Kadapa- Pushpagiri Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Chinnamachupalli – Pushpagiri Rd,

Kotluru, Andhra Pradesh 516162

Moolavar

Vaidyanatha Swamy

Amman

Kamakshi Devi

Introduction

Kadapa Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Pushpagiri temples complex in Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple complex is located on the banks of the Pinakini River (Penna River).

Puranic Significance

The Vaidyanathesvara Swamy temple built by Chola Dynasty and was patronized by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna Vallabha, who gifted lands for the daily maintenance of the temple.

Special Features

This west-facing temple is adorned with a three-tiered Rajagopuram and is traditionally attributed to the Chola dynasty. Within its precincts, two shrines stand, one dedicated to Vaidyanatha Swamy and the other to Kamakshi Devi. The shrine of Vaidyanatha Swamy is protected by two imposing Dwarapalakas (guardian statues). The Maha Mandapam (main hall) of this shrine boasts a layout of 16 pillars arranged in two square patterns. In the Kamakshi shrine, there is a Srichakra located on the left side as you enter the temple through the northern tower gate. This Srichakra is of significant spiritual importance, having been worshipped by Adi Shankaracharya and subsequently by Vidyaranya Swamy, the founder of the Vijayanagar Empire. The temple complex is adorned with a rich array of rock-cut sculptures and reliefs portraying various deities and gods and goddesses. Furthermore, the temple serves as a repository for a collection of idols of various deities and Hero Stones. These artifacts were unearthed and carefully preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), contributing to the historical and cultural significance of the temple.