Sri Suryanarayana Swami Temple has a rich past and is associated with the epic, Mahabharatha. This temple is perched on a hillock named Pandavula Metta
Shrine’s History
One day Duryodhana invited the Pandava brothers to participate in gambling. Sakuni had a spiritual power of his father. The both parties started the gambling, but with the spiritual power of the Sakuni’s father Duryodhana got the victory. According to the game rule, Pandava brothers should leave their Kingdom for 12 years and spend 1 year unknowingly. Totally the period should be 13 years. So Pandava brothers left their kingdom and started to visit several places in India. On their way to Rameswaram, they stayed some years in Peddapuram on a hill, which was located in between the Bay of Bengal and the river Godavari.
The hill was in a Jungle. Only Koya people were there. Because of Addateegala, Rajavommangi and Peddapuram were the main places of Koya people. The Pandava brothers arranged a tunnel way to Rajahmundry from this hill through which tunnel they used to have river bath. This hill was named after their name. Sri Suryanarayana Swami Temple “PANDAVULA METTA” till today we can find Pandava names and Draupathi names in Koya people. The entrance of the tunnel is there today. The rest of the tunnel was disturbed in the Yuga changes. After some time they left the hill for Rameswaram. The hill is there today. People constructed the temple on the hill and arranged the steps to the hill also.
There was a small village near to this hill in those days. In the Yuga of Kaliyuga 1450 BC. One man named, Peddapatrudu occupied the place and ruled that place. He constructed a fort. People named that place as “PEDDAPURAM”. The fort constructed in 38 Acres. Later Vatsavaya kings occupied the village and started their ruling. From 1714 BC. to 1694 BC. was ruled by Sri Raja Vatsavaya Kala Thimma Jagapathi Bagadhoor. His father’s name was Vudhanda Raya Jagapathi. In those days the Delhi rulers arranged one representative. His name was Nizam. After running of Delhi rulers, the representative declared self – ruling. He arranged Mr Anwarudhin as his representative to collect revenue from Godavari District. Mr Anwarudhin appointed a person named Mr Rusthum Khan as his assistant. One day Mr Rusthum Khan came to Peddapuram, stayed on the Pandavula Metta, and invited the Peddapuram rulers to have a good talk. Mrs Ragavamma sent her three sons with small escorts to meet Mr.Rusthum Khan. Mr Rusthum Khan welcomed to his room and very next month he killed the three brothers with the sword.
The news came to Mrs Ragavamma garu. She sent her only one grand son to Vijayanagaram and closed the fort gates. She asked the every woman of the fort to come to the gun powder room and closed the room doors include her. Their faithful servant Mr Challa Pedda fired the room the total women of the fort were burnt in that fire. In those days there was Rushi culture and traditions in that jungle area. Sri Chaya, Padmini, Prabha, Prajna Devi, sametha Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Vari temple was planned and constructed by Sri Saluri Venkata Subbarao garu, hailed as Raja Yogi and Pancha Pranavananda in the year 1952 and has a history of five decades. The temple and Sanctum sanctorum are on the hill top, popularly known as Pandavula Metta. In those days, it was very isolated surrounded by palm trees and thorny bushes.
Sri Salluri Subbarao carried the work single-handedly and cleared the area for construction of the temple and planted a number of tree plants. Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Varu, the main deity or Archamurty of the temple faces the East and rising sun from the Bay of Bengal which is just 22 Km away. During these five decades, the temple became Panchayatana, Navagraha, Sri Surya Swamy vari devastanam. Lord Sri Krishna, Lord Siva, Lord Sri Venkateswara, Sri Gayatri Matha and Hill Goddess from the five deities of the panchayatana order besides the Navagrahas. Lord Sri Valli sametha Sri Subramanyeswara Swamy vari temple is on the North-West side of the temple.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
The nearest bus stop is Peddapuram is approx. 20 km’s away Kakinada and approx. 42 km’s away from Rajahmundry.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Samalkot Junction.
By Air
The nearest airport is Rajahmundry Airport 37 km away.