Sangameswara Temple, Muchumarri – History

Sangameswara Temple, Muchumarri – History

The temple complex was built by the Chalukya Dynasty. The temple complex was famously called as Pancheshwaram due to the presence of five major Shiva shrines namely Sangameswaram, Sidheswaram, Kapileswaram, Someswaram and Malleswaram. When the Srisailam dam construction started, few temples were relocated to Alampur and Kurnool, but many other temples were demolished. However, Sangameswara Temple was not relocated. It was partly demolished, and the idol was removed.

Kanchi Shankaracharya of Kamakoti Mutt intervened and stopped the demolition. The temple was rebuilt by ASI and the idol repositioned. The temple complex got submerged in the 1980s and remained hidden under water for twenty years and it resurfaced after decades in 2003. Since 2003, the temple has resurfaced every year during summer and is kept open for the public.

Sangameswara Kshetra is also known as Nivrutti Sangama. It is one of the important pilgrimage center mentioned by Saint Sri Vadiraja Tirtharu in his magnum opus Theertha Prabandha. The Moola Brindavana of Sri Sathyanidhi Theertharu situated at this place was relocated to Kurnool Uttaradi Matha during the period of Sri Sathya Pramoda Theertharu. It is said that Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji spent 40 days at Sangameswaram.