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{{short description|Hindu temple in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Kodandarama Temple
| image = Gollalamamidada temple gopuram Eastgodavari.JPG
| caption = One of the gopurams of the temple
| alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|16|56|17.6|N|82|4|25.6|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = India Andhra Pradesh
| map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh
| deity = Kodandarama Swamy
| location = Gollala Mamidada
| district = [[Kakinada district|Kakinada]]
| state = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| festivals = [[Sri Rama Navami]]<br />[[Vaikuntha Ekadashi|Vaikunta Ekadasi]]<br/>[[Vijayadashami|Vijayadasami]]
| architecture =
| creator =
| year_completed =1956–58
| inscriptions =
| monument_quantity =
| temple_quantity =
| website =
|established=1889}}
'''Kodandarama Temple''' is a [[Hindus|Hindu]] temple located in Gollala Mamidada in [[Kakinada district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The temple is dedicated to [[Rama]], the seventh incarnation of [[Vishnu]]. It was built on the banks of Tulyabhaga (Antharvahini), a tributary of [[Godavari River|Godavari]].

The temple is notable for its unique architecture and two huge [[gopuram]]s which stand at 160–170 feet (49–52 m) and 200–210 feet (61–64 m).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=India|first=The Hans|date=2015-02-03|title=Gollala Mamidada to be AP's Bhadradri|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2015-02-03/Gollala-Mamidada-to-be-APs-Bhadradri/129325|access-date=2020-10-30|website=www.thehansindia.com|language=en}}</ref> The temple gopurams are adorned with intricately carved statues depicting scenes from ''[[Ramayana]]'', ''[[Mahabharata]]'', and [[Bhagavata Purana|''Bhagavata'']]. The construction of the temple began in 1889 when brothers Dwarampudi Subbi Reddy and Rami Reddy donated land and built a small temple with wooden idols of Rama and [[Sita]]. A larger temple was built in 1939. The two gopurams were constructed in 1948–50 and 1956–58.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2019-02-17|title=కోరికలు తీర్చే కోదండరామయ్య..!|url=https://www.eenadu.net/sundaymagazine/inner_page/9857|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217185437/https://www.eenadu.net/sundaymagazine/inner_page/9857|archive-date=17 February 2019|access-date=2020-10-30|website=[[Eenadu]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Iyer|first=Lalita|date=2018-07-29|title=Konaseema Ayodhya Rama beckons|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/290718/konaseema-ayodhya-rama-beckons.html|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref>

The temple is also known as 'Chinna Bhadradi' or the 'Little [[Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam|Bhadrachalam]]'. It is one of the two most popular Rama temples in Andhra Pradesh along with [[Kodandarama Temple, Vontimitta|Kodandarama temple]] in [[Vontimitta]]. [[Rama Navami|Sri Rama Navami]] is the most prominent festival celebrated at the temple and features an annual wedding ceremony of Rama and Sita.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-04-16|title=Tribal people throng Sriramagiri temple|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tribal-people-throng-sriramagiri-temple/article8481673.ece|access-date=2020-10-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Other important festivals celebrated at the temple are [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi|Vaikunta Ekadasi]] and [[Vijayadashami|Vijayadasami]].

== History ==
The Kodandarama Temple was founded in 1889 by brothers Dwarampudi Subbi Reddy and Rami Reddy, local zamindars who donated land on the banks of the Tulyabhaga river. The original structure was a modest shrine housing wooden idols of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]].

In 1939, a larger stone temple was constructed to accommodate the growing number of devotees visiting from across the [[Konaseema]] region. The temple underwent significant expansion in the mid-20th century:

* '''1948–1950''': Construction of the east-facing [[gopuram]] (160–170 feet, nine storeys)
* '''1956–1958''': Construction of the west-facing gopuram (200–210 feet, eleven storeys)
* '''1975''': Addition of the mirror hall (''addala mandapam'' in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]) above the [[sanctum sanctorum]]

The temple earned the epithet "Chinna Bhadradri" (Little [[Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam|Bhadrachalam]]) due to its growing prominence as a major [[Rama]] pilgrimage site in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
[[File:Construction_infos.jpg|left|thumb|Inscription plaque detailing the construction history of Kodandarama Temple, documenting the contributions of the Dwarampudi family who founded the temple in 1889 and subsequent expansions through 1975.]]
[[File:View_of_160_feet_gopuram_from_200_feet_gorumpam_top_floor.jpg|border|thumb|<nowiki>View of 160 feet gopuram from 200 feet gorumpam top floor.jpeg|thumb|300px|Alternate angle of the east gopuram captured from the uppermost floor of the 200-feet west gopuram, showcasing the </nowiki>[[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]]-style tiered structure and the surrounding village of Gollala Mamidada in [[Kakinada district]].]]
[[File:From_6th_floor_of_200_feet_gorupam_middle_main_gopuram_and_160_feet_gopuram.jpg|thumb|<nowiki>From 6th floor of 200 feet gorupam middle main gopuram and 160 feet gopuram.jpeg|thumb|300px|Panoramic view from the sixth floor of the west gopuram showing the central </nowiki>''mandapam'' (middle structure) and the east-facing 160-feet gopuram in the background. The temple complex sits on the banks of the Tulyabhaga river, a tributary of the [[Godavari River|Godavari]]. Devotees can access the upper floors via a 300-step climb.]]
[[File:Kodandarama_Temple_160_feet_gopuram.jpg|border|left|thumb|<nowiki>Kodandarama Temple 160 feet gopuram.jpeg|thumb|300px|Full elevation view of the nine-storey east gopuram of Kodandarama Temple. Each floor features carved statues depicting episodes from Hindu epics. The </nowiki>''[[shikhara]]'' (tower crown) is adorned with ''Bala Ramayana'' scenes depicting the childhood of [[Rama]].]]
[[File:160_feet_gopruam_back_entrance.jpg|center|thumb|333x333px|160 feet gopruam entrance: The east-facing gopuram (160–170 feet) viewed from the rear entrance. This nine-storey tower was constructed between 1948–1950 and features five ''[[Kalasam|kalasams]]'' (golden finials) at its peak. The gopuram serves as the traditional entry point for devotees arriving from Kakinada.]]
[[File:200_feet_gopruam_from_3rd_floor_of_the_temple_form_middle_gopuram.jpg|center|thumb|<nowiki>200 feet gopuram from 3rd floor of the temple form middle gopuram.jpeg|thumb|300px|The west-facing gopuram (200–210 feet) as seen from the third floor of the central </nowiki>''mandapam''. This eleven-storey structure, completed between 1956–1958, is one of the tallest temple towers in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The intricate stucco work depicts scenes from the ''[[Ramayana]]'', ''[[Mahabharata]]'', and ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''.]]

== The Temple ==
The construction of the temple began in 1889 by brothers Dwarampudi Subbi Reddy and Rami Reddy who donated land and built a small temple with wooden idols of Rama and Sita. A larger temple was built in 1939. The east and west gopurams were built in 1948–50 and 1956–58 respectively. The east-facing gopuram is 160–170 feet high and has nine storeys and five [[kalasam]]s. The west-facing gopuram is 200–210 feet high and has 11 storeys and five kalasams.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
[[File:Third_floor_Middle_Gopuram,_Main_temple_Rama,_Lakshman,_sita_idol_were_there.jpg|border|thumb|Third floor Middle Gopuram, Main temple.]]
A mirror hall (''addala mandapam'' in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]) was built between the two mandapams, above the [[Sanctum Sanctorum|sanctum sanctorum]] in 1975.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Akella|first1=Spandana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iu9dBAAAQBAJ&q=Kodandarama+Temple%2C+Gollala+Mamidada&pg=PT40|title=Konaseema: Hidden Land of the Godavari|last2=Pannala|first2=Vimal|date=2014-07-31|publisher=Partridge Publishing India|isbn=978-1-4828-3568-7|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The mirror hall has a [[stucco]] relief of ''Sri Rama Pattabhishekam'' (coronation of Rama) on one side and of Rama blessing Hanuman on the other side. The garbhalayam contains the idols of Rama, [[Lakshmana]], and Sita along with [[Hanuman]].<ref name=":1" />

There are intricately carved statues depicting scenes from [[Ramayana]], [[Mahabharata]], and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavatam]] on the four sides of the gopurams in each floor. The ''[[Shikhara|Sikhara]]'' of the temple is carved with statues depicting ''Bala Ramayana'' (childhood of Rama).<ref name=":2" /> Devotees can reach the top storey of the gopurams through a 300-step climb.

Around 200 metres from the temple is a ''Pushkarini'', a small pond of water sourced from the Tulyabhaga river. Water from the Pushkarini is used in various religious ceremonies at the temple.<ref name=":2" />

== Location ==
Kodandarama Temple is situated in Gollala Mamidada village in [[Pedapudi mandal|Pedapudi Mandal]] of [[Kakinada district]] in Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gollala Madidada {{!}} East Godavari District Web Portal {{!}} India|url=https://eastgodavari.ap.gov.in/gallery/gollala-madidada/|access-date=2020-10-30|language=en-US}}</ref> The temple is located at a distance of 25 km from [[Kakinada]], 45 km from [[Rajahmundry]], 85 km from [[Tuni]] and 180 km from [[Visakhapatnam]]. Also located in the same village is the [[Suryanarayana Temple, Gollala Mamidada|Suryanarayana Temple]], a [[Surya|Sun]] temple.

== Festivals ==
[[Rama Navami|Sri Rama Navami]] is the most prominent festival celebrated at the temple. It features an annual wedding ceremony of Rama and Sita. The [[District magistrate|District Collector]] along with the local [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] and their spouses offer silk clothes to the presiding deities on the occasion. After the wedding ceremony, the [[murti]]s are taken in a procession across the streets. A grand offering of food (''Annadanam'') is made to the devotees on the occasion.<ref name=":2" /> Other important festivals celebrated at the temple are [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi|Vaikunta Ekadasi]] and [[Vijayadashami|Vijayadasami]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Sri Rama Temple in Gollala Mamidada, East Godavari.JPG
File:Sri Rama temple,Gollumamidada A.P - panoramio (5).jpg
File:Sri Rama temple,Gollumamidada A.P - panoramio (2).jpg
File:Sri Rama temple,Gollumamidada A.P - panoramio (6).jpg
File:Sri Rama temple,Gollumamidada A.P - panoramio (3).jpg
File:Sri Rama temple,Gollumamidada A.P - panoramio.jpg
File:Kodanda Ramalayam , G. Mamidada.jpg
File:Aerial view of Gollala Mamidada Town.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
<references />
{{Hindu Temples in Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Kakinada district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rama temples]]

Kodandarama Temple, Gollala Mamidada - Revision history

Ankithreddy: added a location