Ksheerarama Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple

క్షీరారామం క్షీర రామలింగేశ్వర స్వామి ఆలయం

Shiva · Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy · with Parvati

Linga

Palakollu, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh · Shaiva tradition

Its entrance gopuram, about 120 feet high in nine storeys, is described by the temple as the tallest entrance gopuram in Andhra Pradesh.

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Darshan hours
  • 5:30 am – 12:30 pm · Morning darshan
  • 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm · Evening darshan
Getting there
Train: Palakollu railway stationAir: Rajahmundry Airport

Not yet confirmed: dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

2 accounts are recorded. Each is told separately, in the words of its own tradition — they are never merged.

Family note: this story includes violence or death.
Told in: The Amaravati sthala purana (as summarised by M. Krishna Kumari) and Telugu popular tradition (as retold in the press)

The milk-white piece of Tarakasura's linga

Tarakasura is an asura ruler and a devotee of Shiva. He carries a Shiva linga in his throat, and while he holds it he cannot be killed.

Indra and the devas go to war with him. Kumaraswamy — Kartikeya, the son of Shiva — attacks Tarakasura and cuts him down, but the torn pieces of the asura's body keep joining together again. As long as the linga is whole, the fight cannot be finished.

The accounts differ on who supplies the remedy. In the Amaravati sthala purana, as summarised by the historian M. Krishna Kumari, Shiva himself tells the devas that the linga must be broken and that breaking it will bring about Tarakasura's death. In the version retold in Telugu popular tradition, it is Vishnu who explains it, and he adds a warning: the pieces will try to reunite, so each one must be fixed to the ground where it lands.

Kumaraswamy breaks the linga in Tarakasura's throat into five pieces. The popular retelling says he uses the agneyastra, the weapon of fire. The five pieces fall at five different places, and Tarakasura dies.

In the popular retelling it is Surya, the sun, who secures the pieces, fastening them down and raising temples over them. The scaly marks on the five lingas are explained in that tradition as the scars of the fire-weapon. The five places are the Pancharamas: Amararama, Draksharama, Somarama, Ksheerarama and Kumararama.

The temple's own page gives the Tarakasura account in brief — the Shiva linga on the asura's throat broke into five pieces during his slaying, and the Pancharamas were built where they fell. At Palakollu, the page credits the installation of the linga to Vishnu, and elsewhere on the same page to Rama; the West Godavari administration also gives Vishnu. The linga is milky white and is called the Kshiralingam, from ksheera, milk. The press retelling links the name to Upamanyu, whose wish for milk made the temple's pushkarini overflow.

Told differently elsewhere. This account does not agree with “The Tripuras' linga, cut in five”, given on this page too. We tell each as its own tradition tells it, and do not choose between them.

Where this account comes from

  • Scholarship: M. Krishna Kumari, Pancharamas in Medieval Andhradesa, Agam Kala Prakashan, 1989, pp. 28–30 archive.org
  • Press: Swarajya, "Trilinga Desa: The Telugu States' Tryst With The Divine" (Ratnakar Sadasyula), 24 February 2017 swarajyamag.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Religious Tourism" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
Told in: The Bhimeswara Puranamu of Srinatha (Telugu, 14th–15th c., rendered from the Sanskrit Bhimakhanda), fourth ashvasa — as summarised by M. Krishna Kumari and by the East Godavari district administration

The Tripuras' linga, cut in five

Shiva destroys the asuras of the Tripuras with the Pashupata weapon after their boons turn them against the devas. The great stone linga they worshipped survives, and Shiva cuts it into five pieces, which Indra, Soma, Rama, Kumara and the god of Draksharama's own shrine receive at five places. This is the account of Srinatha's Telugu Bhimeswara Puranamu, the sthala purana of Draksharama. Here the piece is set up by Rama at Balakota, as Ramalingeswara.

Read this account

Vishnu, taking the form of Mohini, shares out the nectar of immortality and favours the devas over the asuras. The asuras, led by the lords of the Tripuras — the three cities — are left out. On the advice of the sage Narada they turn to penance, and Shiva grants them boons.

Strengthened by those boons, the Tripura asuras oppress the devas, who go to Shiva for help. Shiva burns the asuras and their kingdoms with the Pashupata weapon, and from that act he takes the name Tripurantaka, the destroyer of the Tripuras.

One thing survives the fire: a huge stone linga that the Tripuras had worshipped as their tutelary deity. Shiva cuts it into five pieces, and the five are set up at five places.

This is the account given in the fourth ashvasa of the Bhimeswara Puranamu, the Telugu sthala purana of Draksharama written by the poet Srinatha, who lived at the Reddi court of Rajahmundry and rendered the work from the Sanskrit Bhimakhanda. In it, Indra sets up one piece at Dharanikota on the bank of the Krishna, where it becomes Amareswara of Amararama. Soma sets up another on the bank of the Godavari at the village of Gunupudi. Rama sets up the third at Balakota, where it becomes Ramalingeswara of Ksheerarama. Kumara sets up the fourth at Bhimavaram, the capital of the Chalukyas. The remaining piece is set up at Draksharama itself.

At Palakollu — the Balakota of the Puranamu — the piece is set up by Rama and becomes Ramalingeswara of Ksheerarama, which is the second half of the god's present name, Ksheera Ramalingeswara.

Told differently elsewhere. This account does not agree with “The milk-white piece of Tarakasura's linga”, given on this page too. We tell each as its own tradition tells it, and do not choose between them.

Where this account comes from

  • Scholarship: M. Krishna Kumari, Pancharamas in Medieval Andhradesa, Agam Kala Prakashan, 1989, pp. 17–18 archive.org
  • Government: East Godavari District Administration, "Sri Chalukya Kumararama Sri Bhimeswaraswamy vari Temple, Samalkot" eastgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

In one minute

Why Ksheerarama Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. It is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras, built where one of the five pieces of the broken linga fell.

    2 sources for: It is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras, built where one of the five pieces of
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Tourist Places" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. Its entrance gopuram, about 120 feet high in nine storeys, is described by the temple as the tallest entrance gopuram in Andhra Pradesh.

    Source for: Its entrance gopuram, about 120 feet high in nine storeys, is described by the t
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  3. Tradition holds that staying one day here is equal to staying one year in Varanasi.

    2 sources for: Tradition holds that staying one day here is equal to staying one year in Varana
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Tourist Places" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  4. The milky-white linga can be seen from all four sides through windows in the garbhagriha walls.

    2 sources for: The milky-white linga can be seen from all four sides through windows in the gar
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Religious Tourism" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Dravida

The temple's page describes the gopuram as Dravidian and the construction as resembling Chalukya-period work. Krishna Kumari notes that, unlike the other Pancharamas, the main shrine is single-storeyed with a small linga, and that renovations make architectural dating difficult. The West Godavari administration describes the temple as a centrally protected monument, but it does not appear in the ASI's list for Andhra Pradesh.

  • Gateway tower

    The nine-storeyed entrance gopuram

    The Dravidian entrance tower — the temple itself is also called Pedda Gopuram — with sculptures of gods and goddesses on the tower and the walls.

    Where to stand: On the approach to the main entrance.

    14th century, per the temple's page

    entrance gopuram height: 120 ft
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  • Great hall

    Mandapa of black stone pillars

    The mandapa built on 72 black stone pillars.

  • Sanctum

    The linga seen through four windows

    The milky-white linga, visible from all four sides through windows in the garbhagriha.

  • Sculpture

    Natya mandapa pillar carvings

    Karttikeya, Mahishasuramardini, dancing girls and musicians carved on the natya mandapa pillars.

  • Inscription

    Inscriptions

    The temple carries forty-six stone inscriptions, dated from AD 1156 to AD 1640, naming the god as Kshirarameswara, Ramalingeswara and Koppeswaradeva.

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

Morning darshan5:30 am – 12:30 pm
Evening darshan4:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Confirm on the day. Times change on festival days and without notice.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Getting there

  • By road: Bhimavaram · about 20 kmDistance per the West Godavari district administration.
  • By train: Palakollu railway stationNot yet confirmed from an official source.
  • By air: Rajahmundry AirportNearest airport. Not yet confirmed from an official source.

Routes are general guidance and not yet checked against an official source.

PIN 534260 (not yet checked with India Post)

Sevas

  • eHundi, Paroksha Seva and eDonationOnline offerings listed on the temple's portal; individual sevas and prices are not listed there.Book

Prices as published by the temple when we checked. They change; the temple’s booking site is final.

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

The temple’s festival calendar has not been sourced yet.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

  1. Rama sets up Ramalingeswara at Balakota

    In the Bhimeswara Puranamu, Rama sets up the third piece of the Tripuras' linga at Balakota, where it becomes Ramalingeswara of Ksheerarama.

    Disagrees with: Vishnu installs the linga

    Source for: Rama sets up Ramalingeswara at Balakota
    • Scholarship: M. Krishna Kumari, Pancharamas in Medieval Andhradesa, Agam Kala Prakashan, 1989, p. 18 archive.org

  2. Vishnu installs the linga

    The West Godavari administration and the temple's own page record the belief that the linga was installed by Vishnu.

    Disagrees with: Rama sets up Ramalingeswara at Balakota

    2 sources for: Vishnu installs the linga
    • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Religious Tourism" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

In the historical record

  1. c. 805–846

    Narendra Mrigaraja builds a Shiva temple at Ksheerarama

    The reissued Edarupalli copper-plate grant says the Eastern Chalukya Narendra Mrigaraja (Vijayaditya) fought 108 battles, built 108 temples, and built a Shiva temple at Ksheerarama. The years are his regnal dates as listed by the East Godavari administration; the temple's own page dates the temple to the Chalukya period of the 9th century.

    3 sources for: Narendra Mrigaraja builds a Shiva temple at Ksheerarama
    • Scholarship: M. Krishna Kumari, Pancharamas in Medieval Andhradesa, Agam Kala Prakashan, 1989, p. 30 archive.org
    • Government: East Godavari District Administration, "Sri Chalukya Kumararama Sri Bhimeswaraswamy vari Temple, Samalkot" eastgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. c. 1301–1400

    Gopuram built under Alladu Reddy

    The temple's page says the gopuram was built by Alladu Reddy in the 14th century.

    Source for: Gopuram built under Alladu Reddy
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  3. 1156–1640

    Forty-six stone inscriptions

    The temple's stone inscriptions run from AD 1156 to AD 1640. Krishna Kumari infers an 11th-century date for the temple from them.

    Source for: Forty-six stone inscriptions
    • Scholarship: M. Krishna Kumari, Pancharamas in Medieval Andhradesa, Agam Kala Prakashan, 1989, p. 30 archive.org

  4. Endowments Department administration

    The temple is administered by an Executive Officer and publishes its page and online donations on the Andhra Pradesh Endowments temple management portal.

    2 sources for: Endowments Department administration
    • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Tourist Places" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Around here

Worth the detour

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Temple administration: Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu, "About Temple" (AP Endowments temple management portal) tms.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Tourist Places" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: West Godavari District Administration, "Religious Tourism" westgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Scholarship: M. Krishna Kumari, Pancharamas in Medieval Andhradesa, Agam Kala Prakashan, 1989, pp. 1–31 archive.org
  • Press: Swarajya, "Trilinga Desa: The Telugu States' Tryst With The Divine" (Ratnakar Sadasyula), 24 February 2017 swarajyamag.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: East Godavari District Administration, "Sri Chalukya Kumararama Sri Bhimeswaraswamy vari Temple, Samalkot" eastgodavari.ap.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Ksheerarama Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/ksheerarama-palakollu (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence