Draksharamam or Daksharamam is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras that are sacred to the Hindu god Shiva and also 12th of Ashtadasha Shakthi Peetams. The temple is located in Draksharamam town of Konaseema district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The poet Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu who wrote first independent work in Telugu and who spread Lingayatism in Andhra region during medieval ages was born in this town.

Etymology

The town was formerly known as and. This is the place where Daksha head of all prajapatis did a yagna called or. This place's present name is a compound of and which means "Abode of Daksha". This place was also referred to as by Jagadguru Adi Shankara in maha shakti peetha sloka at which points to "Maanikyamba devi of Draksharama". The place where Daksha performed is still visited by pilgrims here.

History of the temple

Inscriptions in the temple reveal that it was built between the 9th and 10th centuries CE by the Eastern Chalukyan king, Bhima. The big Mandapam of the temple was built by Ganga Mahadevi, daughter-in-law of Eastern Ganga Dynasty king Narasingha Deva I of Odisha. Architecturally and sculpturally, the temple reflects a blend of Chalukyan and Chola styles. The temple is historically prominent. It was built by Eastern Chalukyas who reigned over this area. It's believed to have been constructed earlier to the Bhimeswaraswamy temple in Samarlakota that was built between 892 C.E. and 922 C.E.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri and Dasara are the main festivals associated with Draksharamam