Nagalingeswarar Temple, Utukuru, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh

Nagalingeswarar Temple, Utukuru, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh

Nagalingeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Utukuru Village near Rajampet in Kadapa District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Nagalingeswarar and Mother is called as Kamakshi. The Temple is considered as Avathara Sthalam of Kannappa Nayanar (Baktha Kannappa in Telugu).

Legends

Kannappa Nayanar was a staunch devotee of Shiva and is closely associated with Srikalahasteeswara Temple. He was a hunter and is believed to had plucked his eyes to offer to Srikalahasteeswara Linga, the presiding deity of Sri Kalahasti Temple. He is also considered one of the 63 Nayanars or holy Saivite saints, the staunch devotees of Shiva. According to historical chronicles, he was Arjuna of the Pandavas in his past life. Kannappa Nayanar is also known as Thinnappan, Dinna, Kannappa, Tinnappan, Dheera, Bhakta Kannappa, Thinnan, Kannappan, Dinnayya, Kannayya, Kannan, Bhakta Kannappan and Dheeran.

He was born in a vyadha (hunter) family, the son of Raja Naga Vyadha and his wife in Uduppura (modern Utukuru) near Rajampet Andhra Pradesh. He is an ancestor of the modern-day Vettuvar community. His father was a notable gerent among their hunting community and a great Shaiva devotee of Sri Kartikeya. He was named Dinna or Dheera by his parents, which is known to Tamil-speakers today as Thinnan or Dheeran respectively. His wife's name was Neela. Dinna was a staunch devotee of the Vayu Linga of Sri Kalahasti which he found in the forest while hunting. Being a hunter, he did not know how to properly worship Lord Shiva.

It is said that he poured water from his mouth on the Shiva lingam which he brought from the nearby river Swarnamukhi. He also offered Lord Shiva whatever animal he hunted, including swine flesh. But Lord Shiva accepted his offerings since Thinnan was pure at heart and his devotion was true. Once, Lord Shiva tested the unshakable devotion of Tinna. With his divine power, he created a tremor and the roof-tops of the temple began to fall. All the sages ran away from the scene except for Dinna who covered the Linga with his body to prevent it from any damage. Hence, he was named thereafter as Dheera (valiant one).

Tinna noticed that one of the eyes of the Shiva Linga was oozing blood and tears. Sensing that Lord Shiva eye had been injured, Dheera proceeded to pluck his one eye out with one of his arrows and placed it in the spot of the bleeding eye of the Shiva Linga. This stopped the bleeding in that eye of the Linga. But to complicate matters further, he noticed that the other eye of the Linga has also started oozing blood. So Tinna thought that if he were to pluck his other eye too, he would become blind to exactly know the spot where he has to place his own second eye over the bleeding second eye of the lingam. So, he placed his great toe on the Linga to mark the spot of the bleeding second eye and proceeded to pluck out his other and only eye.

Moved by his extreme devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before Dinna and restored both his eyes. He made Dinna as one of the Nayanmars and he was called as Kannappan or Kannappa Nayanar. When Arjuna was meditating on Sri Shiva for Pasupathastra, to test him Sri Shiva entered that forest as an animal hunter and due to word war between Sri Shiva and Arjuna, a battle took place between both and finally impressed by Arjuna's efforts, Sri Mahashiva gave him the Pasupathastra. However, because of his boastful nature of being the greatest warrior, he is born again as a devotee in the Kali Yuga as Kannappa Nayanar and finally got liberation. His Guru Pooja is conducted on the Thai Mrigashirsha Day.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 3.5 Kms from Rajampet Old Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Rajampet, 5 Kms from Rajampet New Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Rajampet Railway Station, 57 Kms from Kadapa, 80 Kms from Tirupati Airport, 84 Kms from Tirupati, 101 Kms from Sri Kalahasti, 201 Kms from Chennai and 212 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple is situated on Tirupati to Kadapa Route before Rajampet.

Location