Karnool Temples

Sri Sailam

It is located in the forests of the Nallamalai hills, on the Rishabhagiri hill of Kurnool district.
Deity: Lord Shiva as Srisailam. The temple here is known as Mallikarjuna, which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.



Legend: A reference to Srisailam is found in the Mahabharata in the Vanaparva which states that the Lord Siva abides with his consort Parvati on Srisailam. Brahma also stays here with other Gods. A bath in the sacred lake has the same value as the performance of an Asvamedha sacrifice. The pilgrim benefit and his entire race are freed from sins. The Lingapurana also refers to the Jyotirlinga here. The goddess here is known as Brahmaramba. The place is one of the eight main sthans of Lord Siva and is a Shakti peetha of the Goddess.

Sri Adi Sankara stayed here and composed the beautiful verses in praise of Mallikarjuna swamy in Sivanandalahari. The Sthalamahatmyam of the temple has an interesting story, of the origin of the temple. A princess Chandravati, the daughter of Chandragupta offered a garland of jasmine flowers to Srisailam and eventually married him. This legend is written on one of the stone records of the 16th century in this temple.

Among the bas-reliefs on the outer side of the courtyard, there are two panels, which illustrate this legend on stone. There is another legend concerning the origin of this temple. The tribal say the Chenchus lived in these hills. Once Lord Siva came to Srisailam on a hunt and fell in love with a beautiful Chenchu woman. He married her, she accompanied him in his hunting expeditions to the neighboring forests. Hence he is also known as Chenchu Malliah. This story is corroborated by beautiful bas-relief, on the prakara of the temple - showing a tiger being killed by Lord Siva with his trident. He is followed by Parvati dressed as a forest woman with a quiver full of arrows and four dogs. Chenchus are allowed admission into any part of the temple even today. The garbha griha enshrines a linga. The tribal people drag the car - rath during the festival of the temple and perform minor services within the temple.

During the great Mahashivratri festival, thousands bathe in the waters of the Pathalaganga and worship Lord Mallikarjuna, the Chenchus also perform worship from inside the garbha griha without the priests. Everyone is allowed to perform abhishek - they have to be just Hindus with the waters of Pathalaganga or offer flowers directly. The Buddhist pilgrims, Fahiyan and Hieun Tsang have made references to the Sriparvata hill.

Festivals: The main festivals period lasts from February to May, during this period, the temple comes under Pushpagiri Math of Cuddapah district, while otherwise the management is taken care of by the Jangam priest who is assisted by local Chenchus. The Chenchus take the leading part in the festivities both before and after Sivarathri. Goddess Bhramaramba`s festival comes a month or two after Sivarathri.

Architecture: The temple stands in a little hollow on top of Srisailam hill overlooking river Krishna and is surrounded by forests. On the eastern side there is a causeway from Nagaluti down the hill, to the bed of the river, which is here known as Pathalaganga. The river is two miles from the temple, with a flight of stone steps leading to it. An inscription inside the temple records these steps were built by a Reddi king from the Kondaveedu Reddi dynasty.

The enclosure of the temple forms a rough square measuring 500 feet from east to west and 600 feet from north to south. On the north, south and east sides there are lofty gateways. The center of the outer enclosure stands a stone enclosure with the main temple. The main temple of Lord Mallikarjuna stands in the center of this inner courtyard and is surrounded by a number of minor shrines. The temple of Bhramaramba or the Amman temple as it is popularly known is in a separate enclosure to the west of the inner courtyard.

The main temple is a little structure of a single cell enshrining the Lord in the form of a linga with a small-pillared porch to the front. The main temple of Mallikarjuna is a stone-built structure, and up front is the exquisitely carved Mukhamantapa. It contains several beautifully sculptured stone pillars and ornamental stone eaves. The most valuable object in the temple is a beautifully carved bronze image of Lord Siva as Nataraja. Between the Mallikarjuna temple and the eastern gateway two pillared halls, one contains the Nandi. On the northern side under the tree - Vata vriksha is another shrine dedicated to Mallikarjuna. Local legends say this contains the original linga where the black cow of the princess Chandravati gave its milk.

On the northern side of the pillared Mukhamantapa, is a small Siva temple containing a carved linga known as Sahasra Linga. This is famous for having twenty-five facets, each representing forty lingas thus making a total of 1000 lingas. The three-headed Naga is wrapped around the linga, which is mounted on a stone pedestal. Over the main shrine there used to be a stepped tower, the door frames, eaves of the pillared hall, and figure of bulls were all said to be engraved in copper gilt plates and covered in ornaments.

This temple is famous for its bas-relief work on the outer courtyard walls particularly the south and east walls. The scenes and figures are numerous and different. They act as a museum and a library of the past. All the forms of Siva can be seen here and the legends connected with them in great detail. Srisailam is also a principal seat of Veerasaiva sect. These people wore Sivalingas openly and would defend it with their lives. This was in open defiance of the Jains who persecuted them, and hence these lingas came to be called Pranalingas. The temple dates back to Mahabharata. Even the Puranas declare this the place where Vrishabha or the sacred bull of Siva performed penance to please him.


Alampur Navbrahma Temples, Kurnool , Andhra Pradesh

Location: Situated on the confluence of Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers in Kurnool. Alampur has a number of sacred shrines including Sangameswara and the Nava Brahma temples.



Architecture: The main temple is a cluster of shrines dedicated to the Nava Brahmas. It is situated inside a fortress and resembles the Papanatha temple at Pattadakal. The sikharas are curvilinear and decorated with amalakas - decoration at angles that creates a beautiful effect, blending naturally with masonry for the tower. The temples have a striking resemblance to the temples of Orissa but not on the inside. The inside is similar to the rock-cut temples of western India. There are nine temples in this complex.

Alampur Navbrahma TemplesThe shrines are square with a passage for pradakshina around them. The interiors imitate the rock-cut temples. Carvings on the pillars are identical to the cave temples. The main entrance of the Brahma temple is to the north and has excellent sculptures carved. The panels facing the temple have gods and lingas carved on it. The towers show a northern influence. The shrines show very little of Dravidian architecture. But the sculptures remind one of Gupta art.


Ahobala Narasimha Temple

Location: Ahoblam near Kurnool
Deity: Lord Narasimha It is a place of great antiquity. As the nine shrines are situated within a radius of five kosa or 10 miles, this Tirtham is also known as Panchakosa Tirtham.



This complex has nine temples enshrining the nine images of Narasimha. At the foothill there is the temple of Prahladavarada Narasimha. This temple lies in the center of three prakarams, and is built in the Vijayanagar style. Some distance away is the temple of Alwar Koneru, that supplies good drinking water. About a mile and a half from the temple is the Chatravata Narasimha. Thorny bushes surround the deity and the image is installed under a peepal tree. From the foot of the hill one has to climb to reach Upper Ahobalam. The lower Ahobalam temple is built in the Vijayanagar style and on the way up you keep encountering more shrines. The uppermost temple is the Pranava Narasimha shrine. The path uphill is about six miles through virgin hills and forests. Here you will also find the Karanda Narasimha and Yogananda Narasimha temple.

After destroying Hiranyakasipu, Narasimha taught Prahlad several yoga postures and this position is called Yogananda Narasimha. At this spot the Gobhila and Bharadwaja rishis did penance to rid themselves of the sins they had committed. The temple has a magnificent mantapa and gopura. Very close to the shrine of Guha Narasimha is a huge pillar.

The upper Ahobalam is a plateau at 2,800 above sea level. The two crests of the hill are called Vedadri and Garudadri through which the sacred river Bhavanasani Tirtham flows. The Tirtham divides the two Kumadavati and Pennar rivers and then joins them. The Tirtham is said to be antarvahini - a river that flows underground for a large part of its course. On the southern slope of the hill the Lord is seen as the fierce Ugra Narasimha. According to the Puranas this is the same pillar that was kicked by Hiranyakasipu asking his son if Lord Vishnu existed in this pillar and it was from here that Ugra Narasimha emerged to kill him. Close to this shrine is the shrine of Kroda Narasimha, where he is worshipped as a boar.

It is stated that if narayana satakshari japa and parayana of Varahakanda (prayers) are recited here for three days, it bestows immense benefit to the devotee. Two miles ahead is the shrine of Malola Narasimha. The deity here is called Santaroopa and is seen with Lakshmi. The Kakatiya king Prataparudra donated the utsava vigraha made of gold to this temple. Further up is the shrine of Jwala Narasimha, where Ugrakala can be seen. This is exact spot where Narasimha is said to have torn Hiranyakasipu apart.

Close by Pavana Narasimha is worshipped as Shakta. Thus the Nava Narasimha -
1. Prahlada - Varada Narasimha or Lakshmi Narasimha
2.Chatravata Narasimha
3. Karanda Narasimha
4. Yogananda Narasimha
5. Guha Narasimha
6. Kroda Narasimha
7. Malola Narasimha
8. Jwala Narasimha
9. Pavana Narasimha is worshipped here.

The lord in upper Ahobalam is said to be Swayambu or self-manifested.
Legend: There are two legends associated with Ahobalam. The gods while witnessing the work of Ugrakala sang his praise and hence the name Ahobalam. The other version is that because of the presence of the cave Ahobila, where Garuda worshipped it came to be called Ahobila.

The Chenchu tribe are associated with Srisailam as well as Ahobalam. According to legend Lord Narayana was born as Narasimh avatar, Goddess Lakshmi was born in the Chenchu tribe, and both lived here happily. He refused to go back to Vaikuntam and this love is the theme for many Chenchu folk songs. There are other shrines here including Raktakundam. Lord Narasimha is said to have washed his hands here after killing Hiranyakashyapu and hence the water has a reddish appearance. There is a shrine of Lanja- koneru two miles to the north east en route to Bhargava.

The Ramatirtham is the sacred tank and is five miles from lower Ahobalam. The temple is very old. Vikramaditya (1076-1106 A.D.) is said to have worshipped the Moola Vigraha of this temple. Prataparudra Deva, last of the Kakatiya kings, installed the utsavavigraha of this temple. He halted at Rudravaram, 16 miles from Ahobalam and the idol was cast, and the poem Prataparudriyam was composed to commemorate it.

King Krishandevaraya visited this shrine after the conquest of Kalinga and offered a diamond necklace, wristlet, a gold plate and thousand pieces of gold to the deity. The Upanishads state that Narasimhavatara is suited for worship for it`s anger. According to the Pancharatratstavam of Vaishnavism, the four faces of Lord Vishnu are said to be the four Vyuhas - Vasudeva, Sankarshana (Lion), Pradyumna (Boar) and Aniruddha. Thus the Narasimha type of manifestation is important vyuha of the Lord. It is stated in the Nrisimha Purvathapani Upanishad that God appeared before Brahma as Narasimha first, and gave him the mantra - Narasimha Anushtrup, with which he developed the four Vedas. In the Anushtrup, there are nine forms of Narasimhaswamy, corresponding to the Nava Narasimhas.

Those are the Ugra - angry, Veera - fighting, Mahavishnu - Lakshmi Narasimha, Jwalantha - emitting flames, Sarvathomukha - Narasimha with many faces, the Narasimha - ordinary Narasimha, the Bhishana - frightful, the Bhadra - terrible and the Mrithyormrithyu - killer/death.

Festivals: The important festival of this place is the annual Brahmotsava, that takes place on the first fortnight of Phalgun month, a fortnight after Sivaratri. They have a peculiar custom - the Padmasalis claim the divine consort was a maiden from their own class, and so claim the right to perform the Kalyanotsava of the Lord. During this festival the Lord and the Goddess are brought out to the Kalyanamantapam, and negotiations for the marriage and dowry is begun between the Padmasalis and the Lord himself. The Padmasalis form a group, and select a person to perform the marriage ceremony.

Mahanandi Temple, Nandyal, Kurnool

Location: Nandyal, Kurnool
Deity: Lord Shiva




Legend: Rasa Siddha is said to have built the Vimana and for wages he made the workers set up sand mounds, which he converted into wealth by his power. Proof of this is seen on the main gate of the temple facing the west. A copper plate by Krishandevaraya states that Mahanandi is one of the sacred places where the king`s brother Simha Deva Raya gave valuable gifts. The Sthalapurana states that Nanda ruled over Navanandis where Mahanandi is situated. The king once thought to anoint the idol and perform abhishek with milk. Herds of cows were brought in which included a black cow. This cow gave a lot of milk and was allowed to travel freely and graze in the forest.

Mahanandi TempleThe cow always seemed to take far longer in the forest than usual and the milk supply seemed depleted when she returned. One day a cowherd followed the cow and found her grazing around an anthill and then she stood right over it letting the milk flow over the anthill. From it a young child emerged said to be Lord Krishna, after which the cow returned. The next day the king followed the cow and, hid in a bush expecting to catch a glimpse of the Lord. The cow arrived and circled the anthill, Krishna appeared and accepted the offering. The king in surprise moved forward, scaring the nervous cow, who stepped on the anthill in fright. The child disappeared, the hoof print remained on the anthill. The king realizing his mistake prayed for forgiveness and the Lord ordained the anthill after it dried would become a Swayambhu linga at Mahanandi. The two signs are still visible on top of the Linga.



TankArchitecture: The temple is at the foothill where a mineral spring flows into the fields from underneath the linga, into the tank in front of the temple. The temple is surrounded by mantapas on all sides. The Vimana over the sanctum is in Nagari style. It has a Shikara at the top. The architectural peculiarities show that the temple dates back to ancient times and it was repaired and rebuilt through the ages by many kings. This temple is famous for its curative powers found in the warm tepid mineral water found in the tank in front of the temple. It is a sixty feet square with a mantapa in the centre. The inlets and outlets of the tank are so arranged that the depth of the water remains constant at five feet for the devotees to swim in. The source of this water has never been traced. The water is said to come from five springs called Srisailadhara, Narasimhadhara, Daivodhinidhara, Nanditirtha and Kailasatirtha.

The sanctum contains a linga and is made from a rough uncut rock, with two sockets. Here the linga is seen just above the earth`s surface without the three Peethams underneath. All can touch and worship the Lord. A huge Nandi is at the front of the shrine and hence it is called Mahanandi Tirtha. The tank that lies behind is known as Rudra gundam and there are two more tanks called Vishnu gundam and Brahma gundam. Close to the main shrine is a shrine dedicated to the Goddess. The Srichakra in front of the deity is said to have been installed by Adisankara himself. The popular belief is that if one meditates upon the God then he will receive a darshan befitting his status in front of the mother. The mukhamantapa of the goddess is a recent construction.

Behind the main shrine there are three small shrines containing a Shivalinga each. It is stated that if these are worshipped, they will take one beyond the Sthoola, Sookshma and Karana Dehas to the Turiya stage. Within ten miles of Mahanandi there are other nine other Nandi temples -
1. Padma Nandi,
2. Naga Nandi,
3. Vinayaka Nandi,
4. Garuda Nandi,
5. Brahma Nandi,
6. Surya Nandi,
7. Vishnu Nandi,
8. Soma Nandi and
9. Siva Nandi.

Festivals: The Sivarathri is the most important festival. In the Kartika masa, pilgrims worship in the shrine of Mallikarjunaswamy and then at the shrine of Padma Nandi, which is two miles further ahead. They then go to the Naga Nandi that is a mile to the west, and then proceed to Brahma Nandi, Soma Nandi, and Siva Nandi, which are all nearby. They move on to Krishna or Vishnu Nandi, three miles to the northeast and from there complete the pilgrimage by worshipping Vinayaka Nandi, Maha Nandi, and Surya Nandi. The traditional belief is that the worship of these Nava Nandis should be finished in a day before sunset. The other festivals like Dasara, Ugadi etc. are also important.