KasiReddy Nayana Temple & Ashramam

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• Ashram
• Open 24 hoursEvery day
• Under 1 kmfrom Anantapur, Bukkaraya Samudram center
• Wheelchair accessseating
• Parking
• Restroom
• 5.0 / 51 reviews
• Anantapur, Bukkaraya Samudram

The Saint Behind the Ashram

Samartha Sadhguru Sri Kasinayana (1921–1995), often called Kasireddy Nayana, was born in Bedusupally village in what is now Nellore district to a couple named Kasimma and Subba Reddy. As a young boy he fell under the spell of his guru Athiracha Guruvaiah Swamy and set out on a life of wandering that carried him from Kasi (Varanasi) all the way to Kanyakumari. Along the way he is credited with reviving and renovating ancient temples and samadhi shrines across Andhra Pradesh.↗

Perhaps his most enduring legacy was the introduction of Nitya Annadanam — a daily free food service open to everyone regardless of caste, colour, or religion. In a region where religious and social divisions ran deep, Nayana's insistence on universal hospitality made him a figure of remarkable popular devotion. He attained samadhi on 6 December 1995, falling on Dattajayanthi, at Jyothi Kshetram in Kadapa district. Hundreds of ashrams and temples bearing his name now dot Andhra Pradesh, and the Cheruvu Katta site in Anantapur is among them.↗

What to Expect at the Ashram

The ashram sits at Cheruvu Katta, a small settlement along the Bukkaraya Samudram road just west of Anantapur town. It is a modest, functional prayer space rather than an architectural monument — a place where the community gathers to light lamps, offer prayers at the samadhi shrine of the saint, and share prasad. Visitors describe a peaceful, unhurried atmosphere. Entry is free, and the grounds are open around the clock, so you can drop in at dawn before the town stirs or in the cool evening after the heat has eased.↗↗

On festival days — especially the annual aradhana held on Dattajayanthi in early December — the ashram fills with devotees from surrounding villages and mandals. Traditional offerings include jonna rottelu (sorghum flatbreads), which Kasinayana is said to have loved. A jyoti (sacred flame) is lit at midnight and carried in procession, symbolising the Jnana Jyoti — the light of knowledge — that devotees gather to witness. The mood is celebratory yet reverent, with crowds that can number in the hundreds.↗

Practical Information

The ashram is open 24 hours every day of the week, so there is no fixed darshan schedule. Free parking is available on-site, and the premises include wheelchair-accessible entrance and seating. Google Pay is accepted for donations. A restroom is on the grounds.↗

Bukkaraya Samudram mandal lies about 8 km west of Anantapur city centre along the road toward Singanamala and the broader Rayalaseema region. Auto-rickshaws and local buses connect Anantapur town with the Cheruvu Katta area. The nearest railway station is Anantapur Junction.↗↗

There is no official website; the ashram is managed by a local volunteer committee. For inquiries about festival dates or group visits, the contact number listed on Maps (+91 99893 34063) can be used.

Visiting Tips

If you want to experience the ashram at its most lively, plan your trip around early December for the Nayana Aradhana celebrations. Otherwise, a quiet morning or evening visit lets you absorb the calm, watch the small rituals of lamp-lighting and flower offerings, and observe how the saint's legacy lives on in everyday devotion.↗

Dress modestly and remove footwear before entering the prayer hall. Photography of the main shrine area is generally not encouraged — check for signage or ask a volunteer. The community meal tradition continues at many Kasi Nayana sites, so if you visit around noon you may be invited to join an annadanam spread.