2401:4900:4B5B:1670:91D:686:D1EF:3F4F at 13:58, 3 November 2021

2021-11-03T13:58:31Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
'''Andhra Vishnu''', better known as Srikakula Mahavishnu statue, was set up in Andhra in a pre-existing older temple. The previous deistic form worshiped in the temple is unknown.

{{Location map+ |India |width=250|float=right|caption=Locations of Trilinga Kshetras and Śrīkākuḷāndhra Mahāviṣhṇu Temple|places=
{{Location map~ |India |lat=16.792|long=82.0633 |label= Bhimeswaram |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=16.074|long=78.868 |label= Srisailam|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=18.85|long=79.9|label=Kaleswaram|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=16.194|long=80.847|label=Śrīkākuḷāndhra Mahāviṣhṇu|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=bottom}}
}}
[[File:Srikakulandhra Maha Vishnu Temple Panorama.jpg|thumb|View of Srikakulandhra Maha Vishnu Temple, Srikakulam village, [[Krishna District]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] ]]
[[File:Gopuram Srikakaula Andhramaha vishnu temple.jpg|thumb|Gopuram Srikakaula Andhramaha vishnu temple]]

==Āndhra Vishnu Temple==
The deity of the temple is known as ''Andhra Maha Vishnu ''or ''Srikakulandhra Maha Vishnu''. The main sanctum of the temple survived at least since the time of the [[Sātavāhana Empire|Satavahana emperors]]. The deity for whom the Satavahanas built the temple is unknown.<ref>Early history of Vaishnavism in South India by Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Sakkottai, 1871-1947</ref>{{pn|date=October 2021}} The temple was also repaired and worshipped restored by the Rajas of [[Challapalli]] after a period of decline due to Muslim raids.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Sītāpati|first=Giḍugu Vēṅkaṭa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yokOAAAAYAAJ|title=History of Telugu Literature|date=1968|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=|location=|pages=52|language=en}}</ref>

This temple has many attractions and historical links. As many as 32 inscriptions, including those issued by [[Krishnadevaraya]], appear on the walls of the temple. The presiding deity has some striking peculiarities. The deity holds a sankha in right hand and a chakra in left hand as against usual practice of vice versa.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}The inscriptions on Avatars were added after 1010 reconstruction. The oldest version had no reference to any other forms
Likewise, Krishna does not find place in dasavatara (the ten incarnations of Vishnu) here. The list includes, Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Buddha and Kalki. The present temple is said to be existing from 1010 A.D., and was reconstructed twice before now.

==Andhra Kaumudi==
In ''Andhra Kaumudi'', a Telugu grammar book it was mentioned that he was son of Suchandra. It seems Āndhra Viṣhṇu having built an immense wall, connecting [[Sri Sailam]], [[Draksharam|Bheemeswaram]], and [[Kaleswaram]], with the Mahendra hills, formed in it three gates, in which the three eyed [[Ishwara]], bearing the trident in his hand and attended by a host of divine gods resided in the form of three lingams. Āndhra Viṣhṇu assisted by divine gods having fought with the great giant Nishambhu for thirteen yugas killed him in battle and took up his residence with the sages on the banks of the river [[Godavari]], since which time, the Andhra country has been named Trilingam.<ref>A Grammar of Teloogoo Language - A D Campbell , introduction.</ref>

==Andhra Nayaka Satakam==
''Andhra Nayaka Satakam'' was written by [[Kasula Purushottama Kavi]], a poet who enjoyed the patronage of the Zamindar of [[Challapalli]] in [[Diviseema]] region of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Society|first=Andhra Historical Research|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KuxtAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society|date=1978|publisher=Andhra Historical Research Society.|isbn=|location=|pages=85|language=en}}</ref> After hearing this satakam and being moved by it, the Srikakulandhra Maha Vishnu Temple was also repaired and worshipped restored by the Zamindars of [[Challapalli]].<ref name=":0" />

This satakam is notable because of the ''vyāja ninda'' and ''vyāja stuti'' employed to denounce Andhra Viṣhṇu and put him down for his various qualities and actions while actually praising him indirectly.[[File:Front view of Andhra Vishnu temple.jpg|thumb|Front view of Andhra Vishnu temple]]

==Āmuktamālyada==
{{main|Amuktamalyada}}
[[File:Sri Krishnadevaraya statue at andhra maha vishnu temple.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Sri Krishnadevaraya statue at andhra maha vishnu temple]]
Once the [[Vijayanagara]] emperor [[Krishnadevaraya]] was travelling via [[Vijayawada]] during his [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]] campaign. He had conquered [[Vijayawada]], [[Kondapalli]] fort and the surrounding areas. He came to know about the holy temple of Andhra Viṣhṇu and visited Srikakulam village for a few days. He performed the [[Ekadasi]] [[Vrata]]m during that time. It is here that Andhra Viṣhṇu appeared to the emperor in an early morning dream.<ref>History of Telugu literature, Giḍugu Vēṅkaṭa Sītāpati, Sahitya Akademi, 1968.</ref>

Krishnadevaraya said {{quote|Observing the fast of the Vishnu's Day, in the fourth and last watch of that God's night, Andhra Vishnu came to me in my dream. His body was a radiant black, blacker than the rain cloud. His eyes wise and sparkling, put the lotus to shame. He was clothed in the best golden silk, finer still than the down on his eagle's wings. The red sunrise is pale compared to ruby on his chest.<ref>Forms of Knowledge in Early Modern Asia: Explorations in the Intellectual History of India and Tibet, 1500-1800, By Sheldon Pollock, Duke University Press, 2011.</ref>}}

Andhra Viṣhṇu told him to compose the story of his wedding with [[Andal]] at [[Srirangam]]. He also ordered the emperor to tell the story in the Telugu language. The emperor obliged, composing [[Amuktamalyada]] which is one of the most famous poetic works in [[Telugu literature]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/telugu/classical/satakams/rit/andhra_nayaka.html |title=Andhra nAyaka Satakamu |publisher=Engr.mun.ca |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> From 14th poem of this work we can see that the Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu refers himself as King of Telugus (Telugu Vallabhunḍa) and refers Sri Krishnadevaraya as Kannada King (Kannaḍa Rāya).

{{quote|తెలుఁగ దేల నన్న దేశంబు దెలుఁగేను తెలుఁగు వల్లభుండఁ దెలుఁ గొకండ యెల్ల నృపులగొలువ నెరుఁగ వే బాసాడి దేశభాషలందుఁ తెలుఁగు లెస్స|శ్రీ ఆంధ్ర విష్ణు}}
{{quote|telugadElayanna, dESambu telugEnu telugu vallaBhunDa telugokanDa yella nRpulu golva nerugavE bAsADi dESa BhAShalandu telugu lessa|Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu's reason on why Āmuktamālyada should be written in telugu by Sri Krishnadevaraya}}
''Meaning of Quote :"The nation that knows Telugu will have clarity. Vallaba (Chief herdsman, lord) is Telugu and Telugu will be a protection. A language used in courts of all kings. In the languages of the all nations Telugu is used in abundance and is excellent.<ref>లెస్స =మిక్కిలి, చాలా (excess, lot) శ్రీహరి నిఘంటువు తెలుగు-తెలుగు (రవ్వా శ్రీహరి) 2004 . లెస్స : Excellent : బ్రౌణ్య తెలుగు-ఇంగ్లీష్ నిఘంటువు 1903.వల్లభుఁడు/Vallaba = Master, lord, chief herdsman= వల్లభుఁడు : శంకరనారాయణ తెలుగు-ఇంగ్లీష్ నిఘంటువు 1953 Sankarnaryana Telugu-English dictionary 1953</ref>''
Within ''Amuktamalyada'' itself it was mentioned that on a ''Harivasara'', Sri Krishnadevaraya had the Darsan of Andhra Viṣhṇu. ''Harivasara'' is the time between the last four [[muhurtas]] of Ekadasi and the first four muhurtas of Dwadasi, i.e., 6 hours and 24 minutes. This incident of visiting the temple must be between [[Ahobilam]] Śaasanam (dated December 1515) and [[Simhāchalam]] Śaasanam (dated 30 March 1515)<ref>Amuktamalyada Vol1, Acharya Tummapudi Koteswararao, Malayakuta Publications, 2001. So, May be in January 1516 he might have visited the temples. Beyond this no other valid references are available for exact date of visit.</ref>

==Popular culture==
In 1962, the [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu movie]] named ''[[Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha]]'' was made based on the story of this legendary king, directed by A. K. Sekhar, casting [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]], [[S. V. Ranga Rao]], [[M. Balaiah]], [[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]], Girija, L. Vijaya Lakshmi, [[Chaya Devi]], [[Mudigonda Linga Murthy]]. Producer was D. Lakshminarayana Chowdary and music was given by [[Pendyala Nageswara Rao]].

== gallery ==
<gallery>
Ganesha stone carved Relief Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnu Temple.jpg
Gopuram Srikakaula Andhramaha vishnu temple.jpg
Stone carved Vishnu relief Srikakulam Village Krishna District.jpg
Relief of Godess Durga at AndhraMaha Vishnu Temple Krishna District.jpg
Rear view Andhra mahavishnu Temple Krishna District.jpg
Srikakulandhra Maha Vishnu Temple Panorama.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
Srinivas, Sistla., (Tr.) Sri Krishna Deva Raya's Amuktamalyada, Visakhapatnam, 2010.
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Srikakulam in Krishna district}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andhra Vishnu}}
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:History of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]

Andhra Vishnu - Revision history

2401:4900:4B5B:1670:91D:686:D1EF:3F4F at 13:58, 3 November 2021