Gadidam – temple town dating back to Mahabharata

Sri Gadidam Kshetra is a small village in Chikkaballapura District. Gadidam’s famed temple, Sri Bhuneela Sametha Sri Venkataramana Swamy Temple is also known as the second Tirumala and is revered as a remedy for those having Sarpa Dosha and obstacles in getting married.

This temple was built by Emperor Janamejaya – the son of Pariskhit Maharaja who once ruled Bharata Varsha in the early stages of Kali Yuga. This proves the antiquity of this amazing temple.

Sri Gadidam Kshetra

After King Parikshit was cursed by Shamika Rishi’s son – Shrungi to die by a snake bite for insulting his father. When Janamejaya learns this incident, he became revengeful over snakes and vows and decides to seek revenge by wiping out the entire snake species from the earth. He then commences the Sarpasatra (a yajna performed to destroy serpents). While several serpent heads sought help from their respective Lord, countless snakes were consumed by Janamejaya’s yajna. Then a sage Astika Muni approached Janamejaya to end the Sarpasatra right away, forgive the serpents and cease any further destruction of the serpent species.

Darshan of Sri Bhuneela Sametha Sri Venkataramana Swamy

However, the killing of innumerable serpents was indeed a sinful act which made Janamejaya suffer from Leukoderma. Janamajeya then seeks remedy for this from learned sages. Adishesha, on whom Lord Vishnu rests, advises Janamejaya a remedy to his ailment; that he should build 101 Temples of Lord Vishnu dedicated to His various avataras. Out of those 101 temples built, one of them in Dandakaranya is Gadidam Sri Venkataramana Swamy Temple.

Gadidam – Folklore behind the name

When the Pandavas escaped from the Lakshagriha the gruesome plan made by Kauravas and tactfully saved by Vidhura.

 On exiting the tunnel, they landed close to the hill of Hidambasura in Dandakaranya, which lies in the northern direction of the present Sri Venkataraman Swamy Temple. While they were resting after the escape, Bhima stood guarding them. Hidambasura who lived on the hills senses presence of humans and orders his beautiful sister Hidambi to hunt for humans, slay them and bring the flesh to him. Hidambi gets smitten on seeing Bhima. Forgetting her brother’s orders, she stood awe-struck admiring Bhima.

Hidambi gets smitten on seeing Bhima

Worried Hidambasura, gets anxious about his sister’s whereabouts and starts searching for her; then he sees the well-built Bhima there. He wanted to devour him but Hidambi inhibits him and expresses her desire to marry Bhima. She pleads him not to harm Bhima which fell on deaf ears. Finally, a fight struck between Bhima and Hidambasura, at the end of which Bhima kills Hidambasura. The roars during this quarrel dispels Kunti’s and other Pandavas’s sleep who saw the gory sight. They then got Bhima married to Hidambi and to the couple, Ghatotkacha was born here. Thus, came the name Gadidam (gradual morphing from Ghatotkacha).

Bhima slaying Hidambasura

Present Day Temple

During the rule of Cholas, the then ruling king lingered childless for a long time. They undertook penance, performed many worships and finally begot two beautiful, talented, intelligent daughters. They possessed all positive virtues. However, both had Kantaka Shani Dosha in their horoscope. Their marriage was getting held up which worried the King a lot. One night, Lord Venkataramana Swamy of Gadidam appears in the King’s dream and instructs the king, “On the banks of River Chitravati, besides the ridge of Gadidam Hills, there is a temple dedicated to Me. It has only Me installed and worshiped. As a remedy for the Kantaka Dosha of your daughters, you must install and consecrate the Deities of Sri Bhuneela and Sri Lakshmi besides Me. It must be accomplished on Vishaka Nakshatra on the full moon day, in the Vaishaka Month and conduct a Bramha Rathotsava. The King thus sets out rebuild the temple and arranges a magnificent Brahmarathotsava which is one of the major festivals of this temple even to this day.

Sri Bhuneela Sametha Sri Venkataramana Swamy Temple

During the tour of Vijayanagara Kings, they worshiped in nearby temples like Lepakshi, Penukonda temples and then arrived at this temple in Gadidam. They found that the temple was too restricted; and they constructed a huge courtyard (prangana), established 4 Dwaras, Dwaja stambha and the Gopuras. This fact has been established by the epigraphs in the precincts.

Utsava Murtis of Sri Bhuneela Sametha Sri Venkataramana Swamy Temple

How to Visit

The nearest town to the temple is Bagepalli which is around 3 kms away.

By Rail
Chikkaballapura Railway Station is around 35 kms away. Hindupur Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh is 50 km away.

By Air
Bengaluru Devanahalli Airport is around 50 kms away

By Road
Gadidam is about 100 kms away from Bengaluru