When we hear the name Annavaram, the first things that come to mind are Satyanarayana Swamy Vrathams and the famous Annavaram prasadam. There is even a saying among devotees: “If you eat Annavaram prasadam, you even lick the leaves.”
This sacred place, Annavaram Kshetram, is located in Kakinada district, near Pithapuram and also close to Visakhapatnam after crossing Tuni. At Annavaram, Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy manifested Himself as a self-born deity. This is a unique temple where Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara are all seated on the same pedestal. Along with Swamy, Lord Shiva and Ananta Lakshmi Devi also give darshan to devotees here.
How to Reach Annavaram
- Railway: Annavaram has its own railway station, but only a few trains stop here. So, devotees traveling from faraway places should check if their booked train has a stop at Annavaram. Otherwise, the nearest major stations are Pithapuram (30 km away) and Samalkot (40 km away), where almost all trains halt. From there, one can reach Annavaram by bus, private auto, taxi, or car.
- By Road: From Annavaram railway station, the temple on Ratnagiri Hill is just about 3 km away. Devasthanam buses, autos, and taxis are available right outside the station.
- Airports: The nearest airports are Rajahmundry Airport and Visakhapatnam Airport. Rajahmundry is closer by road, while Visakhapatnam is about 110 km away.
Satyanarayana Swamy Vrathams
- Daily vrathams are performed from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM continuously.
- Every 40 minutes, a new batch is conducted.
- Ticket prices vary: ₹300, ₹1000, ₹1500, and ₹2000, but the vratham ritual is the same for all.
- One vratham ticket allows two persons (usually husband and wife) to perform the puja. Children can also sit along with parents.
Devotees coming from distant places can freshen up at the temple facilities. Separate bathrooms for men and women are available near Rajagopuram. Tonsure (thala neelalu) can also be offered here. After that, devotees can purchase tickets for vrathams at the official counters.
For ₹300 ticket holders, vrathams are conducted in mandapams around the temple. The ticket mentions the mandapam number (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). Each vratham lasts about 40 minutes, including the telling of five stories as part of the ritual. Puja materials are provided with the ticket, so devotees don’t need to bring anything except:
- 5 coconuts
- Half a dozen bananas
All other materials like tamarind leaves, copper idols, turmeric, kumkum, agarbatti, lamps, oil, and cloth are provided by the temple. Pandits guide devotees clearly in performing the puja.
For higher ticket prices (₹1000, ₹1500, ₹2000), vrathams are performed closer to the main temple with AC facilities.
Devotees must remember three details before sitting for puja:
- Gotram
- Birth star (Janma Nakshatram)
- Zodiac sign (Janma Rashi)
At the end of the vratham, devotees receive prasadam: wheat-based Satyanarayana prasadam.
Temple Darshan
The temple has two levels:
- Upper level: Sri Satyanarayana Swamy, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Ananta Lakshmi Devi.
- Lower level: The sacred Yantra of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara.
After vratham, devotees proceed for darshan of the deities.
Other Services in the Temple
- Accommodation: Available online and offline at CRO office. Options include AC rooms, suites, and free dormitories.
- Free Lockers: Provided for devotees.
- Daily Annadanam: From 10:30 AM, free meals are served to all devotees.
Nearby Places to Visit
- Within Annavaram: Goshala, sacred Banyan tree (Ravi Chettu) where devotees light lamps, and a solar time machine.
- Pithapuram (30 km away):
- Padagaya Kshetram (Uma Kukuteswara Swamy Temple) – one of the Trikaya Kshetras.
- 10th Shakti Peetham – Sri Puruhutika Devi Temple.
- Sripada Sri Vallabha Temple – birthplace of Lord Dattatreya’s incarnation.
- Kunti Madhava Swamy Temple – one of the Pancha Madhava Kshetras.
- Kakinada (nearby): Sarpavaram Bhavanarayana Swamy Temple (5000 years old Vaishnava Kshetram).
- Samalkot: Sri Kumaraswamy Bheemeswara Swamy Temple (one of the Pancharama Kshetras).
- Peddapuram (near Samalkot): Toli Tirupati Temple (Sri Sringara Vallabha Swamy, 9000 years old). Here, Lord Vishnu appears as tall as the devotee who sees Him – a unique feature.
With proper planning, devotees can cover all these temples in one day trip as a package.