Badrachalam.

Out of many stories related to each temple, the one which attracted me more is the story behind 'Bhadrachalam rama temple' in AP (This is near Vijayawada). Because this temple connects the Hindu & Islam. Out of all Hindu temples, Only in this temple a muslim has been given 'Mudhal Mariyaadhai'.

Also the story behind this temple is a heart touching one of Lord Rama, situated at the bank of holy river Godavari. A divisional head quarters and also a border place to Chattishghad and Orissa states. This piligrim town is having Rail and Road facilities, 120 Kms to district head quarters,Khammam. And 325 Kms from the state head quarters, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh in South India).

Nearest Railway station is at Kothagudem (Bhadrachalam - Road station ), 40 Kms from this piligrim town, and nearest Air link is at Hyderabad Begumpeta (International Airport ).. The story of how the temple was built at Bhadrachalam is quite fascinating.

Pokala Dammakka, a devotee of Rama, was a poor tribal woman who lived in a village nearby. One day, Rama appeared in her dreams and told her that he, Sita and Lakshmana were in the jungles, without shelter and none to care for them.

He asked her to find the idols and perform the daily pooja until she met another Rama bhaktha who would help build temple for them. When she told the villagers of her dream, the next day, they cleared the jungle and found the idols. Dammakka cleaned them, built a thatch hut for them and waited for the person who would help her complete her task.

Bhakta Ramdas was born Kancharla Gopanna in Nelakondapalli village in the region. His devotion to Rama made the people call him "Ramdas". Meanwhile, there was a drought and Ramdas used all that he had to feed people. Soon, his wealth was gone.

His uncles, Akkanna and Madanna, were ministers in the court of Nawab Abdul Hassan Shah, known popularly as Tanisha, the last ruler of the Qutabshahi dynasty at Golkonda before Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb captured Golkonda in A.D. 1687. Ramdas decided to ask his uncles for help.

Akkanna and Madanna took him to Tanisha who made him the revenue collector of Bhadrachalam Tahsil in A.D. 1670. for Rama, concluded that he was the person mentioned in her dream and sought his help in building the temple. Ramdas galvanised the villagers into action and collected large sums of money. Ramdas had earlier composed a number of songs in praise of Rama.

Now, the suffering and pain that he had to undergo during his incarceration enhanced the lyrical and soulful beauty of his compositions. A number of songs composed by him in prison became immensely popular and are sung even today. Eventually, his prayers and entreaties were answered, [/color]for one day, Rama and Lakshmana appeared in Tanisha's dreams and repaid the money owed by Ramdas.

The king ordered the release of Ramdas, and directed that henceforth, the revenue of the Bhadrachalam Tahsil could be used by Ramdas for maintaining the Rama temple. Also the Nizam king attended the kumbabisheka of this temple and it was made at the expense of Nizam kingdom Ramdas returned to Bhadrachalam in 1686 but died the next year.