TEMPLE HISTORY

The Akundi (Akondi) family which first settled in Choudantivalasa village, installed around the year 1700, a wooden cradle with the deity’s pictures carved on wood along with Sri Kameswari Devi Peetham brought from their native temple at Kesanakurru in Konaseema (East Godavari District) after due process of purification ceremonies.

STORY OF AKUNDI BROTHERS INSTALLING AMMAVARU

5 Akundi brothers travelling from Kesinakurru towards Bobilli stopped and settled in Chowdantivalasa Village.

A POPULAR STORY which couldn't be proved with facts as its dated few generations back, goes like this: An Akundi Ancestor was travelling through Chowdantivalasa. When he reached the temple area, his 'Palaquin / Pallaki' wouldn't move. A voice was heard by him to construct a temple for his Kuladevatha Sri Kameswari Devi at that place. Then a wooden diety on swing was carved and erected on poles. This was installed in open area at that spot.

Another POPULAR STORY is Akundi brahmin families who were practitioners of "Sri Vidya" on their way stopped at Chowdantivalasa to perform Sandhya Vandanam besides the lake after bath. One of them in deep meditation had a vision of Goddess Sri Kameswari on swing, the Mother of universe and bestower of wishes. She instructed him to stay in village and construct a temple for Her. Upon discussing this with his family, they approached the locals who were glad to welcome them as there were no brahmins in that village. They offered land where they built home and later brought Sri Kameswari Devi Peetham from their hometown.

DOCUMENTED HISTORY: Later in the family of second generation, one child was dumb. Her father (Probably Sithanna) had a dream of Sri Kameswari Devi swinging and instructing him to restart her worship as they forgot to worship her as Kuladevatha. She assured that the child would speak once they start Her Aradhana. They went back to their home town Kesinakurru and returned with Sri Kameswari Devi Peetham with due rituals.

After this dream, the brothers got a swing carved with Sri Kameswari Devi idols and installed it on wooden poles in an open area where the temple stands now admist the green fields and next to lake.

This deity swing was in open and its poles weathered out with time. Thus leading to reinstallation of new poles. The present temple garbagudi was constructed by Akundi Sita Rama Swamy after his retirement from Kashi between the years 1936-40.

THE UNIQUE FORM OF SRI KAMESWARI DEVI

In the existing temple, the pictures of Sri Maha Kameswari and her sisters (Akkalu) on either side have been carved on a brass plate and fixed on wooden cradle.

TEMPLE DEVELOPMENT

In 1982 , Akundi Narasimha Murty( Simhadu) with donors help built an open hall in front of Garba gudi , dug a well nearby and developed the area.

TEMPLE ADMIST NATURE