Aluru Ranganathaswamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Tadipathri Mandal, Juturu, Aaluru, Aluru,

Andhra Pradesh 515415

The temple remains open from 06.00 AM to 12.30 PM and 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM.

Moolavar

Ranganathaswamy

Introduction

Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Aluru Village in Tadipatri Mandal in Ananthapuramu District in Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple is also known as Kona Ranganatha Swamy temple. This temple is situated close to Aluru Kona Waterfalls. The temple is situated at about 13 Kms to the north east of Tadipatri on Gooty to Kadapa route.

Puranic Significance

This temple was built in 1334 CE by Yerrama Timmaraju, a feudatory of Vijayanagara King Bukka Raya I. Yerrama Timmaraju donated vast amounts of lands to the temple to meet the temple expenses.

As per legend, Sage Vishwamitra was living in this place near the forest of Thadaka and was doing penance and yajna with his disciples.They were being tormented by Thadaka and her sons. Unable to tolerate the menace any longer,Vishvamitra approached Dasharatha, the King of Ayodhya for help. He requested Dasharatha to send his eldest son, Rama to protect his yajna.Though Dasharatha was initially reluctant to send his 16-yearold boy, he finally sent Rama and his younger brother Lakshmana with Vishvamitra on the advice of the royal guru Vashishta. Vishvamitra trained them in warfare and taught them various mantras. When Vishvamitra and the princes were passing through the forest of Thadaka,Thadaka attacked them. Rama, aided by Lakshamana, slew her with his arrow. Vishvamitra blessed Rama, as the gods rejoiced in the end of Thadaka. The sage gave him divine weapons as a reward.Vishvamitra then began his six-day yajna, with the princes standing on guard.While the first five days passed without incident, on the sixth day the sacrificial fire suddenly faltered, indicating trouble. Maricha and his brother Subahu, with a horde of rakshasas, appeared from the treetops like black clouds, roaring and making a thunderous noise.They tried to destroy the yajna fire by showering it with blood and flesh. Rama fired his Manavastra (astra which could hit a target miles away) from his bow.The arrow struck Maricha’s chest and threw him a hundred leagues away, into the ocean. Subahu and the other demons were killed by Rama; using various other weapons.The sacrifices was completed successfully. To commemorate this event, Yerrama Timmaraju, a feudatory of Vijayanagara King Bukka Raya I built the current temple in 1334 CE.

Special Features

This temple is situated on top of a hillock. There is an entrance arch on the road leading to this temple. The temple can be reached after climbing fifty steps. This temple is facing towards east with three tiered rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwaja Sthambam, Deepa Sthambam and Garuda shrine can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram.

The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and maha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines the reclining image of Ranganatha Swamy flanked by goddess Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There are guest houses for devotees available in the temple premises. There is a natural spring next to the temple, where water flows between the rocks for the whole year.