Uma Maheswara Temple,
Yaganti – Legends
Uma Mahesvara:
As per
legend, Sage Agastya desired to build a temple for Lord Venkateshwara on this
site. The sage was upset over this and performed a penance for Shiva. When
Shiva appeared, he said the place suits Shiva better as it resembles Kailash.
Agastya then requested Shiva to give the devotees a Parvathi Goddess
as Lord Uma Maheswara in a single stone, which Shiva obliged. He made an idol but
could not able to install as the toe nail of the idol was broken.
The
sage was heartbroken and decided to perform penance on Lord Shiva to seek an
explanation of the incident. Lord Shiva appeared before Sage Agastya and
informed him that this place suited him more than Lord Vishnu as the place
resembles Kailasha.
Sage Agastya then requested Lord Shiva to reside in this place in
Arthanareeswara form as Uma Mahesvara. This is probably the only place where
Lord Shiva is worshipped in an idol form instead of Shiva Linga.
Yaganti Nandi:
There
is a Nandi idol opposite to the sanctum. It is said that the Nandi is growing its
size continuously. The locals say that the idol was initially much smaller than
its existing size. As per geological experts, the composition of the rock from
which the idol was made has a tendency to enlarge by nature, on its own. As per
the Archaeological Survey of India, the rock grows at the rate of 1 inch per 20
years (10 mm per 8 years). The temple authorities had already removed one
pillar as the size of the Nandi has increased. As per Potuluri Veera Brahmendra
Swamy, the Yaganti Nandi will come alive
and shout when Kali Yuga ends.
Crows do not fly in Yaganti:
As per
legend, when Sage Agastya was performing penance here, the crows disturbed him
by their cawing. Irritated by their frequent cawing, he cursed that the crows
cannot enter the place. As the crow is the Vahana for Lord Shani, it is
believed that Lord Shani cannot enter this place. Thus, crows cannot be seen in
this temple from time immemorial.
Yaganti:
As per
legend, Chitteppa, an ardent devotee of
Lord Shiva had worshipped Lord Shiva here. Pleased with his worship, Lord Shiva
appeared before him as a tiger. But the devotee understood that the tiger is
none other than Lord Shiva himself and shouted Neganti Shivanu ne kanti (means
I saw Shiva I saw) and danced with joy. Thus, the place came to be called as Neganti
and got corrupted to Yaganti.
There is a cave called Chitteppa nearby.
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