Panagal Sri Chaya Someswarar Temple- Telangana

Address

Sri Chaya Someswarar Temple Panagal, Nalgonda district Telangana- 508004

Diety

Someswara (shiva)

Introduction

Chaya Someswara Temple, also known as Trikutalayam, is a Saivite Hindu temple located in Panagal, Nalgonda district of Telangana, India It is a popular pilgrimage site during MahaSivaratri. The temple has three sanctum sanctorum and hence is also called Trikutalayam (three-shrine complex). The temple has stepped pyramidal sikharas and was probably built in the 11th and 12th centuries CE during the rule of KunduruChodas and Prataparudra I of Kakatiya Empire over the Panagal region. The temple is in close proximity to PachalaSomeswara temple, another Saivite shrine in Panagal. The pillars in front of the three shrines were designed in such a way as to cast a unified shadow constantly on the lingam all through the day, irrespective of the position of the sun. This gave its name to the temple – Chaya SomeswaraSwamy temple.

Puranic Significance

This temple was built in the 11th and 12th centuries CE by the KunduruChodas. Parts of the temple were also built during the reign of the Kakatiyas. The temple has three sanctum sanctorum and hence is also called Trikutalayam. Of the three shrines, the one on the east houses Surya, the solar deity and the one facing north has a Vishnu shrine. The third one houses Sri Someswara (Lord Shiva), the main deity in the form of a lingam. The pillars are decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas. The temple got its name as there is an everlasting shadow on the Shiva Lingam in the main temple all day long