01Water from under the linga
The springs rise beneath the sanctum itself, so the swayambhu linga stands in water, and the water flows out into the temple’s three tanks, so clear that coins can be read on the bottom. Pilgrims bathe in the large Rudra Gundam inside the courtyard before darshan. The water then runs on to irrigate the banana and coconut gardens around the village. The katha of the place tells of a cow that poured her milk every day on an anthill here, which hid the linga.
02The nine Nandis
The Nava Nandis are nine shrines of Shiva within about 15 km of Nandyal, the town that takes its name from them: Prathama Nandi, Naga Nandi, Soma Nandi, Surya Nandi, Garuda Nandi, Vinayaka Nandi, Shiva Nandi, Vishnu Nandi and Mahanandi, the greatest. The stone temple at Mahanandi shows the work of the Badami Chalukyas of the 7th century, and inscriptions of later dynasties record its upkeep. Mahashivaratri here is a festival of the whole Nallamala country.
The life of this place
- 7th centuryThe stone temple is built in the Badami Chalukya style.
- Vijayanagara periodMandapas and the enclosure are enlarged.
About 15 km east of Nandyal; Srisailam is a further 150 km by forest road.
