Skip to main content

AGASTHYESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE - THONDAVADA

 HARIHARA SWAMY TEMPLE - THONDAVADA - ANDHRA.



About 10 KM's from Tirupati is a small town called Thondavada, which down the history would have boasted about many temples including Venkateswara temple called Thimmappa, Agastyeshwara temple, and other temples.
The Agasteshwara Swami Temple is in a huge compound adjascent to the Swarnamukhi river flowing behind.
The temple compound from the back has a gate, which opens into the River with steps.
In the centre of the River, Swarnamukhi is a beautiful Mandapam, which seems to be as old as the temple itself and my estimation is of (500 - 1000) years old.
In the Mandapam is a unique sculpture of Shiva and Vishnu standing in the same Idol of about 8 to 9 feet from the pedestal facing opposite sides. The Mandapam does not have a Vimana.














SHIVA
The Idol of SHIVA is placed on the pedestal which is carved like a Lingam. Jata tied up on the head like a coconut, with snakes as haaram, round bracelets in all arms ( Chaturbhuja) and anklets well ornamented belt like jewellery on the hip. The deer skin flowing up to the knee. The fore right hand holding a Trishul with Damru. The back hand holding a snake. The left fore hand in Varada mudra and the back hand holding the deer.


VISHNU
The VISHNU idol is standing on a Padma placed on a square pedestal. Highly ornamented with Kirita, Haarams, bracelets and anklet. Beautifully decorated hip downwards in a drape. Chaturbhuja with Shankha and Chakra on the back hands. Varada hastha and Kati hastha by the fore hands.





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE PART 1 - TARAMANGALAM

SRI KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE- TARAMANGALAM - SALEM DISTRICT - TAMILNADU.- PART 1 Seven tiered Rajagopuram Shaped like a chariot. Mahavishnu gave his sister Parvathi in marriage to Shiva. This process of handing over the bride, is known as "Thaaram vaththu koduppadhu" in Tamil, hence the name of the town THARAI MANGALAM now known as Tharamangalam. MAHAVISHNU giving his sister MEENAKSHI in marriage to SHIVA. In the centre of this Town is an exotic Temple of Lord Shiva as Shri Kailasanathar with his consort Sivakami Devi. One of the rarest of temples with a treasure of exotic Sculpture and the many stories attached with them. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL U NKNOWN TEMPLES IN TAMILNADU. The first precinct on entering from the Rajagopuram. The temple had an existence before the 10th Century CE. However the same was rebuilt by the Getti Muthaliar Clan who ruled the Kongu Part of Tamilnadu from the 13th to the 17th century. The temple seems to have b...

BHOOTHAPURISHWARAR TEMPLE - SHIVA - THE LORD OF THE GANAS - SRIPERAMBUDUR

BHOOTHAPURISHWARAR TEMPLE - SRIPERAMBUDUR - KANCHIPURAM - TAMILNADU. . In the holy town of the birth of Sri Ramanujam – a Vaishnava Perceptor & Saint, is the Temple of Mahadev Shiva in the form of a lingam named Sri Bhootapurishwarar along with his consort Devi Parvathi known as Sri Soundaryavalli. Parvathi as Soundaryavalli  Exactly 2KM’s from the Toll at Sriperumbudur, on a right turn, the temple is visible from roadside to anybody who is looking for it. The town Sriperumbudur was earlier known as Bhootapuri after the lord. Bhootapurishwarar means Bhoota – Ghosts, Puri – Place and Eshwar – Lord. The lord of Bhootas and Ganas. The ancient names of this deity, as given in the inscriptions are Bhutishvarat-Azhvar, Aludaiyar Thirupudishvaram Udaiyar, Udaiyar Thiruppudishvaram-Udaiya Nayanar. Dhwajasthambam & Balipeetham A well compounded temple without a Rajagopuram facing east. Once inside the huge compound, you come in front of the Balipeetham, Dhwaja ...

ELEPHANTA CAVES PART 10 - SHIVA as LINGA – The SAGUNA form of NIRGUNA - GHARAPURI

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 10 SHIVA as LINGA – The SAGUNA form of NIRGUNA. Symbolic form of SHIVA – SHAKTHI. DWARAPALAKAS to the shirne of MAHADEVA Saguna  means “with attributes.”  Nirguna  means “without attributes.” “ Saguna ” describes a God with (tangible) attributes. The term “ Nirguna  Brahman” describes a God with no (tangible) attributes (source). The most popular form of worshipping Lord Shiva in Hinduism is in the LINGA form. It is known as SHIVALING or SHIVALINGA. The LINGA symbol is an attempt to give form to the formless, referred as Supreme Being or Brahman in Hindu religion. When a LINGA is installed on a YONI, it represents the union of SHIVA and SHAKTI – the beginning of creation. It is found at the centre of the temple, often resting in the middle of a rimmed, disc-shaped YONI. SHIVA as a LINGAM In the main cave, in the right middle six steps lead to a raised platform of 3.5 feet high. A cu...