Jogulamba Temple, Alampur, AP

Alampur

Alampur is about 200 kms from Hyderabad on the banks of River Tungabadra in Mahaboob Nagar district of Andhra Pradesh. River Krishna and Tungabadra confluence here and the place Alampur is known as Sangama Kshetram and it is also referred to as Dakshina Kailsam.

View of temple towers of Nava Brahma,from River bund.

The temple dates back to 6th   Century. We see 9 temples here in Alampur, known as Nava Brahma dedicated to Lord Siva, built by Badami Chalukyas. The Nava Brahma temples are Taraka Brahma, Swarga Brahma, Padma Brahma, Bala Brahma, Garuda Brahma, and Arka Brahma, kumara Brahma, Veera Brahma and Viswa Brahma.

We travel towards Karnool from Hyderabad to reach Alampur. We take a left turn when it is about 15 kms to reach Karnool. We have a sign board on the highway.  

As we travel ahead we see an arch welcoming us to Jogulamba temple. From there we may have to travel about 12 kms to reach the temple in Alampur town.

Bala Brahma Temple is the place, where we enter first.  As we enter inside we see a huge Nandi and two set of padams which is supposed to be of Lord Siva and Sakthi. Then we enter into a mandapam where we see idols of Narashimar, Lord Siva and others.

There is a sanctum for Ganesha and next to it there was a small sanctum with a light. They it was the place where Goddess was kept. 

We see Navagraha’s which are different from the usual type of idols in other temples. 

We enter into Artha mandapam, from where we can see Lord Siva in Linga form in the main Garbha graham.  Here they say the water poured on Siva Lingam as Abishekam does not flow out anywhere. With special ticket of Rs300/ for Abishekam, devotees are permitted inside the main sanctum to perform abishekam.

We see two small idols in sitting posture outside the main Garbha graham which are called as Chandi and Mundi. These two idols were originally kept to either sides of Jogulamba. As we go around the temple sanctum we see many idols.

We see south Indian style of temple tower for Jogulamba Temple. The temple was reconstructed in the year 2005. As per Mythology this is one of the Sakthi peetam, where “Oordhava Danta Pankthi” (Upper jaw with tooth) of Sati Devi fell here in this place.

In the year 1930 the temple was demolished by Muslim invaders. The main idol and consorts were damaged by them. Disfigured idols of Jogulamba and other Deities were, protected and repaired by devotees who placed them in Bala Brahma temple.

Goddess Jogulamba is seen in sitting posture. She is also known as Gruha Chandi.When Aarthy is given one can see Bat, Lizard, Scorpion and skull adorned in her hair.

As per legand  Maharishi Jamadagni lived with his wife Renuka Devi and his sons worshiping Bala Brahma Swamy. Renuka matha used to make a pot of mud daily and used to fetch water for pooja purpose. One day she saw a Gandravas bathing in River with their wives. She was disturbed by them and was not able to make a pot on that day, she returned home empty handed. When Jamadagni Muni came to know about what has happened, in his anger he asked his son to remove her head. His sons were not ready to do the act and he cursed them. Parasurama his youngest son agreed to do and he cut the head of his Mother. Muni was pleased with his son and offered him boon. He prayed his father to give life to his Brothers and Mother in return for the boon. Life was given to them.

Legend says that head of Renuka Matha became Ekaveera Devi symbol of Maya Roopa and the headless body became Boodevi Synmbol of Matru roopam.

Veera Brahma temple

We see Chakkram carved to the inner celing of the artha mandapam in Veera brahma Temple.

Veera Brahma sculpture carved to the inner celing of the artha mandapam.

Sri Viswa Brahma Temple.

Sri Viswa Brahma Sculpture carved to the inner celing of temple.

Chakkram, is seen to inner celing of Viswa Brahma Temple.

Nandi, seen in front of Sri Viswa Brahma Temple.

Naga Devata, sculpture seen in Arkka Brahma Temple.

Sri Malleswara swamy Temple, Vijayawada, AP.

Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple:



The temple is situated on a hillock know as Indrakeeladri, on the banks of River Krishna at Vijayawada.






Main shrine here is Sri Kanaka Durga. This is one of the 51 Sakthi peetam. Other deities seen in the premises are Lord SriGanapathy, Lord Sri Nataraja and Sivakami ammai.. We have to walk little further to have darshan of Lord Malleswara from Sri Kanaka Durga shrine. On our way out from the temple, to north side we see few steps that lead us to Lord Subramanya shrine. In front of the shrine we see lot of Nagar idols installed.




Purana says once a Yaksha by name, Keela penance about Goddess Durga, who was pleased with him, and she told she would fulfill his desire. Keela requested her to be in his heart always. She asked him to stay back in this place near River Krishna as a hillock, and one day she will reside on this hillock as Durga.



InKritha yugam, Goddess Durga, after her fight with Mahisha suran, stayed back on this mountain Keela as Mahishasura Mardhini and fulfilled his wishes. Indra worshiped Goddess here, as Kanaka Durga so the hillock, is known as Indra Keeladri from then.



Brahma performed Sata Aswameda Yaga with devotion, by which Lord Siva was pleased and rested on this hillock as Jyothir Linga. Brahma worshiped Lord Siva with Jasmine flowers, so he is known as Mallikeswarar.


Purana says in Dwapara Yugam, Arjuna penanced about Lord Siva to obtain Pasupadastram, which is a powerul weapon. Lord Siva disguised himself as kiratha and fought with Arjuna to test his valour before, blessing him with Pasupadastra. Hence the place is also known as Phalguna Teertha.

His Holiness Sri Jagadguru Adi Sankarar visited the temple. He has installed Sri Chakkram at the feet of Goddess.


The temple was managed by Mogalaya Ruler Taanisha with the assistance of his ministers Akkanna and Madhanna.

Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy Temple, Mangalagiri, Guntur, AP

1. Mangalagiri:
   
   This place is one of Pancha Narashima Kshetram.
   
   
   
   Mangalagiri is in existence from the beginning of all Four Yuga. It was known as Anjanadri in Krutha Yugam, Totadri in Tretha Yugam, Mukthadri in Dwapara Yugam and Mangalagiri in Kali Yugam.
   
   
   
   
   Sri Narashima Swamy destroyed the demon known as Namuchi in Kritha Yugam. He stayed back as Swayambu Moorthy in this place. Devas were unable to with stand Lord’s Ugra Swaroopam, and they tried to cool him by offering Amrutham in Krutha yugam, in Tretha yugam he was offered Cow’s Ghee, in Dwapara yugam he was offered Cow’s Milk and in Kaliyugam he is offered Panakam.
   
   
   
   Anjaneyar is Kshetra palakar in this place.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see an arch near the entrance of road leading to Panakala Narashima Swamy temple on hill top.
   
   
   
   
   The hill looks like an elephant. Prince Harsva srungi visited all holy places and came to Mangalagiri and stayed back doing penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. One day when his father visited this holy place, to take his son back to kingdom Harsva srungi took the shape of an Elephant to become the abode of Lord Vishnu, who is known as Panakala Narashima Swamy. This is the legend about the hill of this place.
   
   
   
   To reach the top of hill we have steps as well as road. We reach the Panakala Narashima swamy temple, mid way to the hill top. There are many shops selling pooja items.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see Dwajasthambam.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We enter into a sanctum where to the left we have darshan of Sri Hanuman and we proceed further in a line to have darshan of Sri Panakala Narashima swamy.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see a cut in the rock to which the face of Narashima Swamy kavacham with wide opened mouth is kept. This is the place where Panakam (Panakam is made of Water and Jaggery) is offered to God.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We climb few steps to see Hanuman sculpture to the wall.
   
   
   
   Further few steps lead us to Thayar Sannidhi, which is behind Sri Narashimar sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a small cave outside next to Sri Lakshmi temple,which is believed to lead to Vundavalli caves on the bank of River Krishna. The Sages used to use that way to have their bath in River Krishna.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Sri Lakshmi Narashima swamy temple view from top of the hill
   
   
   
   
2. Lakshmi Narashima Swamy temple:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The main Raja Gopuram of nine tiers facing east. .
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   As we enter in we see Dwajasthambam in front of the main mandapam of Lakshmi Narashimar temple.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   When we go around the temple we see Sanctum for Sri Rama to the left. West gopuram is un finished. We see Rajalakshmi Thayar Sannidhi to right side of main Sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We climb few steps to enter inside the main mandapam where we see Garudazhwar sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This is the main sanctum door of Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy Temple.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Tanjavoore painting of Sri Lakshmi Narashimar and Sri Rajayalakshmi Thayar is seen on mandapam wall inside.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Charriot of Sri Lakshmi Narashimar Swamy Temple.