Parasurameswarar Temple, Gudimallam – History

Parasurameswarar Temple, Gudimallam – History

The Parasurameswarar Temple has a 2200 years old history as the longest continuously worshiped Shiva Temple in the world. The main lingam and Peetham, which were once out in the open under a tree, are dated 3rd century BC, while successive rulers of Pallavas, Banas, Cholas and Rayas made later additions to the temple. There are several inscriptions which date to the Pallava, Ganga Pallava, Bana and Chola periods on the walls of the shrine and on stone slabs in the temple courtyard.

The earliest inscription belongs to the reign of Nandivarma Pallava (802 AD). All the inscriptions mention the keen interest taken by the donors and their gifts to the Temple. However, none of the inscriptions give the village name as Gudimallam. Inscriptions on the temple walls in ancient Tamil describe the royal donations made to the temple, besides the various modifications made by rulers. 

The temple is protected by ASI since 1954. The excavations carried by ASI (former director of ASI Dr. I.K. Sharma) during 1973 has retrieved black and redware sherds (date) assignable to 2^nd - 3^rd century A.D. The potsherds and the large size bricks (42 x 21 x 6 cm) retrieved from the site made the scholar to assign the temple to Satavahana period. He also unearthed two feet of the structure in 1994, and asserts that the iconographic features of the central engraved figure indicate it to be that of Agnirudra Shiva, and not Parasurama.

No rituals such as Abhishekams are permitted in the ASI protected monument, considering its age and importance. The villagers of Gudimallam are distressed at the 2,200-year old tradition being interrupted, and believe it to be the cause of a sudden downturn in the village’s prosperity. The conflict between simple practicality and religious sentiments came to a head with a tragic incident in 1995.

Villagers speak of a mother who, wanting to celebrate her son’s birthday, went to the temple with the child and three of his friends. ASI workers had been cleaning the temple walls, and had left for a break leaving the inflammable cleaning chemicals in the sanctum sanctorum. Seeing the place empty, the woman lit camphor. The fumes exploded causing the instant death of the woman and the four children. 

The ASI, which has no record of the episode, has forbidden all forms of worship since. Temple endowment board chairman Narsimhalu Yadav says that the once prosperous village is now dying and believes the interruption of ritual worship and the falling down of the Dwajasthambam 30 years ago to be the reasons behind it.