How the place got its name
The temple is associated with puranic and historic facts. According to a legend, there was a rishi (sage) named Bhadra, son of Meru, an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, who was promised moksha by Him. Bhadra Maharishi did intense penance until Tretha yuga was over and Lord Rama, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was back to his original avatar. Pleased by Bhadra's devotion, He appeared in the form of Lord Rama (as per Bhadra's wishes) and granted him moksha. This explains the unique form of the deity at Bhadrachalam. The hillock on which Bhadra Maharishi did penance and attained moksha, is called Bhadragiri / Bhadrachalam after the rishi. Another legend associated with the place is that Lord Rama once appeared in the dream of a woman called Pokala Sammakka and informed her about the existence of idols on the Bhadragiri hills. To the astonishment of the woman, the idols were found on the hill, where she got a modest structure built.

RAMADAS

Later in the 17 century, Gopanna, commonly known as Ramadas (devotee of Rama), a Tahsildar (town administrator) in the court of Abdul Hassan Tana Shah, spent the tax revenues to embellish the temple and the idols. Being a fervent devotee of Lord Rama, he used the tax collection to renovate the temple, instead of remitting it to the royal treasury. As a punishment for misusing the government funds, he was arrested and confined in a dark cell in the Golconda Fort, which can be seen even today. Even in the solitude of the cell, Gopanna's belief and devotion in Lord Rama were undeterred. His prayers were soon answered when Lord Rama himself appeared in Tana Shah's dream and produced a receipt denoting payment of the amount back to the king. The king was awestruck by the miracle and released Gopanna from the prison and reinstated him as Tahsildar. Tana Shah also announced annual grants to the temple. Even to this day, some of the jewels like 'Kalikiturai', 'Pachchala Pathakam', 'Chinthaku Pathakam' presented to the deities by Gopanna can be seen at the temple.

The place is associated with Rama in more than one way. He spent a part of the 14 years of his "Aranya vasam" (exile) accompanied by his spouse, Sita and his brother, Laxmana. A few kilometers away from the temple is the Ushnagundam. It is said that Lakshmana had brought hot water from here for Sita to bathe. About 35 km away from Bhadrachalam is the Parnashala, believed to be the hut where Rama, Sita and Lakshamana lived during their exile in the forest and where Sita was abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana.

The temple at Bhadrachalam is at its festive best during the Sreeramanavami celebrations. The deities are richly ornamented. Keerthanas of Bhakta Ramadas are heard everywhere and the day is marked by religious fervor. For the devotees, special arrangements are made at the A.P. Tourism's "Parnashala" and "Panchavati" - guest houses and Dharmashalas of Endowment department.