Taraka Brahma Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva, located in Alampur Town near Kurnool in Jogulamba Gadwal District in
Telangana, India. It is one of the nine temples in Navabrahma Group of Temples.
Taraka
Brahma Temple is situated behind the ASI museum. It is the smallest Temple
among the Navabrahma Group of temples. This
temple is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra River near the meeting point of Tungabhadra River and Krishna River at the border of Andhra Pradesh. The Alampur temples are listed
as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official List of
Monuments prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
For brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
This Temple is an unusual early stage Hindu temple
because it has a multi-storey tower and for carving deities into the ceiling. The
temple is partly in ruins. The temple consists of a 6 pillared mukhamandapa,
Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Most of the vimana of the temple is destroyed and
only a minor part exists. There is a Gajalakshmi image carved above the
mandapa. It has no Shiva Linga in the sanctum sanctorum.
The Shivalinga in this temple is moved to Rama &
Lakshmana temple when this temple was destroyed in 14th century
during Bahamani Sultan attack. The door frames of the sanctum and closed
mandapa entrances have intricately designed dwara-sakhas with Ganga-Yamuna or
Nandi, Mahakala and Chauri-bearers, the lalata has Gandharva couple or a flying
Garuda.
The sculptured setting on the Kati (wall) exterior, both
over the sanctum and correspondingly on the mandapa, is very harmonious. The
various niches for deities, lattice windows, stone screens and wall recesses
filled with figural and floral designs particularly of ghatapallava class of
pillars with Mithuna panels recall the Gupta ones. The unique kudyastambhas
(engaged columnation) tend to be very decorative.
The Gandharva, Vidyadhara figures with luxurious
padmadala, hamsa and mayura, add considerable elegance to the wall faces. There
is a large stone gateway built in 8th century by Rashtrakutas
towards western side of this temple. The ceiling of the gateway has a figure of
Trimurthis. There is a carving of deer enlightening Vilasatraja wonderfully
engraved.
Beyond the gateway, there is also a doorway along with
ruins of an old fortification built by Vijayanagara Kings in 14th century.
There is the stone bowl with Persian inscription, situated close to Taraka
Brahma Temple. The boat-shaped bowl is about 4' long x 1½' wide x 2' deep. The
bowl's overall height above the ground is about 4'.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 07.00
am – 07.00 pm during normal days and 06.00 am – 08.00 pm during festivals.
Festivals
Sharan Navaratri is the biggest
festival at Alampur Temples. The concluding event, Theppotsavam (boat festival)
is an eye-catching event held on Vijaya Dasami at Krishna – Tungabhadra
Sangamam (confluence of River Krishna and Tungabhadra). Shivaratri is also
celebrated here.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
500 meters from Alampur Bus Stand, 10 Kms from Alampur Road Railway Station, 27
Kms from Kurnool Bus Stand, 28 Kms from Kurnool, 28 Kms from Kurnool Railway
Station, 58 Kms from Kurnool Airport, 126 Kms from Mahbubnagar, 200 Kms from Hyderabad
Airport and 215 Kms from Hyderabad. NH7 is the nearest highway passing close to
this village and you can easily get down at Alampur Cross Roads and hire a
taxi/auto or bus to reach the temple, which is located roughly at a distance of
around 15 Kms. APSRTC run frequent buses from Kurnool to Alampur Temple
village. The nearest railway station is Alampur Road Railway Station, but not
many trains halt here. Major Railway Station is Kurnool Railway Station.
Location
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