Chilumuru

Chilumuru is situated to the north of the mandal headquarters, Kolluru,^[4] at 16°13′49″N 80°47′04″E / 16.2302916°N 80.7844066°E / 16.2302916; 80.7844066. It is spread over an area of 475 ha (1,170 acres).^[2]

Chilumuru gram panchayat is the local self-government of the village.^[1] It is divided into wards, and each ward is represented by a ward member.^[5] The village forms a part of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is under the jurisdiction of APCRDA.^[6]

As per the school information report for the academic year 2018–19, the village has a total of 6 schools. These include 3 MPP and 3 private schools.^[7]

Located on the banks of the Krishna River, the Ubaya Rameswara Kshetram is a prominent historical and religious site in Chilumuru. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, worshipped here as Rameswara in the form of a Saikata Lingam (a deity fashioned from sand).^[8][9]

While local tradition ascribes the temple's origins to the Treta Yuga, the physical stone structure dates to the Chola dynasty in the 12th century. Epigraphical evidence and temple inscriptions indicate that the current sanctum was constructed around 1153 AD.^[8]

According to the Skanda Purana, the temple was established by Lord Rama during his return from Lanka. Legend states that because Hanuman was delayed in bringing a Lingam from Kailasa, Sita Devi created one from the river sand to meet the auspicious muhurtam.^[8] To accommodate the Lingam later brought by Hanuman, a second temple was established directly across the river in Iluru. The two shrines are collectively known as Ubaya Rameswara Kshetram (the "Dual Shrines of Rameswara").^[8]

The site remains a major center for pilgrims during Maha Shivaratri and the holy month of Karthika, when devotees perform ritual dips in the Krishna River.