HOLY RIVERS OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND TELANGANA 

Rivers are not just any regular bodies of water in India. These rivers are significant spiritually in addition to being a vital source of life for many. People revere rivers in this area as gods and as mothers. In India, each river has its own significance, and the majority of the holy sites and spiritually significant locations are found along the banks of these rivers.

Rivers are revered because they provide life. As a result, Hindus have the chance to express their devotion to the gods responsible for creation by making pilgrimages to rivers. Rivers are celebrated in a hymn found in the Rig Veda. Hindus consider the Rig Veda to be a wellspring of wisdom, which elevates their view of river pilgrimages as sacred. Since ancient times, rivers in India have provided a lifeline for several civilizations.

Each river has a legend associated with it. Some are revered, regarded as goddesses, and even dubbed works of nature.

Geographically speaking, rivers in India are divided into Peninsular and Himalayan rivers depending on where they originate.

Pushkaram 

Indians celebrate Pushkaram, a festival in which rivers are worshipped. It is also known as Pushkaralu, Pushkara, or Pushkar in Telugu, Kannada, and other languages.

It is observed in shrines along the banks of India's 12 main sacred rivers with ancestor worship, inspirational talks, devotional music, and cultural events. Every year, or every 12 years along each river, people celebrate. Each river has a corresponding zodiac sign, and the festival's river is determined by the sign Jupiter is in at the moment. Some zodiac signs have more than one river affiliation due to regional differences.

According to a narrative, a Brahmin was granted a boon by Shiva following extreme penance, according to astrology treatises like Jataka Parijata (1426). He would be granted the ability to live in water and clean the sacred rivers. Pushkara became the name for the Brahmin ("the one who nourishes"). He made the choice to cross one of the 12 holy rivers when Bhaspati (Jupiter) moved from one zodiac sign to the next at his request.

Each river has a corresponding zodiac sign, and the festival's river is determined by the sign that Jupiter (Bhaspati) is in at the time. There are times when Jupiter is moving retrograde, which causes it to enter the same sign of the zodiac twice in a year. On such occasions, the first phase of the celebration is celebrated in honour of Jupiter's second arrival.

The Pushkaram tradition is a component of mediaeval Hindu astrological wisdom; it is not referenced in early Hindu writings. Therefore, depending on local customs, the names of the 12 rivers may change. For instance, Tamraparni is linked with the Scorpio sign in Tamil Nadu while Bhima is in Maharashtra. Ancestral remembrance, spiritual discussions, devotional music, and cultural events are all part of the Pushkaram celebrations. The devotees partake in practises like snana (river bathing), dna (charity), japa (mantra recitation), archana, and dhyana (meditation).

The celebration is said to extend as long as Jupiter is in the associated zodiac sign (generally, for one year). However, the first 12 days are when the biggest crowds are present. Most people consider the first 12 days when Jupiter enters a sign of the zodiac and the final 12 days when it leaves a sign to be lucky. All sins are purportedly forgiven after a swim in the holy river. Adi Pushkaram refers to the first twelve days, and Anthya Pushkaram to the last twelve.As Jupiter goes from one Zodiac house to the next during the course of the aforementioned twenty-four days, it is thought that "Pushkar," an object endowed with the ability to make any river holy, will accompany Jupiter. In jyotish astrology, planets that are located in a birthchart's "Pushkara navamsa" or "Puskara bhaga" are regarded as being extremely fortunate and auspicious.

Pushkaralu is celebrated for the Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pranahita, and Bhima rivers (at the Bhima-Krishna Sangam) in the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The major towns and cities that are conveniently accessible by train and extensive bus services for pushkaralu in Telugu-speaking states are Godavari's Rajahmundry (Airport also), Bhadrachalam, Mancherial, and Basara; Krishna's Vijayawada/Amaravati (Airport also), Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, Beechupalli, and Repalle; Tungabhadra's Mantralayam, Kurno Direct bus services from Hyderabad and all regional district offices can take you to all of these locations.

After the Ganges and the Godavari, the Krishna River is a river in the Deccan plateau and is the third-longest river in India. In terms of water inputs and river basin area, it ranks fourth in India, behind the Ganges, Indus, and Godavari. The river, also known as Krishnaveni, has a total length of 1,400 km, of which 282 km are in Maharashtra. In the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, it is a significant source of irrigation. 

Hindus consider this river to be sacred. By taking a bath in the river, people are said to be able to cleanse themselves of all their sins.

KRISHNA RIVER

The Krishna Pushkaram fair, which takes place on the banks of the Krishna river once every twelve years, is the main event. Along the river's course, in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, there are numerous places of worship.Wai, home to the Kashivishweshwar temple and Mahaganpati Mandir, is the first holy site along the Krishna River. Along the river, there are seven ghats. On the banks of Krishna at Narsobawadi and Audumbar near Sangli are temples like the Maharashtrians' famous Dattadeva shrine. One of Karnataka's most revered shrines, Yadur, is situated on the Krishna River's bank. A well-known temple is Veerabhadra Temple. Many followers travel from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to this shrine. At Haripur, there is a Sangameshwar Shiva temple that is also situated along the banks of the Krishna River. The Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada, the Ramling Temple near Sangli, the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (Srisailam), the Amareshwara Swamy Temple, and the Vedadri Narasimha Temple are a few of the additional temples. Jyothirlingam (Srisailam), Amareshwara Swamy Temple, Vedadri Narasimha Temple, Vadapalli temple in Nalgonda, Dattadeva temple, and Sangameshwara Shiva temples at Alampur & Gadwal in Telangana.

The Krishna Ghat, a substantial stone building built across the bank of the Krishna River in Bhilawadi, Maharashtra. A large and a little temple were built in the middle of the river as part of this project. It is thought that this building was built about 1779.

GODAVARI RIVER

After the Ganga, the Godavari is the second-longest river in India. It empties into the third-largest basin, which makes up 10% of India's entire land area. The Dakshina Ganga, also known as the Godavari, is the largest river in peninsular India.

The river continues to house and support a rich cultural heritage and has long been revered in Hindu scriptures.

Hindus consider the river to be sacred, and various locations along its banks have long been popular destinations for pilgrims. Numerous individuals, including the god Baladeva 5000 years ago and the saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago, are claimed to have taken a purifying bath in her waters. On the banks of the river, the Pushkaram fair is conducted once every twelve years.

SAPTA SAGARA YATRA

People who wanted children in the past made a journey along the banks of the holy waters from the seven mouths known as the sapta sagara yatra. According to the Hindu calendar, it begins with holy bathing at the Tulyabhaga river in Chollangi hamlet on Amavasya day during Krishna Paksha of Pushya month. Locally, that day is known as Chollangi Amavasya. The location of the river branch's fusion with the sea is known as Tulya Sgara Sangamam. Second, they bathe in the Coringa river, which is regarded as the Atreya branch of the Godavari and is known as Atreya Sgara Sangamam, in Coringa village. The pilgrimage is completed by taking a bath close to Narsapuram or Antarved after bathing at the banks of the other branches.

PENNA RIVER

Southern India's Penna river also goes by the names Pinakini, Pennar, Penner, Penneru (Telugu), and Pennai (Tamil). The Nandi Hills serve as the source of this river, which thereafter flows as two distinct streams, one in a northerly and one in a southern direction. The Penna begins in the Nandi Hills in the Karnataka state district of Chikkaballapur, and it flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.

The river takes on the shape of a bow because it runs in two streams, one going north and one going south. As a result, this river is given the name Pinakini after the bow Pinaka. The name Penneru (sometimes spelled Penner) is derived from the Telugu words penu, which means grand, and yeru, which means river, stream, or torrent, or perhaps from neeru water, which is obviously flowing. In Karnataka, it is also referred as as Utthara Pinakini. Pinaka, the bow of Nandhiswara, the ruling god of the Nandi hills at the river's source, is referenced in the name Pinakini.

 About 15 kilometres from the region of Nellore sits Jonnawada, one of India's well-known pilgrimage sites. One of the two Kamakshi temple that are located there is famous. The main Kamakshi temple, which has shrines to Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Kamakshamma, is supposed to have been constructed here in the year 1150 A.D.

 

The 10-day celebration conducted in honour of Goddess Kamakshi, who is regarded as an avatar of Shakti, is what makes the temple well-known. A single stone is used to construct some temple components, such as the Gopuram. On the route to this temple, there are a few hidden communities.
The belief of those who come here to pray to the goddess is that it will protect them from major illnesses and ailments.

Going to Palces:

1) Sri Mallikharjunaswarmy Temple and Sri Kamakshamma Temple are combined into one big temple only

2) Lord Sri Lakshimi Narasimhaswamy is located on that hill around 8 km from Jonnavada at the Sri Narasimhaswamy Konda. It is possible to take an automobile there from Jonnavada, which is a really beautiful location.

3) Penna River: On the right side of the temple, you can bathe in the Penna River.

TUNGABHADRA  RIVER

The majority of the Tungabhadra River's course is in the Indian state of Karnataka. It then passes through the border states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh until coming together with the Krishna River close to Gundimalla hamlet in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana.

The Tunga, which is about 147 km long, and the Bhadra, which is about 178 km long, are two streams that originate in the Western Ghats and give rise to the river Tungabhadra.

The Sangameswaram Temple is a sacred pilgrimage place located at the confluence of the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers. The Goddesses Devi-dedicated Jogulamba Temple is located close to Alampur hamlet. In Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, there lies the Sangameswaram Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva).

There are numerous sacred sites along the rivers, with Saiva temples dominating the banks of the Bhadra and the Tunga, respectively. The Adi Shankaracharya founded Sringeri, Sarada Peetham, which is located on the left bank of the Tunga about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from its source, is the most well-known. On the banks of the Tunga Bhadra River stands Hampi, one of the significant heritage sites that UNESCO has designated. In the middle of the Tunga Bhadra River is an island called Nava Brindavan, which serves as the final resting place of nine revered Madhva saints. From the well-known Yantroddaraka Hanuman Temple in Hampi, one can see the Tunga Bhadra River. On the Tunga Bhadra River's banks is the Virupaksha Temple as well. Vasudendra Teertha's final resting place is also along the Tunga Bhadra River in Kenchangudda, Siruguppa. Other significant pilgrimage sites include Manthralayam Sree Raghavendra Swamy Muth in the Kurnool District and Alampur District, where Jogulamba is the presiding deity at this holy site known as Dakshina Kashi. The early Chalukyas built a number of Nava Brahma temples in this area.

The flood protection walls Sri Krishna Devaraya built all along the rivers between 1525 and 1527 AD are a significant aspect of the river banks. They can be found anywhere there is a chance of flooding-related ground degradation. The route begins in Sringeri and concludes in Kurnool. 

 SWARNAMUKHI   RIVER

Southern India contains the river Swarnamukhi. This is a separate river that originates at a 300-meter height in the Eastern Ghats ranges near Pakala in the Tirupati district and flows 130 kilometres to the Bay of Bengal. In the river basin lie the revered Hindu temples of Tirumala and Srikalahasti. It was referred to as Mogaleru in Dhurjati's writings. One of the astadiggajalu (also known as the "Eight Mighty Elephants") in the court of King Krishnadevaraya was the Telugu poet Dhurjati, who lived between the 15th and 16th century CE..

 CHITRAVATHI

A branch of the Penna River, the Chitravathi is an interstate river in southern India. It originates in Karnataka, empties into Andhra Pradesh, and has a basin that is more than 5,900 km2. On its banks is where the pilgrimage centre of Puttaparthi is found. After the monsoons, the seasonal river Chitravathi springs to life. It is a right bank tributary of the Penna and is included with the Papagni in the middle Penna sub-basin. The Deva Kanya, another name for the Chitravathi, flows through Puttaparthi, a popular tourist destination and the birthplace of Sathya Sai Baba, an influential spiritual figure in India. Due of its connection to Sathya Sai Baba, many people see it as sacred.

CHEYYERU RIVER

A tributary of the Pennar river is the Cheyyeru river, which is located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

A number of palaeolithic sites have been found along the Gunjana valley, which flows into the Cheyyeru river as a tributary.

The river has a number of gorges, one of which is found after the Balarajupalle gorge and the confluence of its headstreams.

Named after the Cheyyeru river, the Cheyair series of rocks in the Cudappah rock formation of the Eastern Ghats is primarily composed of shales.

On the Cheyyeru, there is a temple town called Attirala that has a number of myths attached to it.It is said that the sage Parasurama atoned for his murderous deed here, and that Likhita, the sage Sankha's brother, had his severed hands reattached to him after taking a bath in the river. Temples to Gadadhara, Treteshwara, and Parasurama are all located at Attirala. Many transgender people travel to Attirala to offer prayers for their rebirth as normal people and to atone for their sins.

PAPGNI RIVER

In southern India, the Papagni River is a non-perennial interstate river that passes through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is a Pennar River tributary on the right bank.

Papgni is a combination of the words pa (which means sin) and agni (which means fire). The Chenchus, a tribe that inhabits this area, are said to have leprosy as retribution for a monarch who once murdered an innocent tribal chieftain. Only after he performed penance in the Papagni valley and took a plunge in the river, which is said to have converted his sins to ashes, is he reported to have been healed of the ailment, earning the river the name Papagn,

The Anjaneya Swamy Temple, which was built at the base of a hill on the west bank of the River Papaghni, is what gives Gandi its fame. At this location, the River Papaghni flows between two hills from south to north. Legend has it that Lord Rama once stopped here on his way back from Lanka.

Rama Vayu, the father of Anjaneya, welcomed Lord Rama with a floral wreath. Lord Rama carved the image of Anjaneya onto a rock before leaving the area. The most notable of the few individuals who have been able to view the figure is the former British Governor, Sir Thomas Manro. The stone praakaaram in this temple's sanctum sanctorum is also visible to visitors. . It is thought that Tirupathi Seshanna built the shrine around 1911. Devotees frequent the place, particularly in the month of Sravana.

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