COCANADA TALUK.
Cocanada lies on the coast north of the Gódávari, and all but the northern portion of it is included within the delta of that river. Over 86 per cent, of the soil is consequently alluvial, and most of it is irrigated. Statistics regarding these and other points will be found in the separate Appendix. The taluk is one of the most densely populated in the district and the average revenue payable on each holding is over Rs. 40, or higher than in any other.
Most of the taluk belongs to Pithápuram zamindari. It is well supplied with means of communication. The Madras Railway crosses the north of it, and a branch runs through the heart of it to its head-quarters, the busy sea-port of Cocanada. This town and the old port of Coringa are connected with the interior by good waterways. Roads are plentiful and, on the whole, good. Trade is consequently large, and many important firms are located at Cocanada, but industries are few. Rice-milling at Cocanada and sugar-refining at Samalkot are the only considerable undertakings, and the indigenous industries are of an elementary kind. Coarse weaving goes on at several places; chintzes are largely stamped at Gollapálaiyam, Cocanada and Samalkot; and metal vessels are made at Cocanada, Gollamámidáda and Peddáda. The taluk contains several temples of no small local reputation. These are referred to below.
Bhímavaram is now a portion of Samalkot, but it has a character of its own. The full name of the place as given in inscriptions is Chálukya Bhímavaram. Under the Mughals it appears to have been called Mrúthyujánagar.*[1] The Bhímésvara temple is locally famous both for its architectural beauty and for its sanctity. It possesses a huge lingam which is said to be similar to those in Drákshárámam (in the Rámachandrapuram taluk), Amarávati (or Amará-ráma) in the Guntúr district, Pálakollu (also called Kshíra-ráma) in the Kistna district and 'Kumará-ráma a place not identified. The story goes that the god Subrahmanya killed a demon named Tárakásura who was wearing a huge lingam round his neck, and that this was broken into five pieces, one of which fell at each of these villages. The place is sacred on this account, and a bath in the Bhímagundum tank in front of the temple is believed to confer holiness.
- ↑ * Mackenzie MSS., Local Records, i, pp. 496-98,
