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. They installed Peetham in Akundi Sitanna garu's home ( Ancestor of Akundi Narasinga Rao) and since 1700 A.D had been worshipped. His son Narasimhulu was Devi Upasaka and worshipped Her in form of Bala Tripura Sundari. His son Satyanarayna too worshipped Devi in his home. Later his daughter-in-law Rayudamma continued this worship.
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. During the day of koluvu they would bring the Peetham to the swing, worship Goddess and take the Peetham to the place of Koluvu. After Koluvu, they would finally keep the Peetham back in its original place.
( Even today we follow the same sampradayam/ process followed by our Ancestors for performing Koluvu )( Present day Koluvu Mandapam is this Moola Peetham)
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. He got the same Diety carvings done on Brass sheet by Shilpi in Vizianagram, got it wrapped on wood carved diety and fixed brass chains to swing. During this pratishta the Peetham with A.Narasimha Rao garu was also incorporated in this swing.
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. The pictures have been so carved out showing Sri Maha kameswari with four hands at the centre sitting on a Swan with Abhaya and Varada Mudras on two hands and
Akshamala and sacred Vedas on the other two hands.The pictures of Diety’s six sisters, three each on either side have been carved out showing as fanning Chamaras and Vinjamaras to Sri Maha Kameswari Devi.
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.
In 1988, theives broke into temple, looted the bronze items and broke the Shikaram of temple. Under the guidance of Akundi Vishwanatham, Akundi Narayana Murty organised the Samprokshana, got panchaloham Trishulam in Kalasam done in Vizag which was installed on Temple Shikaram by A.Narasinga Rao and Rayudamma on 25-11-1988.
In 1989 Nishtala SuryaNarayanaMurty and Kolluri Simhachalam raised the walls of open hall and with hundi amount fixed a grill gate.
On 30-9-2001, Sri Venkateshwara Raju got the flooring and steps done in front of temple.
In 2013 , Small Swagatha Dwaram was built with Donations from 1988 samprokshana.
Big Swagatha Dwaram with Shiva Parivar idols was built by Akundi Narayana Murty family with self fund and Akundi Surya Narayana Murty. Since then devotees voluntarily came forward now then to make further improvements /facilities.
The temple of Sri Maha Kameswari earlier was not a daily worshiped Aalayam. It used to be worshiped as and when Brahmin Grihasthas perform Kuladevatha Koluvu.
Sri Maha Kameswari Devi is Kuladevatha not only to Akundi families but also to many other Brahmin families.
TEMPLE ADMIST NATURE
