Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple is the village temple of Lord Shiva at Palangi, in Undrajavaram mandal of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Palangi lies on the Undrajavaram main road, only about 3 km from the town of Tanuku, in the green, canal-fed paddy country of the Godavari delta.
The Linga in Water
The special feature of this temple is that its Shiva Linga always remains under water. Devotees therefore have darshan of the Lord resting in water – a rare sight that gives the temple its local fame. In Shaiva tradition, water is one of the five elements through which Lord Shiva is worshipped, and a Linga immersed in water is regarded as especially cooling and auspicious.
About the Temple
The temple's founding year and its local legend have not been published. The name Ramalingeswara – "the Lord of the Linga worshipped by Rama" – is shared by many Shiva temples across the Telugu lands and is traditionally linked with Lord Rama's worship of Shiva. Today the temple is the spiritual centre of Palangi and is visited by devotees from Tanuku and the surrounding villages, especially on Mondays.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri – the main festival, with abhishekams and night-long worship (usually February–March).
- Karthika Masam – lamps and special worship on the Mondays of the month (usually October–November).
- Mondays – the weekly day dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Visitor Information
- Timings: official timings are not published; like most village temples it is usually open in the morning and evening. Please check locally before a special visit.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: Palangi is on the Undrajavaram main road, about 3 km from Tanuku. Autorickshaws are easily available from Tanuku, which is well connected by APSRTC buses with Rajamahendravaram, Bhimavaram, Eluru and Vijayawada.
- By Train: Tanuku railway station is about 3 km away; Rajahmundry station is about 36 km away.
- By Air: the nearest airport is Rajahmundry Airport, Madhurapudi (RJA), about 52 km away by road; Vijayawada International Airport, Gannavaram (VGA) is about 120 km away.
Nearby Temples
In Tanuku town, about 2.5 km away, is the Ganesh Chowk Temple near the railway station. From Tanuku, pilgrims can easily visit two of the Pancharama Kshetras – Ksheerarama, Palakollu (about 35 km), whose Lord is also called Ramalingeswara, and Somarama, Bhimavaram (about 41 km) – as well as Vadapalli Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple (about 37 km) and Dwaraka Tirumala.
