The Madhavaraya temple (old Vishnu temple) situated at Gorantla, Andhra Pradesh, is one of the centrally protected monumemts of national importance. Locally known as Madhavaraya Swamy Aalayam, this ancient Vishnu temple was built by King Narasimha Saluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara empire in 1354 AD.

location Andhra Pradesh, Anantapur, Amaravathi

Legend

According to the district gazette and the Mysore Epigraphical Report of 1912, the  temple was built by king Narasimha of the Saluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara empire in Saka 1276 (1354 A.D). Between the period (from 1610 A.D to 1904 A.D), the nose of the presiding deity (idol of Madhavaraya Swamy) was broken which had made the idol ineligible for puja. The temple was declared a protected monument by the British govt. With the nose of the presiding deity being chiselled away, the daily rituals have been eluding the temple.

Architecture

The temple consists of a small shrine chamber, a large central hall enclosed with walls, and a large pillared mandapa in front. The most ornamental and interesting portion of the building is the pillared porch in front. The plain portions of the massive pillars are decorated with bas-relief sculptures representing scenes from Ramayana and Puranas. The entrances are richly carved with Vaishnava figures. The Garbha Griha has a small image of Lord Madavaraya. Large stepped well in font of the temple is another interesting place within compound. The historical site is full of sculptures and the Pillared Mandap is renowned for its numerous stone carvings.

Culture

Anantapur district is a district in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is located at Anantapur city. Gooty fort was a stronghold of the Marathas, but was taken from them by Hyder Ali. In 1789 it was ceded by his son Tipu Sultan to the Nizam of Hyderabad.Anantapur is a major producer of Dolomite and Iron Ore minerals.Lepakshi, a village in Anantapur District famous for temple of Vijayanagara architectural style, Monolithic Lepakshi Nandi, and Hanging Pillar, Monolithic Naagalingam

Darsan Info

Mon-Sun : 06:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Darsan Dresscode

No dresscode

Temple Rituals

There is no rituals are performing in this temple right now

 Additional Info

 

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