Geography
Rayachoti is located at 14°03′N 78°45′E / 14.05°N 78.75°E / 14.05; 78.75. It has an average elevation of 1200 metres (1246 feet).
Rayachoty is a Municipality. This is the third biggest town(1.Kadapa 2.Proddutur 3.Rayachoti. 4.Rajampet 5.Pulivendula) in the Kadapa district. It is one of the Commercial town in the district and it is Center of 10 mandals. Rayachoti well connected to Bangalore, Tirupati, Chittor, Kadiri, Kadapa, Rajampet towns with road network.
Now its almost 4 km radius city. Rayachoti is well connected to Bangalore by road and is at a distance of 180 km. To reach Rayachoti from any place one can go to Kadapa by Train and then go to Rayachoti by bus services provided by APSRTC (Andhrapradesh Road Transport Corporation). It takes about five hours to reach this place from Bangalore. Rayachoti is one of the major heavy transport provider by lorrys (6 & 8 wheelars) in the state.
Rayachoty has famous 12th Century Temple called Lord Veerabhadra Swamy Temple.
--Temple History—Daksha organized a yagna without inviting Lord Shiva purposely to humiliate him. Angry Shiva sent Veerabadra to destroy the yagna and Daksha. Veerabadra was very furious. Meantime, Sage Mandavya was on penance on Lord Shiva seeking Veerabadra Darshan. Veerabadra granted darshan to the sage in his fury form. Sage begged Ambica to soften him. Ambica appeared as Badrakali and cooled him down. Sage further requested them to stay in the place of his penance. That place is now called Rayachoti. A king built the temple later.
Lord Veerabadra and Mother Badrakali grace the devotees from a palanquin each Monday. Those aspiring leadership positions perform abishek to Lord Verabadra and dress him as hero on a horse. A fee of Rs. 450 is charged for this puja. Those facing skin diseases place a coconut at the feet of Lord and consume the water and also apply it on the skin for cure. Lord Veerabadra is praised as Racharayudu meaning Supreme Leader. While only Shivalinga is seen above the Avudayar in temples, Lord Shiva appears on the Avudayar in full real form. Hence, He is called Avudai Shiva. There are also shrines for Lords Varasiddhi Vinayaka, Kala Bhairava, Shanmugha, Twin Lingas, Agora Shiva, Ellamman, Navagrahas the nine planets. The temple has a three tier Rajagopuram.
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