Bhairavakona Cave Temples – The Temple Complex

Bhairavakona Cave Temples – The Temple Complex

The Temple Complex is group of eight rock cut cave temples situated amidst Nallamala forest. It is situated at an elevation of 230 meters (757 feet). These rock cut cave temples are similar to Mamallapuram rock cut cave temples with certain Rashtrakuta and Chalukyan influences. These cave temples are excavated on the side of granite cliff. The caves can be divided into two groups based on their architecture.

The first group starting from the north have only shrine cells without any mandapa in front. The second group starting from the south have shrine cells with mandapa in front. These eight rock cut cave temples are dedicated to eight forms of Lord Shiva namely Shashinaga, Rudra, Visweswara, Nagarikeswara, Bhargeswara, Rameswara, Mallikarjuna and Pakshamalika Linga.

The Central shrine houses a granite Shiva Linga with its Peeta sculpted from the mother rock. The entrance of the shrine is guarded by dvarapalas on either side. Nandi, sculpted from the mother rock, can be seen in front of the shrine, facing the Linga. The back wall of the shrine has a bas relief of Trimurti. This shrine resembles the Pallava caves at Mandagapattu and Mamallapuram.

This shrine also has an idol of goddess Trimukha Durga Devi. It is said that the rays of the moon falls on Trimukha Durga Devi on the day of Karthika Pournami.  There is a cave shrine dedicated to Goddess Annapurna in the temple complex. This Shrine can be accessed through a ladder platform. The northern most end of the cliff has a spectacular bas relief of an eight handed Hari Hara and a ten handed dancing Shiva facing the water falls.

All the shrines houses a granite Shiva Linga with its Peeta sculpted from the mother rock. The entrance of the shrines are guarded by dvarapalas on either side. Nandi, sculpted from the mother rock, can be seen in front of the shrine, facing the Linga. The pillars in the mandapa of these rock cut cave temples are heavily ornate with squatting lions at the base and bulbous capital surmounted by a large abacus. It resembles Mahendra Pallava architectural style.

There are about 101 Shiva Lingas engraved on the rock in the temple complex. Bhairavakona waterfalls is situated near to this temple. It falls from a height of 200 meters. The water from the Lingala Penta falls flows for more than 5 Kms and reaches Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Parvathi and Goddess Saraswathi Lake. It flows further and reaches the lakes of Triveni Sangamam and Chitrakoota and then passes before the deity.