Temple

Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple or Yaganti is a famous temple situated at Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the temple was built during 5th and 6th century and was patronized by Pallavas, Cholas, Chalukyas. The kings Harihara and Bukka Raya of Vijayanagara Dynasty renovated this temple later. Sri Veerabhadra Swamy is the Kshetra Palaka (Protector) of this temple.

Legend

According to the legends, sage Agastya wanted to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara at this site. However, he could not install the idol as he found the toe nail of the idol is broken. Sage Agastya prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared and he told the sage that the place suits him better as it resembles kailash, Then, Sage Agastya requested Lord Shiva to reside there along with Goddess Parvati to which Lord Shiva obliged. According to another legend, Chitteppa, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva was doing penance and pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva appeared in front of him as a tiger. Chitteppa realized that it was Lord Shiva who came in the tiger form and shouted Neganti Shivanu ne kanti (meaning: I saw Shiva I saw) and danced with joy. There is a cave nearby called Chitteppa.

Architecture

The idol of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in Sri Uma Maheswara temple is in a single stone. The idol of Yaganti Nandi was sculptured on a single rock and is growing by an inch over the span of 20 years. Unlike other Shiva temples, Nandi is not seated right opposite to Lord Siva, it is located to the side of main mantap. Caves are present in and around the temple. There is a cave in the name of sage Agastya. One has to climb 120 steep steps to enter the cave. Venkateswara Cave houses the damaged idol of Lord Venkateswara. There is a Veera Brahmam Cave where Sree Potuluri Veera Brahmendra swamy wrote some of his Kala Gnaanam (prophecy). There is a small pond of water on the temple premises. Water flows into this Pushkarini from the bottom of hill through the mouth of a Nandi (bull).

Darsan Info

06.00 AM to 01.00 PM & 03.00 PM to 08.00 PM

Darsan Dresscode

Wear modest clothes and avoid shorts for men

Famous Festival

Maha shivaratri

Culture

Culture and Traditions at Yaganti is constructed by the first Vijayanagara Sangama King Harihara Bukka Rayalu in the 15th century, the temple ebbs deeply of culture and traditions even today. The nearby villages are still full of colour and festivities all year around, as they must've been since ages. The temple is located amidst a forest, still its not eerily quite anytime of the day and is quite filled with people and pilgrims, going about their work, preparing for performances of various mythological stories, or celebrating the numerous fests.

Temple Rituals

Daily morning pooja and arati starts from 06:00 AM onwards. Thereafter, daily seva's and pooja activities are performed inside the temple.

Additional Info