Ksheeraramam is one of the most important Shiva temples in coastal Andhra Pradesh and is one of the five Pancharama temples in the state along with Draksharamam, Bhimaramam at Samalkot, Kumararamam at Kotipalli and Amararamam at Amaravathi. Lord Rama is said to have worshipped the Lord here. The temple is a coloruful structure with tall Gopurams and great sculptures on its towers and walls. The Lord is also known as Ramalingeswara Swamy and is represented by a white marble Sivalingam inside the sanctum sanctorum. The complex also enshrines Lord Gokarneswara, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanyeswara Swamy, Lord Janardhana Swamy, Kala Bhairava, Goddess Kanakadurga, Goddesses Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi, Lord Saneeswara, Lord Nageswara, Lord Dattatreya, the Sun God, Radha Krishna, Sapta Matruka and other important deities.
History
The Chalukyan ruler Chalukya Bheema, who also constructed many temples in Andhra Pradesh during his reign, constructed the temple during the tenth century CE. Alladu Reddy constructed the Gopuram in the fourteenth century CE while the Ashta Bhuja Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple and the Kalyana Mandapam were constructed around the seventeenth century CE.
Legends
Legend has it that Upamanyu, son of Sage Kausikha, requested Lord Shiva to provide him with a supply of milk to perform daily rituals. The generous Lord agreed to this and ensured a never-ending supply of milk from the celestial Ksheera Sagara or the ocean of milk. Thus, the temple became Ksheeraramam and the place came to be known as Paala Kolanu or milk pond, which over the course of time became Palakollu.
Legend has it that Lord Rama upon returning to Ayodhya consecrated the deity here and so the Lord came to be known as Ramalingeswara Swamy. The common legend of Subramanyeswara Swamy decimating demon Tarakasura and the Sivalinga around the throat of Tarakasura, which split and fell across five places that came to be known as Pancharama temples is also quite popular.
Festivals
Mahasivaratri is celebrated with great religious fervor, as is the holy Karthika Masam that falls in the month of November. Pilgrims throng the place during these celebrations.
Accommodation
Palakollu offers some private lodgings. One can also try out the nearby town of Narsapur, which offers many private accommodative facilities that fall under most budgets.