Ryali

Ryali is a quiet village in the green delta between the Vasishta and Gautami branches of the Godavari. People come for the Sri Jaganmohini Kesava Swamy temple. Its main idol is carved from a single black saligrama stone, about 5 feet tall. From the front you see Vishnu as Kesava, with four arms. From behind, the same stone shows Mohini, the form Vishnu took to share out the nectar of immortality. Water flows constantly from the deity’s feet, and devotees take it as the Ganga.

Temple tradition says Vikrama Deva, a king of the Chola period, found the buried idol here in the 11th century after a dream, and built a small temple over it. The temple was renovated in 1936. The stone also carries the ten avatars, Garuda, Narada and Krishna lifting Govardhana. The village name is said to come from the Telugu word for ‘fall’, after a flower that dropped from Mohini’s hair. The Uma Kamandaleswara Swamy (Shiva) temple stands facing it.