By The Incredible temple is situated in East Godavari District , Andhra Pradesh on Ratnagiri Hills, featuring towering with white Dravidian style pyramids & a sundial. The deity here is Lord Satyadeva with his consort Sri Anantha Lakshmi on one Side and with Lord Siva on the other side took his abode on Ratnagiri, and is named after Ratnakara, son of Meru who is the king of holy mountains. It is surrounded and followed by holy rivers, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram is also followed by sacred Pampa River touching the feet of the hill. Lord Satyadeva the God of truth is showering his eternal blessings on the mankind in his beautiful manifested form of the divine Lord namely Hari Hara Hiranya Garbha Thrimurtyatmaka. Hence this is the temple that is attracting the devotees of both Vishanavates and Saivates. This is a very famous temple and people believe if we pray to this God all our desires will be fulfilled. In A.P it is a tradition that lot of newly weds come to the temple and do Vratam , if not possible to visit the temple will do the Vratam at their homes.
Sri Satyanarayana Vratham is performed throughout India for wealth, education, prosperity, off spring, relief from troubles and sickness, worries and success in business. Lord Satyanarayana had manifested Himself on the Ratnagiri hills at Annavaram in unique form combining the Trimurthis viz., Brahma, Vishnu and Siva the number of pilgrims from far and near swelled to hundreds and thousands. The average attendance of devotees daily are about five thousand now a-days. Though Ekadasi is considered to be very auspicious for performing the Vratham, the individual devotees perform it even on other convenient days. The great popularity behind the Vratham springs from the experiences narrated in stories and legends and also the faith gained by observances in our daily life.
Deities in this Temple
The temple of Sree Veera Venkata Satyanaryana Swamy in the main temple on the Ratnagiri hill.
The temple of Sri Sita Rama, as keshatra palakulu.
The shrines of Vana Durga and Kanaka Durga near by.Godess Vanadurga held in great venaration and devi is said to be seen even to this day in the nights going about the holy precincts perpetually guarding the lord
The temple of Gramadevatha (Village deity – Nerellamma ) is in the village at the foot of the hill.
Stalapuram (Story about the place)
This place is known for constant food distribution by the people of the locality and therefore the place is called by the name Annavaram (annam means food in Telugu). Presiding deity of the place blesses the devotees with anina varam (pronounced or wanted boon), the place is called Annavaram.
The hillock that is by the side of the village is considered to be very sacred. Meruvu, the lord of the hills and his consort Menaka did great penance and two sons by the grace of Lord Vishnu. One was named Bhadra and the other Ratnakar. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu with his devotion and penance and with his grace became Bhadrachalam on which Lord Sri Rama had permanently settled. Ratnakara desired to emulate his brother and succeeded in pleasing Lord Vishnu by his penance to settle on him as Veera Venkata Satyanarayanaswamy, Ratnakara remaining as Ratnagiri Ratnagiri ranges are said to be connected with two strategic incidents. Emperor Sri Krishadevaraya of Vijayanagar used the secret underground passages in the hills to attack the enemy from both sides during his invasion on Kalinga kings. Andhra revolutionary late Alluri Seetharama Raju had some of the secret quarters for himself and his followers in these hill ranges, when he rebelled against the British Rule.
One Brahmin of the village by name Earanki Prakasam got a dream and lord appeared and told him that his Vigraha was left abandoned on the hill without worship and they shall trace it and reconsecrate it. That Brahmin informed the said fact to Sri Raja I.V.Ramarayanam,the then Zamindar of Gorasa of kirlampudi estate, and both of them along with other villagers traced the deity on the hill, worshipped it and installed it. at the present spot on Sravana Suddha Vidiya of the Telugu year Khara (i.e.) 1891 A.D (Fasli 1301).
Main temple is constructed in the form of a chariot with the four wheels at each of the four corners. In front of the main temple is Kalyana mantapa, constructed and decorated with modern pieces of architecture. As we go down we come across Ramalaya and then the shrines of Vana Durga is held in great veneration and Devi can be seen even now in the nights, going about the holy precincts perpetually and also guarding the Lord’s premises.
The deity is about 13 feet high in a cylindrical form, the base being in the lower sanctum representing Lord Brahma and the top is in the upper sanctum representing Lord Vishnu. The middle portion represents Lord Siva. . The image of the lord forming a single deity representing the Trimurthis-Brahma, Vishnu and Siva is of unique attraction in this temple.
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