K A P I L A T H E E RT H A M , T I R U PAT I

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T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H
ARCHITECTURE OF SACRED SPACES
C O N T
The sacred geography of Andhra Pradesh’s temples
04
ABODES OF VISHNU 06
Tirupati Balaji, Kodandarama, Dwarka Tirumala, Talpagiri Ranganathaswamy,
Chintala Venkataramana Swamy, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy, Srikurmam
Kurmanathaswamy, Kaligiri Venkateswara Swamy

NARASIMHA KSHETRAS 24
Ahobilam, Varaha Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy, Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy,
Antarvedi Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy, Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy,
Panakala Narasimhaswamy, Singarayakonda Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy, Penna
Ahobilam Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy, Malyadri Narasimhaswamy, Penusila
Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy, Kethavaram Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy, Vedagiri
Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy and Sobhanachalaswamy
E N T S
SHRINES OF SHIVA 50
Srisaila Devasthanam, Sri Kalahasteeswara, Sri Mukhalingeswara,
Pallikondeswara, Kapotheswara, Mahanandiswara Swamy, Uma
Maheshwara, Bugga Ramalingeswara, Veerabhadra, Parasurameswara

PANCHARAMA KSHETRAS 74
Amararama /Amareswara, Draksharama /Bhimeswaraswamy,
Somarama/ Someswara, Ksheerarama / Ksheera Ramalingeswara,
Kumararama /Kumara Bhimeswara

MORE SACRED SITES 86 Sri Ayyappa

Swamy Varu
Puruhutika Devi / Kukkuteswara Swamy, Manikyamba Devi, temple, ~64 km
Kanakadurga Devi / Mallikeswara, Varasiddhi Vinayaka, from Kakinada,
is known as the
Suryanarayana, Prashanti Nilayam, Ramachandra Swamy, Sabarimala of
Raghavendra Swamy Matha Andhra Pradesh
4 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH
ARCHITECTURE OF SACRED SPACES


















we find structural temples, we also find various shrines marked as





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




multitude of imagery and sculpted figures, draw out








colour and sculpture – all of which finally connect the



important to know its ritual significance, the legends








through her/his walk recites the story for the infinite











represents the underworld filled with animal and
























5







         











a complete town is defined by the legend and ritual of the temples.






This book is a collection of Andhra Pradesh’s temples, filled




ABODES OF VISHNU












regarded the most significant. Prominent of

















 The ancient Madhavaraya temple in
Gandikota is a heritage site and noted for
the intricate sculptures of its mandapam.
Although there are no idols and rituals are
no longer performed, carvings of fish and
tortoise in the temple premises suggest it was
once a shrine dedicated to Vishnu.
              





















 






explain how people flocked to worship the lord and be blessed with wealth










one is supposed to first visit Govindarajaswamy and pay respects to him as



 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 11











 



 




 




 



 



FACT FILE


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12 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

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






























 


 



 




 



 FACT FILE

• Kodandarama temple is located in Kadapa

district.
• The nearest railway station is Ontimitta while
the nearest airport is Kadapa (~33 km).
APSRTC buses pass through Vontimitta bus
stop which is the stop nearest to the temple for
availing a bus service.
• The temple remains open from 6am-1pm and
2pm-8pm.
• The festivals celebrated in this temple are
Ramanavami, Seeta Rama Kalyanam and
Navahnika Brahmotsavam.
• A Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD)
accommodation complex is available near the
temple for devotees to dine and rest. Hotels
and lodges providing accommodation facilities
are available at Kadapa.
14 SACREDSCAPE TEM PLE S OF ANDHR A P R AD E SH
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 15





















immediately gave up the fight.
















FACT FILE

 



 



 















TA L PA G I R I R A N G A N AT H A S WA M Y
The name of Talpagiri Ranganathaswamy temple comes
from the story that Adishesha came down to earth and took
the form of a giri or mountain so that Vishnu could rest
on him. Talpa refers to the couch of Adishesha on which
Vishnu reclines. In this temple, Vishnu is thus seen as
Ranganathaswamy, reclining on Adishesha, with Sridevi
and Bhudevi at his feet.
The interesting thing about this temple is that the
sanctum and the idol face west towards River Penna, as if
the lord is looking out towards the river.
One of the most striking things about this temple
is the 70-feet-tall gali gopuram. While the temple itself
was first built by the Pallavas in the 7th-8th centuries, it
was expanded during the Chola era and later, during
Vijayanagara rule. The tall gopuram, however, is a much
more recent structure, dating back to the early 1800s.
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 17

 


 


 



 

fulfilled.

 



FACT FILE










C H I N T H A L A V E N K ATA R A M A N A S WA M Y
Tadipatri is considered an extremely sacred place since River Penna here is
uttarabhimukhi or flows in a northerly course. Not surprisingly, therefore, it is home
to two significant shrines – Bugga Ramalingeswara and Chinthala Venkataramana
Swamy.
The Chinthala Venkataramana Swamy temple is dedicated to Vishnu and
was built by Thimma Naidu, the son of Ramalinga Naidu, the man who built the
Bugga Ramalingeswara temple.
According to local legend, one day villagers heard loud noises from a large
tamarind tree, locally known as chintha chettu. When they gathered to investigate,
they found an idol of Vishnu lying inside a hole in the tree trunk. Thimma Naidu,
the local chieftain, was informed and, surprisingly, on that very night Thimma
Naidu also dreamt of Vishnu instructing him to build a temple for the idol.
When Vijayanagara kings heard about the dream, they ordered Thimma
Naidu to build the temple so that the people of the area could worship both
Vishnu and Shiva. This is how the Chinthala Venkataramana Swamy temple came
to be built between 1510 and 1525. Originally called the Chinthala Tiruvengala
Nathaswamy temple, it was later changed to Chinthala Venkataramana Swamy
temple.
 Known for its granite sculptures, it has been classified FACT FILE

 

  




  
 

  

 

  


S R I S AT YA N A R AYA N A S WA M Y
It is believed that the temple town of Annavaram – where
the Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple is located – gets its
name from the generous people who used to distribute
annam or food to the needy. Located in Ratnagiri hill, on
the banks of River Pampa, the legend of Ratnagiri and the
temple can be found in Skanda Purana.
Ratnakar, the son of Meru or the king of the mountains,
undertook severe penance to propitiate Vishnu. Pleased
with his devotion, Vishnu granted Ratnakar’s wish of taking
abode with him in the form of Sri Satyanarayana Swamy.
Ratnakar then transformed into a mountain which came to
be known as Ratnagiri and the abode for Sri Satyanarayana
Swamy and his consort Anantha Lakshmi. The lord did
not manifest as Vishnu alone, but as Hari Hara Hiranya
Garbha Trimurtyatmaka or as both Shiva and Vishnu.
In the many hundreds of years since the lord took
abode here, he was forgotten and was rediscovered in
the late 19th century. According to a local legend, Vishnu
appeared in the dreams of Earanki Prakasam, a Brahmin
villager, asking him to find the idol on the hill and
reinstate worship. Prakasam informed local zamindar, I V
Narayanam, and together with other villagers, the idol was
found and worship reinstated.
The main temple is a two-storey structure in the form of
a chariot with four wheels at each of the four corners of the
temple. The idol, which is about 13-feet high, is cylindrical
in form, with its base in the sanctum sanctorum at the
lower level. While the base represents Brahma, the upper
sanctum sanctorum represents Vishnu and the middle
portion represents Shiva.

 


 





 

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
SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 21
FACT FILE
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
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


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
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
22 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

                        

FACT FILE


 
 
 
Maharaj, a pious king, observed fierce penance for many years. Pleased 
 
 
 
 
 
 
It is believed that Brahma himself officiated in all the rituals to 
 
 
 
 
 


 



 



 Those affected with the malefic effects of Planet

Saturn are believed to find relief at this temple.

 


 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 23

                       




































 

 


 

NARASIMHA KSHETRAS
Andhra Pradesh is home to some famed temples dedicated
to Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu in the form of nara
or man and simha or lion. While these shrines have their
own stories, they are all related to Vishnu’s incarnation as
Narasimha which the lord assumed to destroy demon king
Hiranyakashipu.
As the story goes, Hiranyaksha, an oppressive asura
who assaulted Mother Earth, was killed by Vishnu in the
form of man-boar or Varaha. When Hiranyakashipu,
Hiranyaksha’s elder brother, learnt of this he vowed to
avenge his brother’s death. Armed with a boon from Brahma
– by which he could neither be killed by an animal or
human, in the morning nor at night, indoors or outdoors,
by any weapon or in the sky or on earth – the demon started
to terrorise gods, sages and Vishnu’s devotees, including
his son Prahlada. Steadfast in his devotion of the lord and
blessed with Vishnu’s grace, Prahlada remained protected
from Hiranyakashipu’s fury.
Finally, the demon king asked Prahlada to acknowledge
Hiranyakashipu as the supreme lord of the universe, to
which Prahlada claimed that it was Vishnu who was all-
pervading. Pointing to a pillar, Hiranyakashipu then asked
his son if Vishnu was inside it. When Prahlada replied that
he was, a furious Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar. It
was the twilight hour and Vishnu in the form of Narasimha
appeared and putting the demon on his thighs, on the
threshold of a courtyard, disemboweled him with his claws.
A Narasimha idol built
above the Narayana
Narasimha Swamy
temple in Pavuralakonda,
~30 kilometres from
Visakhapatnam, marks the
place where Narasimha
took the form of Soumya
Narasimhaswamy or
Narayana Narasimhaswamy
in deference to Prahlada’s
prayers to calm down
after killing demon
Hiranyakashipu.
26 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

       

India and among the 108 













 



 


 




 



 


overcome the malefic effects of the respective planet.
28 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH






                      

Narasimhaswamy or the lord in his fierce and angry


                       


                        



                         



                                



                      


                     



                    



                     









 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 29

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

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
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

VARAHA LAKSHMI NARASIMHASWAMY
The Varaha Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple in
Simhachalam is dedicated to Vishnu in his incarnation
as varaha or boar, nara or man and simha or lion – a form
in which the lord has a boar head, a human torso and
a lion’s tail. Although the exact age of the temple is not
known, several inscriptions recording donations made by
kings and queens over the centuries, are evidence of its
antiquity and significance.
 According to local legend, the temple has been built
on the spot where Vishnu rescued Prahlada from the
wrath of his father, Hiranyakashipu who wanted his
son to give up his devotion to Vishnu.
The demon king first intimidated Prahlada by
sending rogue elephants to trample him and then
setting poisonous snakes on him. But blessed with
Vishnu’s divine grace, Prahlada remained protected
from his father’s fury. When these failed, the demon
king asked his servants to throw Prahlada into the sea
from the top of the mountain.
Vishnu then lifted Prahlada from the sea and
brought him back to the mountain and the place came
to be known as Simhadri or Simhachalam or lion’s hill.
According to the temple’s Sthalapurana, Prahlada
constructed a temple at Simhadri after his father,
Hiranyakashipu, was finally killed by Vishnu in his
avatar as Narasimha. The lord assumed the form of
Varaha Narasimha – the avatar that killed Hiranyaksha
(Varaha) and Hiranyakashipu (Narasimha) – at
Simhadri on Prahlada’s request.
As time passed, the temple at Simhadri fell into
decay and was forgotten. It was re-discovered in
another time and age by Emperor Pururava who was
drawn to Simhachalam while flying over the hill in his
air-borne chariot. When he found Varaha Narasimha
covered in earth, he attempted to clear the layers
surrounding the deity. But he was instructed by
Vishnu to not expose the image and instead cover it
with sandalwood. King Pururava did as desired and
also rebuilt the temple.
Even today, the deity is kept covered in sandal
paste all through the year, except for 12 hours on the
holy day of Akshaya Tritiya. On this day, devotees get
a darshan of the lord in his nija roopam or as he is – in
a ceremony called Chandanotsavam in which sandal
paste is removed and reapplied.
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 33

 

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
 

 

 It is the first temple in the north coastal

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
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
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





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 


 



 


 


trunks spreading out over 180



SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 35
             
             



was pacified by Prahlada and the sages. He

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

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













FACT FILE















 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 37

                               






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
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
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























A significant legend connected to the temple speaks
of a fisherman once finding a marble 


flowing. The lord is then said to have told him in a dream




38 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

 


 

 


 




 The confluence of the Bay of Bengal




 



FACT FILE











SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 39
                







Vishnu in the form of a fish























 



 




 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 41

                      






























Vishnu destroyed demon Namuchi with the fire of













 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 43

 




 

 


 




 


 



 The 108-

of special significance.
 




FACT FILE



























                                      
                  



later modification by his heir, Krishnadevaraya. It is believed that at the end






 


PENNA AHOBILAM LAKSHMI
NARASIMHASWAMY
The Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy
temple located on the banks of River
Penna in Penna Ahobilam enshrines
a 5 feet 3 inch footprint of Lakshmi
Narasimhaswamy. The other footprint
is believed to be in Ahobilam.
According to local legend, Ugra
Sthambham, the pillar from which
Narasimhaswamy came out to kill
Hiranyakashipu, the demon king, is
located on the hill above the temple and
a pond – two kilometres away from the
temple – is where the lord washed his
hands after killing the demon.
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H
 



 



 










45
FACT FILE

















46 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

                              






Vishnu took a bath to withdraw his fierce Narasimha


 FACT FILE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• The most significant festival
  
the first  Celebrated over five days in
 
 

  
 


                 

















 

VEDAGIRI LAKSHMI NARASIMHASWAMY
According to Brahmanda Purana, the Lakshmi
Narasimhaswamy temple in Vedagiri is where Narasimha
appeared in the form of a light to bless the yagna performed
by the Saptarishis.
The temple dedicated to the lord is believed to have
been originally established by Sage Kashyapa, one of the
seven sages. In the 9th century, the temple, according
to rock inscriptions, was built by Pallava king Narsimha
Varma. Built on a small hill situated on the banks of River
Penna, the temple and its precincts is popularly known
as Narasimha Konda and regarded as one of the Divya
Kshetras.
Today, the seven yagna gundams that were used for the
Saptarishis’ yagna are now the seven konerus or tanks.

 




 

FACT FILE





• Bramhotsavam is the most significant festival here.



SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 49
                      




Krishna lifted on his little finger and the Mahalakshmi temple that is



arranged as a flower garland for the lord to reside as Jwala Narasimha


 

 










resumed his penance and finally turned into a hill where Shiva as





to find a suitable place while he performed 


he thumped the latter with his fist, saying that no one would visit him
without first having Vishnu’s 









 

 
S H R I N E S O F S H I VA
One of the principal deities in the Hindu Trinity,
Shiva is depicted both as a householder and an ascetic
with supreme yogic powers.
Over the ages, the lord has acquired several iconic
epithets and is worshipped in various forms by various
names. The most iconic and sacrosanct representation,
however, is the aniconic lingam.
In Andhra Pradesh, Shiva idols and lingams
enshrined in its many temples embody varied aspects
of the lord. Besides the famed Pancharama Kshetras
connected to the legend of Tarakasura, Srisailam
is particularly sacred since it is one of the twelve
jyotirlingams and believed to have been personally
visited by the lord at the time of installation. Other
significant temples are Sri Kalahasteeswara, where
the lord is embodied as vayu lingam or the air
element, Pallikondeswara where the reclining
posture of the idol has association with Samudra
Manthana, Mahanandiswara where the lingam has
two hoof prints, Srimukhalingeshwara where the deity
is in the form of Madhukeswara, Bhimeswara and
Someswara. And more besides.

The huge, open-air

nagalingam in
Veerabhadra
temple in Lepakshi
is said to have been
carved overnight
from a single rock.
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 53




























– the first one built in this sacred site.






to a bough of jasmine flowers (
Shiva with the flowers and eventually married him. The
associated with this story is a 70,000-80,000-year-









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 




 




It finds mention as Sriparvatha in the



 


 




FACT FILE

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

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





                  



five temples dedicated to the five elements

air, fire and ether – it enshrines the 




a corner a lit lamp constantly flickers – as




















the bottom is the tiny figure of a spider, and
when seen from above appears as a five-

 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 59






sacred since ancient times. It finds mention




 



 


 


 

 

 






FACT FILE







 
 
 
 
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              


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
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
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
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FACT FILE
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   
  
  
  
 
 
 
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 
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           
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According to the story, which first
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neared conclusion, flew
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hunter his own flesh, equal to the weight
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them. Shibi cut portions of flesh from his
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As a final act, he cut his head and placed it

Pleased with Shibi’s great sacrifice, the
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   FACT FILE
 
  
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  
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 
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
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




 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 65







flow out. About five such springs are believed to flow out












the milk flow from her udders. A young child in the form of














 
FACT FILE

 

 











A water source beneath the idol fills up the temple 
 

UMA MAHESHWARA
The Uma Maheshwara temple in Yaganti was built by
Harihara and Bukka Raya of the Vijayanagara empire in
the 14-15th century, although legends of its origin go far
back in time.
When Sage Agastya arrived at Yaganti during the
course of his wanderings, he was struck by the natural
beauty of the place and began to explore the area. He
found an idol of Venkateswara or Vishnu in one of the
many caves and started rituals to consecrate it.
 


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





  FACT FILE


  
 
 
 
  
 
 
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  
 
 
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68 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

                   
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
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
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

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
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FACT FILE

 



The unfinished status of the


 













VEERABHADRA
The Veerabhadra temple of Lepakshi is a notable example of the Vijayanagara style of
architecture. Besides the temple dedicated to Veerabhadra, considered an avatar of Shiva,
the complex has shrines dedicated to Papaneswara, Rama and Goddess Durga. The
Skanda Purana refers to Lepakshi as one of the 108 important Shiva kshetras.
Built on a low rocky hill called Kumarasaila or tortoise-shaped hill, the original
Veerabhadra temple is said to have been established by Sage Agastya. The present-day
temple was built, according to temple records, in the 16th century, by Virupanna.
According to temple legends, Virupanna who was the king’s treasurer wanted to build a
temple at that particular spot since an image of Veerabhadra had been found there during
digging work. Using the money collected as tribute for the king, who was then away at
Vijayanagara, he started construction. The temple was almost complete and Virupanna
was supervising the building of the kalyana mandapam when the king returned to Lepakshi
and found an empty treasury.
 Enraged, he ordered for Virupanna to be blinded as punishment. A loyal servant,
Virupanna blinded himself as soon as he heard the king’s orders. He did not survive long
and passed away, with the kalyana mandapam left unfinished.
The village thereafter came to be known as Lepa-akshi or village of the blinded eye.
Another popular legend narrates another version of how Lepakshi got its name. It is said
that the great bird Jatayu, mortally wounded after a battle against Ravana, fell here and
when Rama reached the spot and saw this, he uttered, “Le Pakshi!”, meaning “Rise, o bird!”
Lepakshi temple is surrounded on all sides by an outer enclosure and has a natya and a
kalyana mandapam.

The temple has 70 ‘hanging’ pillars

which support the structure.
A giant foot-shaped depression in
the temple complex is said to be the
imprint of Hanuman’s feet, created
while he was on his way to Lanka in
search of Sita.
Murals on the ceilings of the mukha
mandapam and ardha mandapam are
believed to depict textile designs and
hairstyles of the Vijayanagara period
through Puranic legends.
The 6-feet-high and 8-metre-long
monolithic Nandi sculpture in the
temple is said to be the biggest such
Nandi in India.
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 73

FACT FILE
















              












mother. The first three sons refused, but Parasurama, the youngest,




meditated on Shiva. Every day, a single flower would bloom on



One day, the dwarf picked the flower from the river and threw it
into the water. This happened for a few days and finally an enraged






 

 
Kumararama or
Kumara Bhimeswara
temple is a national
heritage site. It
closely resembles
Draksharama, another
of the Pancharama
Kshetras and,
according to legend,
was consecrated by
Shiva’s son Kartikeya.
PANCHARAMA KSHETRAS
The Pancharama Kshetras in Andhra Pradesh refer to five temples dedicated to Shiva. Each of these five sacred abodes or
aramas has its own story and legend, and is also connected to the others through them.
Tarakasura, a great devotee of Shiva, had made life difficult for the devas. Unable to defeat the asura in battle, the devas
approached Shiva for help. Shiva pleaded inability since Taraka was a staunch devotee; however, he suggested that Kumara or
Kartikeya, his son, could defeat Taraka and bring succour to the devas.
Kartikeya went to battle with Taraka, but was unable to kill him. Shiva then revealed to Kartikeya that it was a Shiva lingam
in Taraka’s throat that was making him invincible, and only if it shattered, would Taraka die. Shiva also warned Kartikeya that
when the lingam would break, its scattered parts would continue to grow until they were consecrated and worshipped.
Armed with this knowledge, Kartikeya once again went to battle, this time aiming his spear at Taraka’s throat, shattering the
lingam within into five pieces and finally killing the asura. As Shiva had warned, the five broken pieces of the lingam began to
grow where they fell. The devas then constructed temples, consecrated the lingams and began worshipping them.
These are the five shrines which we today call the Pancharama Kshetras. The temples are connected not just by the story but the
appearance of the lingams – with each lingam made of white stone and resembling a cylindrical pillar, thereby reiterating the
story of the growing lingam.
 77

                      















was constructed in the 18th century.

 










FACT FILE













78 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

            
               












her father by jumping into the sacrificial
fire. Her immolation ignited great pain









had such a fiery quality











  FACT FILE


or sacrifices are allowed within its

 




 














80 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

                   





here is the shortest of the five








 



The temple’s lotus-filled pond called

 






FACT FILE












82 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

                    



Taraka’s throat. It is the tallest of the five 












perform his daily rituals and the lord filling the temple tank




 

 


 




FACT FILE










• Maha Shivaratri is the most significant



SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 83
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 85

                  











 


architectural significance.
 


 







FACT FILE












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
MORE SACRED SITES




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
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
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
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
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
The Suryanarayana Swamy temple in Gollala
Mamidada, dedicated to sun god Surya,
is famed for its 170-feet-high gopuram
enlivened with beautiful and life-like
carvings of gods and goddesses.
PURUHUTIKA DEVI /
KUKKUTESWARA SWAMY
Pithapuram, earlier known as
Pithikapuram, is one of the 18 Maha
Shaktipeethas in India as mentioned by Adi
Shankaracharya in his Ashta Dasa Shakthi
Peetha Stotram. Pithapuram is a pilgrim
centre with many holy temples and a sacred
pond, the Pada Gaya Sarovar.
Several legends and stories are
associated with Pithapuram. It is said that
when Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra
to cut up Sati’s corpse, the pieces scattered
and fell over a large landmass. Temples
were later built over the spots where
the body parts fell and came to be called
shaktipeethas or shakti sthalas.
The Puruhutika Devi temple is one
such shaktipeetha, built on the spot where
Sati’s back had fallen. Shiva is present
in Pithapuram as Kukkuteswara and as
Puruhitika Devi’s consort. The Shiva lingam
is a 2 feet-high, rough-cut white marble
one, with the appearance of a rooster’s
head – thereby lending the lord this name
at Pithapuram.
The Puruhutika Devi temple located
in the large temple complex is considered
to be so old that even Indra, the king of
devas, is supposed to have worshipped
here to get rid of the curse uttered by Sage
Gautama for seducing his wife Ahalya.
The curse caused the king of devas to lose
his manhood and his entire body came to
be covered with yoni symbols. A repentant
Indra then came to Pithikapuram to atone
for his sin. Finally, when the goddess
forgave Indra, the yoni symbols on his body
disappeared and he regained his manhood.
Since Indra worshipped the goddess
here, the latter came to be called
Puruhutika Devi or one worshipped by
Indra.
90 SACREDSCAPE TEMPLE S OF AND HR A P R AD E SH

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 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 91

              
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






with immense devotion and finally her wish to marry











 
 




 


 

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KANAKADURGA DEVI / MALLIKESWARA
Vijayawada is home to three ancient temples of which the
Kanakadurga Devi temple is considered the most sacred
and powerful. Located on top of Indrakeeladri hill on the
banks of River Krishna, the deity of Kanakadurga Devi is
Swayambhu, a result of the penance of Keela, a yaksha.
Keela, a devotee of Durga, had been performing
penance to obtain her favours and pleased with his
devotion, the goddess appeared and offered him a boon.
Keela was overcome with joy and said that all he wanted
was for the goddess to remain in his heart. Durga agreed to
the request and turned Keela into a mountain, telling him
that she would return to him in the Krita Yuga, after killing
all the demons.
It is believed that after killing buffalo demon,
Mahishasura, Durga returned to Keela in the form of
Mahisasuramardini, bathed in the golden light of victory.
Indra and the other devas worshipped her and she came
to be called Kanakadurga or golden Durga. The mountain
came to be called Indrakeeladri and also Kanakachala,
since the golden light that the goddess emanated enveloped
the mountain.
After the goddess manifested on Indrakeeladri, Brahma
performed the Sata Ashwamedha Yagna to propitiate Shiva
to take residence in the hill. Pleased with the yagna, Shiva
took the form of a jyotirlinga which Brahma worshipped
with malli flowers. Therefore, Shiva is known here as
Mallikeswara.
Adi Sankaracharya visited the Kanakadurga Devi temple
to install the srichakra and initiate worship as per Vedic
ways. He also reinstalled Mallikeswara jyotirlinga at the
temple and initiated proper worship.
Indrakeeladri is unique as both Kanakadurga Devi and
Mallikeswara idols are Swayambhu. Kanakadurga reigns
supreme here as Shakti and her alankara during Navaratri
takes on the various forms of the devi such as Balatripura
Sundari, Gayatri, Annapoorna, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati,
Lalita Tripura Sundari, Raja Rajeswari Devi and so on.
 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 93

 



 



 
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
                  
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

, the one who fulfils our wishes.


– or flow of water.


made a living by working in the fields. One day, when

further, their spades hit a stone. Desperate for water, they
persisted, but soon blood began to ooze out. Surprised,
they touched the blood and lost their deformities. The

around the stone, an idol of Ganesha emerged. However,
they failed to extricate the idol from the ground. The
well was then demolished and a temple built over it.

the ground. Interestingly, over the past decades the idol
seems to be slowly emerging. Fifty years ago, a 
or silver mask for the idol had covered it entirely. Today,
does not fit the idol and has been

idol has increased over the years.
 

existing anymore. The level of water also
changes with the season. The water is
.
 
arbiter of disputes. Disputing parties



immediately after the bath.
FACT FILE









            






















 



 
, a temple of five deities



FACT FILE









                


































FACT FILE


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












 SACREDSCAPE T E M P L E S O F A N D H R A P R A D E S H 97









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                          
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of the Mutt, he visited a number of places, finally deciding to
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The 134-feet Anjaneya statue in Paritala is the largest Hanuman statue
in the world, with the temple near it believed to have healing powers.
GLOSSARY
abhishekam – ritual of pouring water or other sacred
substance on the idol while chanting mantras
asuras – a class of divine beings or power-seeking
deities
alankara – ornaments
ayakasthamba – five columns refined on the stupa,
representing five events in Buddha’s life; typical in
Amravati and Nagajunakonda Buddhist sites
chaitya – Buddhist prayer hall
chakratirtha snanam – holy bath
devas – benevolent supernatural beings in Vedic era
literature; god in general use
divya desam/kshetra – one of the 108 Vishnu temples
mentioned in the works of Alvars/saints
dhwaja sthambham – tall post-like structure; flag-mast of
the temple deity
ekadesi – the eleventh lunar day of each of two lunar
phases – Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha – in the
Hindu calendar
ekanta seva – usually the last ritual among the daily
sevas or ritual worship in a temple
gandharva – name for a distinct heavenly being
garbagriha – sanctum sanctorum
gopuram – monumental and ornate tower at a temple
entrance in Dravidian architecture; gali gopuram – the
main gopuram
halahala – the name of a poison created from the sea
when devas and asuras churned it to obtain amrita or
nectar of immortality during Samudra Manthana
jyotirlingam – a devotional representation of Shiva, with
jyoti meaning radiance and lingam the sign of Shiva;
12 of the orginal 64 jyotirlinga temples are considered
auspicious and holy
karanja – the Pongamia pongamia tree
krishna paksha dwitiya – the 17th lunar day which falls
in Krishna Paksha, the second fortnight of the Hindu
lunar month.
kshetra - holy precinct
kuladevata – family deity worshipped by particular clans
lingam – an abstract or aniconic representation of
Shiva, used for worship in temples
lingodbhava – emergence of the linga, an iconic
representation of Shiva, common in South Indian
temples
maharishi – in ancient India a member of the high class
of scientists popularly known as rishis or seers; one who
has achieved highest state of awareness in the path of
evolution
malli – jasmine
mandapam – a pillared outdoor hall for public rituals,
a part of the basic temple compound; ardha mandapam
– intermediary space between temple exterior and
sanctum sanctorum; mukha mandapam – pillared hall
in front of the vestibule in a temple; natya mandapam
– a public hall dedicated to performance of dance;
kalyana mandapam – dedicated to the ritual marriage
celebration of the lord and the goddess
moksha sthanam – a place where one would be relieved
from the cycle of birth and death
nagalingam – lingam with the hood of a naga or snake
naivedyam – food offered to a deity as part of worship
ritual
paduka – a sole with a post and knob between the big
and second toe
pashupatastra – the most destructive personal weapon
of Shiva
pradosham – bimonthly occasion on the 13th day of
every fortnight in the Hindu calendar
prakara – enclosure wall around a temple
prasadam – devotional offering to god that is shared
among devotees
peepul – Ficus religiosa, resembling banyan tree
peethas – sacred sites
pulihora – tamarind rice
pushkarni – temple tanks built within the complex
rahu-ketu kshetra – holy precinct where one can be rid
of the malefic effects of rahu, one of the nine major
astronomical bodies in Indian text and ketu, another
shadow planet
rath – chariot
samadhi – act of voluntarily leaving the body
samudra manthana – literally the churning of the ocean;
one of the best-known episodes in Hindu mythology
sandhya vandanam – ritual salutation to twilight
saptarishis – seven sages extolled in the Vedas and
Hindu literature
sarovar – a tank at a sacred place or by a shrine
shaktipeethas – significant shrines in goddess-focused
tradition; there are 51 or 108 shaktipeethas by various
accounts, of which between 4 and 18 are maha or
major.
shloka – a category of verse line developed from Vedic
poetic meter
shravana – fifth month of the Hindu calendar
corresponding to July-August
siddha – ascetic who has achieved enlightenment
srichakra – a form of mystical diagram
sthalapurana – literary work describing the significance
of places and temples
sudarshana chakra – a spinning, disc-like weapon with
108 serrated edges used by Vishnu
swayambhu – a self-manifested image of a deity; not
made by human hands, but naturally-arisen
swayamvar – the practice of choosing a husband from a
list of suitors by a girl in ancient India
theertham – a holy waterbody associated with a temple
or deity
utsava vigraham – idol taken out during annual festive
processions
udbhava – a form of the goddess
veshya – a courtesan
vimana – structure over inner sanctum of south India
temples
yagna – ritual, usually in front of a sacred fire
yoni – a stylised representation of Goddess Shakti
REFERENCES
G. Ferro-Luzzi (1977), The Logic of South Indian Food Offerings,
Anthropos, 72(3/4), 529-556.
G. Michell (2013), Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites &
Museums. Roli Books
M. Rama Rao (1970), Select Andhra Temples, Andhra Pradesh
Government Archaeological Series No. 30, Hyderabad
N. Ramesan (2000) Temples and Legends of Andhra Pradesh (4th
Edition), Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan
N. Ramesan (1981) The Tirumala Temple, Tirumala Tirupati
Devasthanam
A. Vedagiri (2004): Five Nrsimha Temples in Andhra Pradesh and
their Function as a Religious Collective. Unpublished Doctoral
Thesis, The Ohio State University
http://annavaramdevasthanam.nic.in/A.htm
http://kanakadurgamma.org/
http://simhachalamdevasthanam.net/home.html
http://srikanakamahalakshmitemple.org/
http://srikurmamtemples.blogspot.com/p/tp.html
http://surutapalli.blogspot.com/
http://www.ahobilamutt.org/us/information/visitingahobilam.asp
http://www.kadirilakshminarasimhaswamytemple.com/
http://www.kanakadurgatemple.org/TEMPLE_
INFORMATION.aspx
http://www.kanipakam.com/home.html
http://www.kostalife.com/heritage/suryanarayana-temple-when-
sun-god-descended-on-arasavalli/
http://www.mangalagiri.net/temple.html
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146413274
http://www.padagaya.com/
http://www.penchalakona.co.in/
http://www.srikalahasthitemple.com/
http://www.srikalahasthitemple.com/
http://www.srisailamonline.com
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/
http://www.templenet.com/Andhra/arasavalli.html
https://eastgodavari.nic.in/tourism/temples/sri-lakshmi-
narasimha-swamy-temple-antharvedi/
https://eastgodavari.nic.in/tourism/temples/sri-suryanarayana-
swamy-temple-gmamidada/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paritala_Anjaneya_Temple
https://gotirupati.com/antarvedi-lakshmi-narasimha-swamy-
temple/
https://gotirupati.com/arasavalli-suryanarayana-swamy-temple/
https://gotirupati.com/bugga-ramalingeswara-swamy-temple-
tadipatri/
https://gotirupati.com/chejerla-temple/
https://gotirupati.com/chintala-venkataramana-swamy-temple-
tadipatri/
https://gotirupati.com/mahanandiswara-swamy-mahanandi-
temple/
https://gotirupati.com/mangalagiri-temple/
https://gotirupati.com/puruhutika-devi-temple-pithapuram/
https://gotirupati.com/sobhanachala-swamy-temple/
https://gotirupati.com/talpagiri-ranganatha-swamy-temple/
https://www.inrootz.in/historic-places/religious-spiritual
temples/pl105/Parasurameswara-Swamy-temple-Gudimalam-
Chittoor/information-history-significance-architecture
https://www.inrootz.in/historic-places/religious-spiritual-
temples/pl60/Bugga-Ramalingeswara-Temple-Tadipatri-
Anantapur
https://www.inrootz.in/historic-places/religious-spiritual-
temples/pl76/Chintala-Venkataramana-Swamy-Temple-
Tadipatri-Anantapur/information-history-significance-
architecture
https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/about-yaganyti
https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/puruhutika-devi
https://www.srsmatha.org/
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/
apathy-hits-bugga-ramalingeswara-swamy-temple/
article7520316.ece
CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE, SOMPALLE