Sri Uma Koppulingeswara Swamy Temple - Palivela

Sri Uma Koppulingeswara Swamy temple is located in Palivela village in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. 

Shri Umakoppeswara is the presiding deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Lord Agasteswara Swamy was installed by Sage Agastya and later came to be known as Uma Koppulingeswara Swamy.

One can see Sri Koppulingeswara Swamy along with Goddess Uma Devi on the same "peetham" (seat) in this Temple.

Shivalingam in this temple had Koppu seated atop the lingam. The Shivalinga is therefore known as Koppulingeswara Swamy. In this temple, there are two mandapams: the Kalyana Mandapam and the Nandi Mandapam. The temple's grounds once contained 7 Mantapams. Even in modern times, one may still observe the Somavari Mantapam, Mangalavara Matapam, Vuyyala Mantapam, Nityastana Mantapam, and Chiluku Dwadasi Mandapam. There are ruined Mantapams elsewhere. A little pond nearby is also used for offering prayers to the Lord.

History

The Kalyana Mahotsavam of Parvathi & Parameswara was taking place for the benefit of the world in the past when Maharshi Agastya was doing Tapas on the bank of the river Kowsiki close to Palvalapuram. The Kalyana Mahotsavam was something Agastya wished to see. Before conducting the Daksha Yagna, Daksha Gods such as Indra who were on the top of Himavat feared that pralaya would occur if Agastya arrived to see the Kalyanotsavam. They thus dispatched Viswabrahma to convince Agastya not to visit Himavat Parvatha. Agastya was informed by Viswabrahma that he had witnessed the end of Parvathi & Parmeswara's Kalyanotsava. Surprised, Agastya desired to attend the Kalyanotsava with his divyadrishti.

Agastya prayed for the Lord to show up. Before Agastya, the Lord and Parvathi made an appearance. In the Palvalapuram pilgrimage center, Agastya desired that Parvathi and Parmeswara remain on a single peetam. The Lord granted Agastya's request. Nowhere else on Ekapeetam may the Lord Parameswara be seen with Parvathi as here. Later on, this pilgrimage site gained popularity as the Lolla Agasteswara Swamy pilgrimage site. Because of the hair that he wore around his head, the Lord started going by the name Koppulingeswara. Many Hindu temples were attacked by Turks in the past. They severed the lovely Nandi's head. Later, the head was skillfully placed in the proper place.

Every year on Mahasivarathri (Maga Bahula Ekadasi Day), the Lord Sri Uma Koppeswara Swamy's kalyana Mahotsavam is held in the kalyana mandapam.  On the day of Mahasivarathri, the Kalyanotsavam, Radhotsavam (Chariot Festival), attracts visitors from surrounding places.

Temple Timings :

6.00 am to 12.00 noon

5.00 pm to 8.00 pm

How to reach the Temple :

22 km from Amalapuram

30 km from Tanuku

45 km from Rajamandri.

Nearby Temples :

Ainavilli, Sri Vigneswara Swamy Temple – 17 km

Ryali, Sri Jaganmohini Keshava Swamy Temple – 18 km

Appanapalli, Sri Bala Balaji Swamy Temple – 31 km

Draksharamam, Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple – 34 km

Kadali, Sri Kapoteswara Swamy Temple – 34 km

Dwarapudi Ayyappa Swamy Temple – 37 km

Palakollu Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple – 38 km

Kotipalli Someswara Swamy Temple – 40 km

Rajahmundry, Sri Uma Markandeswara Swamy Temple – 43 km

Rajahmundry, Sri Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy Temple – 45 km

Biccavolu, Sri Golingeswara Swamy Temple – 52 km

Puttakonda, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple – 55 km

Antharvedi, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple – 59 km

Korukonda, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple – 65 km.