Somarama

Somarama in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras sacred to Shiva and is a centrally protected monument. Here Shiva is worshipped as Someswara Swamy in a small linga said to have been installed by the moon-god Chandra. Tradition holds that the linga turns white on full-moon nights and black at the new moon. His consort here is Rajarajeswari.

A lotus pond called Chandrakundam lies before the large gopuram at the entrance, and a large Nandi sits in the hall. A shrine to Annapurna is built over the Shiva sanctum; unusually, the goddess wears the sacred thread and has a baby at her feet. A big hall on one side holds shrines to Rama and Hanuman, and Adilakshmi, Kumara Swamy, Surya, Ganesha and the Navagrahas are also present. Maha Shivaratri and Sarannavaratri are the chief festivals, and weddings are held in the temple's halls.