Bugga Rama Lingeswara Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Bugga Rama Lingeswara Swamy Temple, Sunkulammapalem, Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh 515411

Diety

RamaLingeswara Swamy

Introduction

At a distance of 4 km from Tadipatri Railway Station, 58 km from Anantapur, 107 km from Kadapa, 357 km from Hyderabad, 413 km from Vijayawada and 269 km Bangalore, Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple is located on the banks of Penna River at Tadipatri in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. This is basically Lord Shiva Temple, and one of the oldest temples. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva in the form of Ramalingeswara Swamy it was said that the architecture belongs to saluva dynasty. One of the duo of the Kings named Thimmanaidu and Ramalinganaidu, who was most trusted by Emperor Sri Krishna Devaraya, built this Temple during the end of 15th century.

Puranic Significance

This temple also undergone the attacks from Muslims many times. Built in the 15th century during the reign of the Saluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara kingdom, the Bugga Ramalingeswara temple is located by the banks of the Pennar river and is dedicated to Lord Shiva who exists here as a swayambhu linga. The interesting thing about this linga is that a perennial underground water spring keeps flowing from the base of the Shiva Linga even though the Shiva linga is about 17 to 18 feet higher than the Pennar river and that the Pennar river is dry for most of the year. This underground water spring is called Bugga in the local Telugu language and hence the name of this temple. The Nandi seated at the entrance facing the Lingam shrine, and then there is also the Dwajasthambam (flag pole) just next to the Nandi. The temple entrance leads directly to the river. The doorway has garland-like designs made of stone. History says, Just after returning from the battle, Lord Sri rama was on to Pilgrimage all over India. When he reached Tadipatri, he found that there is no Shiva Linga at Tadipatri. So he just made a Linga with sand and devoting everyday till he was here. Later stages, Parasurama found this Shivalinga and started performing poojas. Later the temple was constructed by Vijayanagara Kings. The holy Idol has water flowing binit it, which is never dried. The temple walls were sculpted with many idols and stories on it. Sculpture Ramachari constructed the temple just as in Kasi. North side of the temple having burial ground and Penna River. It was said that it took 21 years to build this temple.

Special Features

The architecture of the temple shows a mixture of Chalukyan, Chola and Vijayanagar art. The temple has main entrances on South and West. The Vijayanagar kings have built the western, northern and southern gopurams of the temple. The north gopuram although unfinished has the most elaborate sculpture, with intricate carvings. It could be the sapta swaranga musical pillars in front of the Vishnu shrine (very similar to the musical pillars of the Vittala temple at Hampi), the beautiful carvings on the ceilings (very similar to the Hoysala style of temple architecture) or the epics depicted on the exterior temple walls. The entire Shiva Purana is carved on the walls of the temple in miniature carvings with elaborate details. Episodes from Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are also carved on the walls. This temple has a mini stone chariot similar to the famous chariot of Vittala Temple in Hampi. The Swayambhu Linga is placed on a pedestal in sanctum; water is seen flowing out of the pedestal all the time. This water is treated as holy water by the devotees. At the river side of the temple there is a statue of goddess standing by steps. It is believed that when the water level of the river Penna reaches the navel point of that statue, the entire town Tadipatri will be sinking in the water and that leads to the end of the town.