Alarnath Temple, Brahmagiri – The Temple

Alarnath Temple, Brahmagiri – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The present temple was constructed over the ruined temple of the 13^th century CE in which only the pista and pabhaga mouldings of the vimana and up to the jangha portion of the jagamohana are existed. The temple is pancharatha on plan and panchangabada in elevation. The temple consists of rekha vimana, pidha jagamohana and natamandapa. The vimana and jagamohana are square on plan whereas the natamandapa is rectangular on plan.

The doorjamb of the sanctum has three bands of decoration. The sanctum enshrines an image of the presiding deity, Alarnath / Alwarnath. He is about five feet tall and is four armed. He holds chakra in his upper right hand, lotus in his lower right hand, conch in his upper left hand and club in his lower left hand. Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu can be seen at the feet of the deity with folded hands in praying position. Idols of Sridevi, Bhoodevi and Brahma can be seen in the sanctum.

There is a shrine for goddess Lakshmi inside the temple premises. She is four armed. The temple is devoid of any decoration except the carvings of the existing bada of the jagamohana which is adorned with nayikas, dikpalas and maithuna images. There is an idol of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the left side premises (Bedha Parisara) of the temple. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had stayed at this temple during Anasara period of Lord Jagannath. There is a stone slab in front of the deity which bears the impressions of Lord Chaitanya's body.

When Lord Chaitanya prostrated in front of Lord Alarnath, the stone below him melted with his blissful touch. Idols of Rukmini and Satyabhama, the consorts of Lord Krishna can be seen in the temple premises. Yajna mandapa and dola mandapa can be seen in the temple premises. Bas reliefs of Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva can be seen on the ceiling of one of the halls leading up to the sanctum. There is a lake behind the temple where Chandan Yatra is celebrated for 21 days in every year.

Brahma Gaudiya Math:

There is Brahma Gaudiya Math near the Alarnath temple. This math was established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in 1926. The math enshrines the images of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Radha Krishna, and Lord Alarnath. It is said that a priest from the Alarnath temple had found the small deity during excavation and had installed him in the temple. One night the deity appeared to the head priest in a dream and told him that he wanted to be worshiped by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. The next day, the priest presented the deity to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, who happened to be staying at the Gaudiya Math temple. This Math is visible while approaching main temple from Brahmagiri market side.