Uma Maheswara Temple, Yaganti – Legends

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.