Melacheruvu Siva temple and Wadapalli Agyastheeswarar temple.

Melacheruvu Someswara swamy, wadapalli Agasteeswara swamy and Chejerla Kapodeeswara Swamy, all three temples sthala puranam seems to be the same.
They say the three kshetras are a group.


Sthala puranam: A hunter aimed at a dove which took shelter in to the temple of shiva.So, when the hunter asked for the dove Siva refused and in turn he asked him to take his flesh. There was no choice for the hunter and he removed flesh from the top of Shiva lingam. The cut we see on the top of Shiva lingams relates itself to the sthala puranam.


We visited Melacheruvu and Wadapalli on the same day. Chejerla, Kapotheeswara swamy temple, of Guntur District, we visited some 20 years back, so I hardly remember about the temple. I wish I will be able to visit the place some time.

1. Melacheruvu:
   
   Someswara Swamy and Ishta Kameswari Ambal.
   
   
   The temple dates back to some 6000 years.The present structure of the temple is of 600 years old. The temple is small one with place left around.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   LOrd Siva in the form of Lingam, it is known as swayambu lingeswara Swamy of Kakathiya Dynasty. According to purana the Siva lingam was installed by Agastaya muni.
   As we enter we find a huge Dwajasthambam. Kala bairawar near the dwajasthambam is seen. Nandi is a huge one near the dwajasthambam opposite to Main deity Someswara lingam.
   
   
   
   Archakar say, the main lingam is growing. It is also interesting to find that every foot (0.3m) of growth there forms a round line on Siva Linga We find a small hole on top of the main lingam, where water is there always and it does not overflow. Poojari sprinkles the water from there on devotees.
   
   
   
   They say once they tried to find how deep the hole is and where the water comes from. They were not able to find out and when they removed the thread which they used to find the depth was with blood to the tip. They believe it is Ganga water on the Siva lingam and that is given as teertha prasadam.
   
   
   
   We see Goddess Ishta kameswari in different santum with separate dwajasthambam.
   Something unique about the goddess is we see Siva linga in her hand. Navagrahas are installed at little distance in separate sanctum.
   
   
   The place is a small town and there are not much of facilities available and the temple is opened in the morning. We were lucky enough to get the darshan of lord Siva.
   
   
   This temple is about 10 Kms from Mattapalli, Narashima Kshetram and that was how we
   visited. I have mentioned abort the route in my visit to pancha Narashima kshetram.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Wadapalli:
   
   
   Agastheeswara Swamy Swamy and Meenakashi Ambal.
   
   
   
   The temple is near Lakshmi Narashima Swamy temple of wadapalli. The location and route is mentioned in my visit to pancha Narashima kshetram.
   The temple premise is big but sanctum is small one.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We have darshan of dwajasthambam and nandi. We see Ganesha and Subramanya to either side of the main sanctum. Inside we have the darshan of Lord Siva in the form of huge lingam. We can find the opening on the top of Shiva lingam, where we see it’s full of water. It appears as opened mouth. Even here teertha prasadam and water is sprinkled on devotees from the water taken from the Siva lingam.
   
   
   
   Goddess Meenakshi is seen in separate room close to main deity Lord Siva. We see Agyasthaya muni and Lopamudra sculpture in the sanctum.
   
   
   The temple is as old as 6000 years, and the present structure is 600 years old.
   The temple is on the bank of Krishnaveni River.
   
   
   The atmosphere is very peaceful and green. We have darshan of Navagrahas in a separate sanctum away from the main temple.
   
   
   
   
3. Chejerla:
   
   
   This temple is in Guntur district. Main deity here is Lord Siva in Lingam form known as Kapotheeswar.

[Agastheeswarar][Someswarar][Agasthiyar][LordSiva]

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.