Veerabhadra Temple, Pattiseema

The Veerabhadra Temple crowns Devakuta Parvatham, a low hill rising from an islet in the Godavari near Pattiseema in Andhra Pradesh, with the Papi hills around it. It honours Shiva as Veerabhadra, alongside the goddess Bhadra Kali, and is counted among the pancha Kasi kshetras named in the Skanda Purana. Legend says Veerabhadra, born of Shiva's fury after Sati's death at Daksha's sacrifice, slew Daksha with a pattisa, a warrior's weapon, and washed it in the river, giving the place its name. Historically the temple is credited to the Reddy kings in the 12th century.

Pattiseema village is 40 km from Rajahmundry, and from there a boat or launch is the only way across to the temple. A large Hanuman statue stands at the boating point. The square panel of the self-manifested lingam shows what are taken to be hand prints, and sub-shrines include one to Bhavannarayana Swamy, the guardian deity, with others to Sita Ramabhadra, Kala Bhairava, Subrahmanya, Saraswati and Surya.