Jaganmohini Kesavaswami temple - Ryali, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh
This temple is located 35 kms from
Rajahmundry, situated between the rivers Vashista and Gautami, tributaries
of river Godavari.
The Devas and Asuras got together
to churn the ocean for amirtham which would give them everlasting life.
They churned the ocean with Mandramalai & Vaasuki, the snake.
Whent he amirtham appeared, the Asuras greedily grabbed the Amirtham pot
and vanished. In order to retrieve the Amirtha kalasam,
Lord Vishnu took the form of a dazzling beauty (Mohini Avataram). The Asuras
falling for her beauty, entrusted her with the job of distributing the
Amirtham. Mohini started serving the Devas first. The Asuras waited their
turn in vain.
Lord Siva was enamoured by the beauty
of the maiden. As he was following her, a flower fell to the ground
form her plaited hair. As he smelled the flower, he realised that
it was Mahavishnu in the form of a damsel.
The spot where the flower fell is
Ryali. (Ryali - falling in Telugu). Lord Brahma created a Lingam &
performed abhishekam with water from his kamandalam & hence Lord Siva
is worshipped here as Sri Umakamandaleswaraswami.
Opposite this temple which is facing
west is the Sri Jaganmohini Kesava Swami temple. The idol
here, is made out of a single saligrama stone with the form of Mahavishnu
as Kesava Swami carved in the front & Mohini on the rear.
Kesava Swami in the front
Jaganmohini at the rear
On the front along with Mahavishnu with
his conch & discuss are carved the forms Sridevi, Boodevi, Naaradar,
Tumburu, Ramba, Oorvasi, Kinnara, Kimpurusha, Govardana Krishna, Adiseshan,
Garudan & Ganga devi. Water keeps sprouting from the underground
at the idol's feet. This water wets the the flowers at the Lord's
feet & the water from these flowers is sprinkled on devotees.
There is a separate sannadhi for
Sathya Naaraayanan along with Thaayaar Sri Lakshmi.
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