Sri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari Temple is a well-known temple for the goddess Sri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari. It is in Penugonda, a town in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is a holy place for Vysyas. It is called the “Kasi of Vysyas”.
| Temple Name | Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Temple |
| Temple is also known as | Kasi of Vysyas |
| Temple Dedicated to | Goddess Sri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari |
| Temple Timing | 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Important Festivals | Vasavi Matha Athmarpana Day, Devi Navaratrulu |
| Address | Penugonda, Andhra Pradesh 534320, India |
| Official Website | http://www.penugondavasavi.org/ |
| Contact Number | +91 8819 247642 |
| Official Email ID | Not available |
Penugonda Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Temple
The temple stands tall as a symbol of faith and has been a significant part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of South India for centuries. From its architectural grandeur and legendary history to its serene atmosphere and sacred rituals, this temple undoubtedly boasts an array of offerings to its devotees. In this temple guide, we will explore all the interesting aspects of this temple and its deep-rooted history, so read on to know more!
Temple Legend
Legends say that Kusuma Sresti and his wife Kususmamba were in charge of the kingdom of Penugonda. Even though they had been married for a long time, they never had any kids. So, they went to Guru Bhakaracharya and asked what they should do. He told them to do Puthrakameshtiyaga. They did the yagna as told, and on the 10th of the Vaishakha month, Kusumamba gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. They chose the names Virupaksha for the boy and Vasavamba for the girl.
Under the guidance of Bhaskaracharya, Virupaksha learned to ride horses, do martial arts, and gain other skills that would help him run the country. Vasavamba studied fine arts and became an expert in philosophical subjects. Once, Vishnu Vardhana, the king of the Chalukyas, saw Vasavamba. When he saw how beautiful she was, he decided to marry her. The marriage proposal was sent to Kusuma Sresti, but Vishnu Vardhana was already married to Rathnavathi. This left the queen in a tough spot. So, Kusuma Sresti and the other Vysya elders told Vasavamba to make the choice. Vasavamba said that she wanted to be a virgin for the rest of her life and that she planned to meditate on problems that would never end.
When Kusuma Sresti told the King about Vasavamba’s decision, the King got angry and attacked Penugonda to get Vasavamba. When the King’s army beat Penugonda’s army, Vasavamba went to Homagundam to stop the bad things from happening there. The couple of 102 Gothras joined Vasavi to go into the new 103 Homagundas. People realised that Vasavamba is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, and she showed herself to be Viswaroopadarshan of Goddess Kanyaka Parameswari. Vasavamba went into the raging fire to get to Kailsam, and others followed her.
When Vishnu Vardhana got there, he found out what had happened to Vasavamba. He then threw up blood and died. To remember what happened, Virupaksha put up 101 Lingas in Penugonda, one for each Gothra. As a sign of respect, King Narendra, who was the son of Vishnu Vardhana, put up a statue of Vasavi. From that day on, all Vysyas started doing poojas to Vasavamba, and she is now known as Vysyakula Devatha-Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari.
Temple Architecture
The temple has a large garbha griha, a tall Raja Gopuram, and walls with beautiful sculptures. Vastu Sastra is followed very closely when building the temple. The temple has prakaras, tall Gopuras, large courtyards, many small shrines, big garba-grihas, and beautiful mukhamandapas. The temple is oriented toward the east. There are also other shrines for Lord Nageshwara Swamy, Goddess Kanyaka Parameswari, Goddess Mahishasuramardhini, Lord Vinayaka, and the Navagrahas. There is Astalakshmi Temple beside Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Temple.
Darshan & Ritual Timing
The morning pooja and arati begin at 7:30 AM. After that, daily seva’s and astothram are done in this temple for goddess Parvathi.
| Darshan | Time |
| Morning | 06-00 AM – 12-00 PM |
| Evening | 03-30 PM – 08-00 PM |
Darsan Dresscode
Clean and modest clothes are best, and shorts should be avoided.
Important Festivals at the Temple
- Vasavi Matha Athmarpana Day
- Devi Navaratrulu
Local Culture
One of the 13 districts in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is called West Godavari district or Paschima Godavari Zilla. The district is in the state’s Coastal Andhra area. From 700 to 1200, the Eastern Chalukyas ruled coastal Andhra. Their capital was Vengi, which was near the village of Pedavegi. West Godavari is a flat area with a small slope to the east where the rivers of the district flow.
Almost all of the rivers in the West Godavari district flow from west to east. The climate in the area is tropical, like the rest of Coastal Andhra. The summers (March through June) are very hot and dry, but the winters aren’t too bad. Telugu is the language that is spoken the most. The Vedas are taught at Sri Venkateswara Veda Patasala in the village of Bhimavaram in the district. UNESCO has recognised the Vedas as an important oral heritage.
How to Reach the Temple?
Reaching the temple is fairly easy. It is located 130 kilometres from Vijayawada airport, 30 kilometres from Tadepalligudem station, 30 kilometres from Nidadavole station, and 15 kilometres from Palakollu station. Those who prefer to travel by bus can reach Tadepalligudem after 28 kilometres, Nidadavole after 30 kilometres, and Palakollu after 14.7 kilometres. Taxis, cabs, and private vehicles are also available to reach the temple.