kaleeswaram, karimnagar district, Badrakali temple , Hanumakonda

Sivarthri trip.


On 16 february the day of sivarathri we planned to visit 1000yrs old siva temple. We visited Kaleeswaram of Karimnagar district Ap. One of the trilinga desam, thousand pillar temple, and Badrakali temple of Hanumakonda.


We hired a sumo for our trip. We were eight of us and the cost worked out to Rs500 per head. We started from our place Sainikpuri, Secunderabad AP, at 5.30 am and returned back at 9pm.

1. Kaleswaram
   
   
   Kaleeswaram Siva temple on the bank of River Godaveri. Triveni sangamam of rivers Godaveri, Saraswathi and Pranahitha.
   
   
   We reached the temple at 11am. The distance is about 305 kms. We reached and from there via Parkal we reached Kaleeswaram. We went to dip our legs in the river, and on our way to temple to right we saw Sangameswara and Dattatreya in different temples. We proceded towards main temple.
   
   
   Sivarathri being annual celebration in the temple there was crowd, we made through by taking a ticket for special darshan.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Kaleeswara temple: We find two deites on same avudai (base). Only one of its kind. One to the left is Kaleeswara and the other to right is Swayambu linga known as Muktheeswara.
   
   
   Muktheeswara linga has two holes on it like nostrils. Any amount of water poured on linga enters through the hole and joins the River Godavari, something unique.
   
   
   The sthala purana of the temple is once Narada muni raised a doubt with Godaveri and Ganga as to who is great. They started arguing and finally Ganga said she is powerful because lord Siva is on banks of River Ganges at Varanasi to bestow moksha to people who worship there.
   
   
   Godaveri had no words to say. She wanted to prove herself competent to Ganga. She started penancing at the banks of Godaveri to be blessed by Siva. One day siva asked her what she wants. Godaveri asked Siva to reside on the banks and to bless people who worship there. Siva said yes and he said people attain moksha by touching, think or visit and worship. He formed as a Swayambu linga known as Muktheeswara.
   
   
   
   The other linga known as Kaleeswara was installed by Yamadarma. There was no work in yamalokha because of Muktheeswra. He wanted to do something about it and approached Narada muni who took him to Brahma who guided him to Siva. On hearing to his complaint Siva asked him to install a linga by name Kaleeswara next to Muktheeswara on the same base and worship. He said first pooja is to Kaleeeswara and then to Muktheeswara otherwise Yama has full rights to punish them.
   
   
   
   Goddess Parvathi is in different sanctum and there is a Srichakra yantra in front of her. There are other dieties like Vijaya ganapathi, Vishnu, Subramanya, Kasi visweswarar, Kala bairavar and Navagraha. To the front of the temple we see Yamakonam if one passes through that they will be relieved of all tortures in Yamapuri.
   
   
   We see a Saraswathi devi temple outside the main temple. She is known as Maha saraswathi.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Thousand pillar temple:
   
   
   The temple is in, Hanumakonda 6kms from Kazipet junction. It was built by Kakatiya King Rudra deva. The temple is in star shape and there are three shrines to lord Siva, Vishnu, and Surya.
   
   
   Now we see only Siva linga there and other two is not to be found. The pillars of the temple is richly carved. There is a large black Nandi placed on an open platform.
   
   
   
   
3. Badrakali temple:
   
   The temple is about a kilometer from thousand pillar temple. The temple is famous and well known. It’s a very old temple of 800 hundred years. The temple is extended without disturbing the old sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Badrakali is of stone and huge one in sitting posture with eight hands. Here we see her sitting on Sadasivan. Santha swaroopini in this place.

Temples of Mahabub nagar district

Our trip was to temples in Mahabub nagar District. All the temples which, we visited were shifted from near by villages to the present location. It’s not only the deity, but the whole structure of the temple is shifted. No words to appreciate the work done. All temples belong to Kakathiya period of 12th century. Every temple construction is of stone.

1. Madhava swamy temple:
   
   
   Location: Kollapur of Mahabub nagar district, Andhara Pradesh.
   
   
   Route: Hyderabad, Jadcherla, Nagarkarnool, Kollapur and Jataprolu is one route. The other one is Karnool, Pebair, Jataprolu, Somasilla and Kollpur. The distance is about nearly 180 kms from Hyderabad.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main deity is Lord Krishna known as Madhava perumal.
   
   
   The complete structure of the temple is shifted from near by village to Kollapur which was feared to submerge in water. When somasilla project was under taken, it was shifted to this place, 25 years back from its original place.
   
   
   We see a huge gopuram with full of sculpture and huge front door. As we enter we see a stone pillar in front of the dwajasthambam full of sculpture. There is a small sanctum for garudazwar and Mandapam with pillars is seen. Radha, Rukmani and Madhava perumal is seen in main sanctum. Beautiful sculpture is to the celing of mandapm.
   
   
   
2. Somasilla:
   
   
   Someswra swamy and his consort Goddess Lalitha.
   
   
   Distance: This place is 8kms from Kollapur.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity: Someswara swamy is surrounded by 12 jyothir lingas here.
   The complete temple is stone structure. Endowment board has taken the temples.
   If proper care is taken it can become good tourist spot.
   
   
   As we enter inside we see Veerabadharar to right. It’s a huge mandapam with pillars and we see eight jyothirlingas in different sanctum. Mahishasura mardhini sculpture is seen, they say if one keeps jaggery near the goddess and pray they are bestowed with child.
   
   
   Goddess Lalitha is outside the mandapam to the side in different sanctum. We see Srichakra of stone in front of Lalitha matha. As we go around the main sanctum we see the other 4 jyothir lingas. It’s really exiting, to have the darshan of all 12 jyothir lingas in one place.
   
   
   
   
3. Jataprolu: Madhana Gopala swamy.
   
   
   Distance: This place is about 6kms from Somasilla.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main deity: Venu madhavar along with Radha and Rukmani about 5’ height.
   The place is where Jatayu fought with Ravana while he kidnapped Sita.
   
   
   This temple is also, shifted from its original place. We see medium size gopuram. As we enter, we see Dwjasthambam and big mandapam with pillars beautifully sculptured. Since the whole structure is stone its cool inside.
   
   
   
   We cross two level of mandapam to main sanctum and the deity is Venugopala swamy with Radha and Rukmani. The temple has entrance to four sides and we see pyol to three sides. We see Andal in separate sanctum.
   
   
   
   
4. We see about 20 separate sanctums of Lord Siva which are shifted from neighbouring villages near Madhavaperumal temple.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   All the temples are to endowement board. They are kept in a vast area which can be maintined in a better way to attract public. It’s to the other side of the road and we have an entrance arch built. We see a tomb sort of thing on which we get the names list of temple deities present in the place.
   
   
   The main temple is Agneeswarar. The deities and the temple are in good condition. The real fact is no one to perform daily pooja to god which hurts us.
   
   
   
   The other deities seen here are Veerabadhreswara swamy, Ramalingeswara swamy, Rajajeswara swamy, Chaturvedaeswara swamy, shambulinga swamy, Visweswara swamy, Bheemaseswara swamy, kaleeswara swamy, Anantha padmanabha Swamy, Gangadhareswara swamy, Bairavar, Sambasiva swamy, Maleswara swamy, Uma maheswara swamy, Madhana gopala swamy, Mallikarjuna swamy, Venugopala swamy, Jateswara swamy and Madhavaperumal.
   

Someswara swamy temple Kolanupaka, Jain mandir

1. Kulipaka Someswara Swamy temple:
   
   
   The place is now known as Kolusupaka. the temple is Veera saiva Kshetram in Aleru mandal, Nalgonda District, AP. Its about 80 kms from Hyderabad city. 6kms from Aleru.
   
   
   
   The temple is very old one and there are stone inscriptions of kings who have donated lands, cow, gold etc, to the temple during the period 1070-1126 for maintanance and nithya pooja. Chalukya architecture decorates the structure of the temple.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The main deity is Swayambu linga known as Someswara lingam and his consort goddess sakthi matha chandikamba. The temple is taken care by Veera saiva dharma samsthapanam. Veera Saiva lingodhbawa moorthy is seen at the back of Someswara swamy inside the main sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Moon worshipped Siva of this place to get rid of his curse by Guru. Naradha, Rama, Agyasthaya muni, and others have worshipped siva of this place. We see many idols in the temple as a proof.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The temple is full of carved stones and pillars with stone carvings in three segments. First we see a Maha Dwaram with Kakathiya style.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see Ganesha near the entrance to one side and a Nandi in lower level to the ground. As we enter there is Dwajasthambam with nandi at the top. Hanuman is there to the front of dwajasthamba. Ganapathy and subramanya swamy is seen to either side near Hanuman.
   
   
   
   
   
   From the main entrance to the second segment we have a big corridor on either sides with full of beautiful sculptures of all gods and goddess on a platform which catch your eyes.
   
   
   
   There is a Linga here known as Nayalinga, where villagers settle their disputes by touching the linga and solve their problems.
   
   
   
   Near the door to the second segment on either side we seeVeerabadhra and Subramannya swamy. Here we see Linga and a big Nandi known as Bavishya nandi.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Now we enter into the third segment which is a big hall known as Navaranga mandapam and the main garbhagraham of Swayambu Someswara swamy in the form of lingam, and at the back, we see Sri Jagadhguru Renukacharya lingothbava moorthy.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   In the Navaranga mandapam we see a big Siva lingam with panchalokha trimoorthy with kavacham and a big nandi in front.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Goddess chandikamba sannidhi is attached to main Someswara swamy. To the side of the temple we see Kotilingam and nandi in front of him.
   
   
   
2. Veera narayana swamy temple:
   
   
   This temple is also situated in the same place Kolunapaka, near Someswara swamy temple. This temple is also very old one. Chalukyan style is reflated on this temple built around 1104 AD.
   
   
   
   Inside the premises we see Mahalakshmi and Sita Ramar in different sanctum. At the back of the temple there is a Shiridi baba temple.
   
   
   
3. Jain mandir: Sri Swetharambar jain tirth mandir.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Location: Kolanapakka, Nalgonda District, Andhra pradesh.
   This temple is about a kilometer away from someswara swamy temple.
   
   
   
   In the jain mandir beautiful images of Thirthankaras are seen. The impressive image of Mahaveera is carved entirely out of precious jade.
   
   
   
   They say the temple is as old as 2000 years, and it was last renovated some 100 years back when it was discovered. Now the renovation work is going on for the past 20 years.
   
   
   
   The temple is of marble stones and pillars.The complete temple is with beautiful carvings to the side’s pillars and roof. There is a huge bell at the entrance of the temple.

Gyana Saraswathi temple, Basar.

1. Gyana Saraswathy temple:
   
   
   The temple is in Basar town of Nizamabad district in Andhra Pradesh. It is about 250kms from Hyderabad. The town is well connected by bus and rail. Choultry is available.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The main deity is known as Gyana Saraswathi. Its of mud, installed and worshipped by Vedavyasar. The temple is situated on the banks of River Godavari.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see a separate temple for Vedavyasar to the side of main entrance on the main road. The temple has a beautiful park around well maintained.
   
   
   The temple is famous for Akshrabyasa ceremony for little kids. Within the main sanctum we find Goddess Lakshmi also to the side of Goddess Saraswathi, and utsava vigraham.
   
   
   Sthala vruksham is Meda tree. Dhathathreya is seen under the tree. Annadhanam scheme is there in the temple.
   
   
   We see maha kali temple on the first floor of the praharam.
   
   
   
   
   
   A little distance away from the temple we can reach the bathing ghats of River Godavari

[GyanaSaraswathi]

Lakshmi Narashima swamy temple, Nacharam Gutta, Medak District. AP.

Lakshmi Narashima Swamy Temple:


I am glad to share my visit to Lakshmi Narashima Swamy temple, at Nacharam gutta, Medak district, Andhra pradesh. The place is about 50 kms from Hyderabad. the temple is 600 years old. Its a cave temple, on a small hillock.


Inside the sanctum, we see Swayambu Narashima swamy and Lakshmi thayar carved to the rock. there are some more pooja idols inside the sanctum. Purana says Naradha penenced here.


The place is known as Nacharam gutta in rememberence of a baktha by name Nacharam.






As we go round the temple to left side we climb few steps and have darshan of Soorya narayanar who is facing east. we have a pradakshan of pepal tree and pass through two rocks to see a Shiridi sai baba mandir. At the back of him Dattatreya is seen.


We climb down few steps to Visit Lord Siva in linga form in a seperate sanctum. Sri Sathyanarayana Swamy idol of marble, in different sanctum, Sita Ramar sanctum, Navagraha in small room. we have to get down few steps to have the darshan of Bairavar in seperate sanctum.


[Narashimaswamy]