The construction of Sri Ramalaya Temple in Vittalapuram was not just a mere project; it was a decade-long dream nurtured by the hearts and minds of the villagers. This dream took shape on August 14, 2020, when the foundation stone was laid with the auspicious Bhumi puja ceremony.
As per the entreaties of the Devas (celestial beings), the divine effulgence of Sri Maha Vishnu, accompanied by Adishesha (the serpent), Shankha (the conch), and Chakra (the discus), entered the sacred payasam (sweet rice pudding) obtained from the yagna (fire sacrifice) performed by Maharaja Dasharatha. This divine essence then incarnated on Earth in the forms of Sri Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna. This marks the sacred origin of the Rama Avatara.
That son of Dasharatha, Sri Rama, who was born from the womb in human form, possessed only two majestic, long arms (Ajanubahu), wielding the bow and arrow. He flourished in the Treta Yuga as the very embodiment of Dharma (righteousness).
However, pleased by the intense penance (tapas) of the sage Bhadra Maharshi, Sriman Narayana (Vishnu) descended directly from his eternal abode, Vaikuntha, to the holy site of Bhadrachalam and granted the sage his divine appearance (sakshatkaram). The form of Sri Ramachandra enshrined here is unique. This deity manifests with four arms (Chaturbhuja): holding the bow in a left hand, an arrow in a right hand displayed in the Abhaya Mudra (gesture of fearlessness and assurance), the Panchajanya Shankha (conch) in another right hand, and the Sudarshana Chakra (discus) in another left hand.
Because Dasharatha Rama, who appeared in the Treta Yuga as the embodiment of Dharma, descended again from Vaikuntha in the Kali Yuga, pleased by Bhadra Maharshi's penance, manifesting with four arms, and because, like the Lord of Vaikuntha, he has Goddess Lakshmi seated on his left thigh (ankam), this Rama of Bhadrachalam gained renown as 'Vaikuntha Rama'.
These divine idols (vigrahamulu) of the Bhadradri form, which descended directly from Vaikuntha, were consecrated within a magnificent stone temple (shila nirmita alayamu) by the supreme devotee Kancherla Gopanna (famously known as Bhakta Ramadasu), establishing them as a revered deity for generations.
In that same sacred tradition, inspired by the temple built by Ramadasu at Bhadrachalam, a stone temple is also being constructed in our Vittalapuram village. Within this temple, a divine idol, similar to the one in Bhadradri and known as 'Vaikuntha Rama', is being consecrated (vigraha pratishta). Therefore, based on this historical and scriptural evidence (charitra shastriya adharamulatho), this new temple has been aptly named 'Vaikuntha Ramalayam'.
How to reach Vaikunta Ramalayam?
By road
Ongolu is the nearest town to Vittalapuram. Ongolu is 42 km from Vittalapuram. There is road connectivity from Ongole to Vittalapuram.
By bus
Gangavaram APSRTC Bus Station, Addanki APSRTC Bus Station, Darshi APSRTC Bus Station are near by bus stations to Vittalapuram. APSRTC runs number of buses from major cities to here.