams:

According to Amareshwara Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva who was pleased with the austerities performed by Tharaka presented him with the Amruthalingam. He further assured Tharaka invincibility against enemies, from defeat and death, so long as the Lingam was in his possession. Tharaka sported this Amrutha Lingam around his neck, and on the strength of the boon, wrought untold misery upon the Devas and other celestial beings. Lord Karthik, who led the deities to a battle against Tharaka, was unable to vanquish him even after using the most potent Shakti weapon on him.

Much to the deities distress and mortification, though the weapon cut the demon into several pieces, they reunited to give life to Tharaka. An exasperated Karthik approached Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu revealed to Karthik that in order to destroy the demon, he had to first break the Amrutha Lingam and also prevent the broken pieces from reuniting. Acting upon Lord Vishnu’s suggestions, Karthik used his Agni Asthra to break Taraka’s Lingam.

The Lingam exploded into five pieces, tried to unify by chanting Omkara Nadha. At that very instant, Indra, Surya, Chandra and Vishnu himself, joined Karthik in fixing these broken pieces in the locations where they fell. Thus, were born the Pancharama (Pancha meaning five and Aarama meaning peace) Kshetrams, in five different areas of Andhra Pradesh — Amararama in Amaravati, Bhimeshwara in Draksharamam, Somarama in Bhimavaram, Ksheerarama in Palakkolu and Kumararama in Samalkot. It is believed that the worship of these Lingams, or mere darshan of these shrines, would bestow peace and bliss upon the devotees.

Pagunaraseema / Pavunaraseema:

As per local legends, Somarama was called as Pagunaraseema or Pavunaraseema in Olden days.

Somarama:

The Sthala purana says that Gandarvas took away Moon to their land thus the Earth was deprived of the pristine moon light and its splendor on full moon nights. Disappointed deities sought the help and advice of Lord Brahma to get back the Moon from Gandarvas. Lord Brahma revealed that Moon was in Gandarva Loka and asked the deities to request Gandarvas to send back moon to Earth. But the dejected Deities felt that Gandarvas wouldn’t heed to their request, in the meanwhile Goddess Saraswathi advised the Deities that they can give her to Gandarvas in exchange for Moon. The Deities then took Goddess Saraswathi to Gandarva Loka and by offering her to the King of Gandarvas brought back moon to Earth.

Goddess Saraswathi with her wisdom won the hearts of Gandarvas and got back to Satyaloka of Lord Brahma. Gandarvas slowly realized the trick played by Deities of Earth and hitched plans to bring back Moon to their loka again. Aware of the plans of Gandarvas, Deities alerted Moon to worship Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. Hence, Lord Chandra, the moon god installed the sacred Shivalingam here and worshipped and got his blessings. And hence the temple came to be called as Somarama temple.