Biccavolu

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Biccavolu
type = village
locator_position = right
latd = 16.9500
longd = 82.0500
altitude = 12
population_total =
population_as_of =
state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = East Godavari
taluk_names = Biccavolu
area_telephone =
postal_code = 533343
autocat = no
footnotes =

Biccavolu or Bikkavolu is a village and a Mandal in East Godavari district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. [cite web
url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/
title=List of Sub-Districts
publisher=Census of India
accessdate=2007-05-18]

Geography

Bikkavolu is located at coord|16.9500|N|82.0500|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Bikkavolu.html Falling Rain Genomics.Bikkavolu] ] It has an average elevation of 12 meters (42 feet).

Biccavolu (Birudankinavolu) which contains several important temples of the Eastern Chalukya period. The village is named after the King Gunaga Vijayaditya III. The name of the village Biccavole derived from the ruler to Turupu Chalakya Vamsam during their period 849-892 BC and the rulers constructed number of important temples during their period around the Biccavole village. Out of which one of the temple, Sri Raja Rajeswari vari temple and Sri Chandrasekhara Swamyvari temple. They are very prominent with great Silpakala nypunyam.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Biccavolu had population of 19,405. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Biccavolu has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 66%.

Culture

Biccavolu is named for it's culture & legacy of monuments of sculptural wealth.

ri Golingeswara Swamy Temple

The central shrine of Golingeswara has a wealth of iconographic material, as all around it, and a beautiful Sivalingam and 33 lines sasanam on the door jambs. In the Mukhamandapam of the temple of Sri Golingeswara are preserved two exquisite masterpieces of Eastern Chalukyas sculputure. One representing Siva and Parvathi in the form known as Alingana Chandra Sekhara Murthy and the other a seated figure of Ganesh. Both these are great masterpieces, (PI.XX and XXI). The vimana top view remind us at once of similar Orissan figures and also those of Khajuraho.

ri Rajaraja Temple

There are there niches on all three sides one devoted to Ganesh (PI.XXIIIb) another to Kartikeya on Peacock (PI.XXVIIIa) and the third to Mahishamardini (PI.XXIIe) and a beautiful Sivalingam along with Rajarajeswari deity.

ri Chandrasekhara Swamy

Beautiful sculptures on the temple of four sides and Siva - styled Chandrasekhara swamy and a deity (Balathripurasundari.) The kudu is characterized by a great profusion of the makara element introduced on it than in similar ones either from the Canarese or Tamil Districts.

Monolithic Ganesh

The height of the Ganesa is 11ft, the biggest in the history of Eastern Chalukyan Sculpture attracting hundreds and thousands of devotees day by day, a tourist spot, with green fields. Till the time of Ganesh Vijaditya the single pair of arms of Ganesh continues though in his time the additional pair is also introduced. But even also on the seal of Gunaga Vijayaditya from Sataluru (PI.VIII) This seal is beautiful work. Two views of the seal of Gunaga Vijayaditya from Sataluru showing similar Ganesa on one side and Lakshmi on the other. The seal is now at Chennai Govt. Museum, Chennai.

iva Temple-I

Situated on the out skirts of the village with features similar central niches on the three sides with the makara decoration and with figures in them. One of these and a striking one is Siva dancing in the chatura pose in his Nataraja from. One such prominent feature here is the presence of Lakulisa (PI.X.VIII-C) is exactly the same from as occurs in Orissan sculptures (PI.XiXb) it should be remembered that at Mukhalingam even in the Eastern Ganga temple Lasulisa is substituted from Dakshnamurty as this figure is a favourite one. Siva styled shrine (Sivalingam) is the main attraction to the devotees.

iva Temple-II

Large plain temple in fields. In this there is an almost total absence of figure sculpture as even the niches are bare and except for the carving of the dvarapalas on the door-jambs and Lakshmi on the lintel. Still from the point of view of architecture the features are very interesting for a study of Eastern Chalukya temple structure which follows the Dravida type inspired by Southern traditions. The vimana here immediately bring to our mind the Pallava type which has been the main source of inspiration even for the Pattadakal group and the famous Rashtrakuta monument at Ellora.

Siva Temple-III

The doorway of this temple has a unique feature as it shows the two River Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna on either side. (PI.XVII). On the tiers above there are several figures representing ieconographic forms and motifs like the mithuna which are excellent material for study. The figures of Surya (PI.XXIIa) and Vishnu (PI.XXXVa) are similar to the figures on the tiers of Sri Golingeswara Swamy temple.

Festivals

* The Festival of Subramanyeswara Swamy Shashti comes every year during Margasira Sudda Shashti day (December).
* The Festival of Vinayaka Chaviti comes every year Bhadra Pada Sudda Chaviti Day (September).

Regional Settings & Transportation

Biccavolu has well set up infrastructure including Railway Station, Bus Station, Post Office, TTD Kalyana Mandapam, Government hospital, MRO Office, Police station, Fire Station, Telegraph, Telecom station, Movie Theaters, National Banks, Famous Temples, Major Rice Mills, Schools, Petrol/Gas Stations.

Close by villages include G. Mamidada, Anaparthi, BalabadraPuram, Pedapudi, Dwarapudi, Sampara, Peda Brahmadevam, Komaripalem.

Transportation

* Nearest airport is at Madhurapudi in 35 km distance. Nearest International Airport is at Hyderabad.
* Comes under South Central Railways. Samalkot (15km) is nearst Railway Junction. Anaparthi(10Km) is another Railway station Frequent trains from Hyderabad,Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur.
* Biccavolu has frequent bus service from Rajahmundry (39 km) & Kakinada (31 km) by APSRTC and has daily bus services to Hyderabad, Vijayawada & Vizag by Private transportors.

Panchayats

The following is the list of village panchayats in Biccavolu mandal.

References