Vishnu Temple, Aiti, Madhya Pradesh

Vishnu Temple, Aiti, Madhya Pradesh

Vishnu Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Varahawali Village in Morena Tehsil in Morena District in Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple is situated close to Bateshwar Group of Temples, Padhawali. The Temple is one of the state protected monuments in Madhya Pradesh declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built in 11^th century CE by Kachchhapaghata rulers.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a low raised platform. The temple consists of sanctum, narrow antrala and mandapa. The mandapa is partly in ruined state. The mandapa is enclosed with a parapet walls on all sides except the entrance at the eastern side. The pillars of the mandapa are decorated with depiction of various figures. The doorway of the sanctum is profusely ornamented.

The base of the doorjamb is carved with river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna with their attendants. The doorjamb is also carved with erotic figures. An image of Lord Shiva is carved at the center of the lalata bimba and Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma at terminal sides. Images of Navagrahas and Sapta Matrikas can be seen in between them. The exterior is carved with images of deities, floral motifs and geometrical patterns.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Rethaura Kalan Railway Station, 6 Kms from Rethaura Kalan, 10 Kms from Padhavali, 11 Kms from Bateshwar Group of Temples, 11 Kms from Malanpur, 19 Kms from Gwalior Airport, 24 Kms from Nurabad, 25 Kms from Gwalior, 27 Kms from Gwalior Junction Railway Station and 38 Kms from Morena. The temple is situated on Morena to Malanpur route via Padhavali.

Location

Bhavanarayana Temple, Bapatla – History

Bhavanarayana Temple, Bapatla – History

The temple is believed to have been constructed in 1465 CE by a Chola king named Krimikanta Chola and was restored by King Vasireddi Venkatadri Naidu of Amravati kingdom in 1856 CE. It is said that the Chola King installed eight village deities on the eight corners of the village. The temple received extensive patronage from Gajapati Kings and Vijayanagara Kings.

This temple suffered destruction at the hands of Muslim Kings and British. It is said that the French demolished the eight deities in the village. The temple was renovated by Divan Sri Raja Kadrengula Jogi Jagannath Rao Bahadur from Rajahmundry and later by the Zamindari of Challapalli Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri. The rajagopuram was built by the Zamindari of Challapalli, Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri in 1850 CE.

The rajagopuram collapsed on 23 Oct 2011 and the rajagopuram was rebuilt by the ASI. The temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India. The town was formerly known as Bhavapattana, Bhavapuri, Bhavapattu and Bhavapatta. It is said that the town was named after the Bhavanarayana Temple located in the town. Later, these names were transformed to the present name of Bapatla.

Bhavanarayana Temple, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh

Bhavanarayana Temple, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh

Bhavanarayana Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Bapatla City in Bapatla Mandal in Bapatla District in Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

As per Brahma Vyvarta Purana, Sage Agastya explained about the importance of this shrine to the sages of Naimisaranya forest.

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/08/bhavanarayana-temple-bapatla-history.html

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with four tiered rajagopuram. There are two dwaja sthambams immediately after the rajagopuram. One dwaja sthambam is taller and the other one shorter than the first one. The main shrine consists of sanctum, antrala, maha mandapa and mukha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines an image of the presiding deity, Ksheera Bhava Narayana Swamy.

The deity is said to be Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). There is a separate shrine for his consort, Sundaravalli in the temple premises. Shrines of Jwala Narasimha, Azhwars, Rama with his consort Sita & his brother Lakshmana, Kalinga Mardana and Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy in the temple premises.

Festivals

Pavitrotsavam and Radhotsavam are the festivals celebrated here with much fanfare.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 350 metres from Bapatla Railway Station, 500 metres from Bapatla Old Bus Stand, 1.5 Kms from Bapatla New Bus Stand, 17 Kms from Chirala, 43 Kms from Bhattiprolu, 73 Kms from Ongole, 90 Kms from Machilipatnam and 99 Kms from Vijayawada Airport. Bapatla is situated on Ongole to Machilipatnam route.

Location

Treteswara Temple, Attirala – Legends

Treteswara Temple, Attirala – Legends

Treteswara:

As per legend, a demon named Tretasura lived in this region during the Treta Yuga. He terrorized the sages and humans. To get rid of him, Sage Narada and the other sages performed Yagna in propitiation of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva came out from the Yagna Kunda in the form of a Tejo Lingam and annihilated Tretasura. Thus, Lord Shiva of this temple came to be called as Treteswara.

Parasurama Kshetram:

Sage Jamadagni lived along with his wife Renuka lived in the Ramshrung mountains. Renuka helped the Jamadagni in all of his tasks of performing various rituals and puja. Renuka would wake up early in the morning to bathe in the river with complete concentration and devotion. Her devotion was so powerful that she was able to create a pot to hold water made only of sand, one fresh pot every day. She would fill this pot, on the bank of the river and would use a snake which was nearby, turning it into a rope-like convolution and placing it on her head, so that it supported the pot.

Thus, she brought the water to Jamadagni for his rituals of oblation. Renuka gave birth to five sons namely Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, Brutwakanwa and Rambhadra. Rambhadra was the youngest and most beloved, gaining the favour of Lord Shiva and Parvati and hence called Parashurama (the sixth incarnation of Vishnu). One day when Renuka went to the river, she saw Gandharva spirits playing. These were young couples carelessly frolicking in the water with abandon. For a moment, she lost her concentration and devotion and fantasized about playing in the river with her husband.

She wished she and her husband had such fun sometimes too, living so close to such a beautiful place. After some time, Renuka came to her senses and cursed herself for her indiscretion. She hurriedly bathed, as she had lost precious time, and tried to create the pot, but was unable to as she had lost her concentration. She even tried to catch the snake, but it disappeared. Disappointed by this, she returned to the ashram in shame. Jamadagni came to know of what had happened with his yoga drusti (spiritual eye). He was furious with Renuka and Renuka and ordered his sons to kill their mother for the sin committed by her.

One by one, four of them refused flatly. Jamadagni, who possessed the power to burn anyone to ashes with his one look, was so angry that he went berserk and turned four of his sons into four piles of ashes. Parashurama, who was not there when this happened, found his mother weeping by the piles of ashes when he arrived, and his father was still raging mad. Jamadagni told him what happened and ordered him to behead his mother for her infidelity. Parashurama had to think quickly. Knowing his father's powers and the extent of his anger, Parashurama immediately obeyed his father, using his axe.

His father then offered a boon to Parashurama, who asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life. Jamadagni having no alternative, brought Renuka and his sons back to life. Yet the sin of killing his mother stuck to him and a bath in several sacred rivers could not absolve him of it. It is the bath in the Bahuda river at this place had absolved his sin. Hence, the place came to be called as Hathyarala (Hathya means killing and Rale means removed off). Thus, the place is famously called as Parasurama Kshetram.

Bahuda Nadi / Cheyyeru:

As per legend, two brothers namely Sage Shanka and Sage Likhitha were living during Treta Yuga. Once, Shanka was performing penance in a garden and Likhitha went to see him. He decided not to disturb his penance and waited in the garden. He plucked some fruits and ate them. After finishing penance, Shanka came to him and pointed out to his brother that he had eaten the fruits without the permission of the owner. Further, he informed that Likhitha has committed a theft.

Realizing his mistake, Likhitha went to the king and confessed his theft. The king ordered his two arms to be cut off as a punishment to his theft. Likhitha visited several sacred places and took bath in several sacred waters. Finally, he returned to his native place and took bath in the Bahuda Nadi / Cheyyeru (Cheyyi means arm & Yeru means river in Telugu and Bahu means arm and Nadi means river in Sanskrit) and got his arms back.

Dakshina Gaya:

It is believed that performing Tarpan for the deceased ancestors in the Cheyyeru River is equivalent in performing Tarpan at Gaya. Hence, Attirala came to be called as Dakshina Gaya.

Parasurameswara Temple, Attirala – The Temple

Parasurameswara Temple, Attirala – The Temple

This temple is facing towards west, but the entrance is from the eastern side. The temple measures 51 metres in length and 35 metres in breadth. The main shrine consists of sanctum, antrala and a pillared mukha mandapa. The pillared mukha mandapa surrounds the sanctum and the antrala. Thus, providing circumbulatory path around the sanctum. The mukha mandapa is completely enclosed by walls on all sides except the entrance doorway on the southern side.

The base of the doorjamb have dvarapalas. An image of Gaja Lakshmi can be seen on the lalata bimba of the doorway. The mukha mandapa consists of 44 pillars. Each pillar contains a plain round shaft crowned by a capital with roll and leaf corbels. The sanctum has an oblong exterior and an apsidal interior. The doorjambs of the sanctum entrance are decorated with creepers, pilasters, and lotus petal carvings. The dvarapalas are represented on the lower portions of the door jambs and Gajalakshmi motif in the lalata.

The lintel is adorned with makara torana topped by simhamukha. The torana consists of a warrior with a sword and shield in the centre and on either side of the simhamukha there are two human figures kneeling in a fighting pose. The ceiling of the sanctum is not flat as seen in the other temples. It rises conically like the barrel vaulted roofs. The sanctum houses an image of Shiva consecrated in recent times. A broken image of Parasuramesvara now lying in the mukha mandapa seems to be the original image of the sanctum.

The wall of the sanctum consists of a series of projections and recesses carried out from the adishtana level to the kapota. The walls are adorned with Chola style pilasters and niches surmounted by simhalalata makara toranas. The niches house no images. There are some sculptures on the walls in between the pilasters and in the recesses, which include Kankala Murti, Venugopala, Kaliyamardhana and Kalyana Sundaramurti. The kapota above is decorated with simhalalata gables.

Above this kapota there is a wide gala consisting of the projections and recesses corresponding to those of the wall portion. This gala portion is also decorated with Chola type pilasters niches topped by simhalalata makara toranas, the sculptures of vidyadharas, apsarasas and divinities. The niches house the deity images like Uma Mahesvara, Dakshinamurti, etc. The upper register of this wide gala consists of bhutamala in which the dwarfs are represented in different poses.

The kapota above is decorated with simhalalata gables which have human heads inside. The vimana, structure over the sanctum is in the form of Gajabrusta, the shape of an elephant in its sitting posture. There is an open pillared mandapa on the southwestern side of the outer prakaram. This mandapa is facing towards east. It is a rectangular structure and measures 22 metres in length and 11 metres in breadth.

This mandapa stands on seventy two pillars arranged in six rows and each consisting of twelve pillars. The pillars of the mandapa are of three varieties i.e., a pillar of the first variety has a lower rectangular block and a tapering octagonal shaft, a pillar of the second variety has three square blocks, two octagonal sections in between and the pillars of the last variety consists of round shafts. All the pillars have roll and leaf corbels. The idol of Ekatatayya, a saint who lived during the regime of Matli Chiefs can also been seen inside the temple.

Parasurameswara Temple, Attirala – Legends

Parasurameswara Temple, Attirala – Legends

Parasurama Kshetram:

Sage Jamadagni lived along with his wife Renuka lived in the Ramshrung mountains. Renuka helped the Jamadagni in all of his tasks of performing various rituals and puja. Renuka would wake up early in the morning to bathe in the river with complete concentration and devotion. Her devotion was so powerful that she was able to create a pot to hold water made only of sand, one fresh pot every day. She would fill this pot, on the bank of the river and would use a snake which was nearby, turning it into a rope-like convolution and placing it on her head, so that it supported the pot.

Thus, she brought the water to Jamadagni for his rituals of oblation. Renuka gave birth to five sons namely Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, Brutwakanwa and Rambhadra. Rambhadra was the youngest and most beloved, gaining the favour of Lord Shiva and Parvati and hence called Parashurama (the sixth incarnation of Vishnu). One day when Renuka went to the river, she saw Gandharva spirits playing. These were young couples carelessly frolicking in the water with abandon. For a moment, she lost her concentration and devotion and fantasized about playing in the river with her husband.

She wished she and her husband had such fun sometimes too, living so close to such a beautiful place. After some time, Renuka came to her senses and cursed herself for her indiscretion. She hurriedly bathed, as she had lost precious time, and tried to create the pot, but was unable to as she had lost her concentration. She even tried to catch the snake, but it disappeared. Disappointed by this, she returned to the ashram in shame. Jamadagni came to know of what had happened with his yoga drusti (spiritual eye). He was furious with Renuka and Renuka and ordered his sons to kill their mother for the sin committed by her.

One by one, four of them refused flatly. Jamadagni, who possessed the power to burn anyone to ashes with his one look, was so angry that he went berserk and turned four of his sons into four piles of ashes. Parashurama, who was not there when this happened, found his mother weeping by the piles of ashes when he arrived, and his father was still raging mad. Jamadagni told him what happened and ordered him to behead his mother for her infidelity. Parashurama had to think quickly. Knowing his father's powers and the extent of his anger, Parashurama immediately obeyed his father, using his axe.

His father then offered a boon to Parashurama, who asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life. Jamadagni having no alternative, brought Renuka and his sons back to life. Yet the sin of killing his mother stuck to him and a bath in several sacred rivers could not absolve him of it. It is the bath in the Bahuda river at this place had absolved his sin. Hence, the place came to be called as Hathyarala (Hathya means killing and Rale means removed off). Thus, the place is famously called as Parasurama Kshetram.

Bahuda Nadi / Cheyyeru:

As per legend, two brothers namely Sage Shanka and Sage Likhitha were living during Treta Yuga. Once, Shanka was performing penance in a garden and Likhitha went to see him. He decided not to disturb his penance and waited in the garden. He plucked some fruits and ate them. After finishing penance, Shanka came to him and pointed out to his brother that he had eaten the fruits without the permission of the owner. Further, he informed that Likhitha has committed a theft.

Realizing his mistake, Likhitha went to the king and confessed his theft. The king ordered his two arms to be cut off as a punishment to his theft. Likhitha visited several sacred places and took bath in several sacred waters. Finally, he returned to his native place and took bath in the Bahuda Nadi / Cheyyeru (Cheyyi means arm & Yeru means river in Telugu and Bahu means arm and Nadi means river in Sanskrit) and got his arms back.

Dakshina Gaya:

It is believed that performing Tarpan for the deceased ancestors in the Cheyyeru River is equivalent in performing Tarpan at Gaya. Hence, Attirala came to be called as Dakshina Gaya.

Parasurameswara Temple, Attirala – History

Parasurameswara Temple, Attirala – History

This temple is believed to be built in early 10^th century CE by the Vaidumbas, the feudatory of the Cholas. The mandapas and the prakara walls were built in 13^th century CE. There are about nine inscriptions recorded in this temple. Inscription dating to Rajaraja Chola III (1216 – 1246 CE) records the gift of one madai for a lamp by a native of Nenpakkai to the temple of Tiruviramisvaradeva at Tiruvaratturai in Merpakkai Nadu, a subdivision of Adhirajendra Chola Mandalam.

Another inscription dated in 1272 CE records an agreement by the residents of Pottapi Nadu who had met in the mandapa called Chitrameli to raise one madai from each village in order to construct an embankment on the side of the river and to prevent any damage from floods to the temple of Parasuramesvaramudaiya Nayanar. An inscription dated in 1278 CE records the gift of twelve madai for a lamp to the shrine of Vairava Pillaiyar at Tiruvaratturai by a native of Pudoli (present poli near Attirala).

A damaged inscription dated in 1279 CE records the gift of land to the temple of Parasuramesvara of Araturevula for the merit of Ambadeva Maharaja ruling at Valluripattana. It also refers to a number of tanks, canals and villages founded and named after the king. The inscription also refers to the construction of a mandapa and a lamp post in the Parasuramesvara temple. Another inscription of 1280 CE records the gift of fifteen madai for lamps and garlands to the temple of Parasuramesvara Nayanar, by a native of Mandapalli.

An inscription dated in 1283 CE records the gift of two madai for providing a flower garland to the Parasuramesvaramudaiya Nayanar. Another inscription of 1290 CE records the gift of twelve madai for lamps by the wife of Ponunganti Vasireddi to the temple of Parasuramesvaramudaiya Nayanar at Tiruvaratturai in Pothapinadu, a sub-division of Merpakkainadu in Adhirajendra Mandalam.

An incomplete inscription dated in 1477 CE records the Annamarusayya came to Araturevula and enquired into the affairs of the Parasuramesvara and other temples, and after knowing that the income had been stopped in the interval, restored the temple lands at Proli for the merit of Vijayanagara King Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya.

Gadadhara Swamy Temple, Attirala – Legends

Gadadhara Swamy Temple, Attirala – Legends

Parasurama Kshetram:

Sage Jamadagni lived along with his wife Renuka lived in the Ramshrung mountains. Renuka helped the Jamadagni in all of his tasks of performing various rituals and puja. Renuka would wake up early in the morning to bathe in the river with complete concentration and devotion. Her devotion was so powerful that she was able to create a pot to hold water made only of sand, one fresh pot every day. She would fill this pot, on the bank of the river and would use a snake which was nearby, turning it into a rope-like convolution and placing it on her head, so that it supported the pot.

Thus, she brought the water to Jamadagni for his rituals of oblation. Renuka gave birth to five sons namely Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, Brutwakanwa and Rambhadra. Rambhadra was the youngest and most beloved, gaining the favour of Lord Shiva and Parvati and hence called Parashurama (the sixth incarnation of Vishnu). One day when Renuka went to the river, she saw Gandharva spirits playing. These were young couples carelessly frolicking in the water with abandon. For a moment, she lost her concentration and devotion and fantasized about playing in the river with her husband.

She wished she and her husband had such fun sometimes too, living so close to such a beautiful place. After some time, Renuka came to her senses and cursed herself for her indiscretion. She hurriedly bathed, as she had lost precious time, and tried to create the pot, but was unable to as she had lost her concentration. She even tried to catch the snake, but it disappeared. Disappointed by this, she returned to the ashram in shame. Jamadagni came to know of what had happened with his yoga drusti (spiritual eye). He was furious with Renuka and Renuka and ordered his sons to kill their mother for the sin committed by her.

One by one, four of them refused flatly. Jamadagni, who possessed the power to burn anyone to ashes with his one look, was so angry that he went berserk and turned four of his sons into four piles of ashes. Parashurama, who was not there when this happened, found his mother weeping by the piles of ashes when he arrived, and his father was still raging mad. Jamadagni told him what happened and ordered him to behead his mother for her infidelity. Parashurama had to think quickly. Knowing his father's powers and the extent of his anger, Parashurama immediately obeyed his father, using his axe.

His father then offered a boon to Parashurama, who asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life. Jamadagni having no alternative, brought Renuka and his sons back to life. Yet the sin of killing his mother stuck to him and a bath in several sacred rivers could not absolve him of it. It is the bath in the Bahuda river at this place had absolved his sin. Hence, the place came to be called as Hathyarala (Hathya means killing and Rale means removed off). Thus, the place is famously called as Parasurama Kshetram.

Bahuda Nadi / Cheyyeru:

As per legend, two brothers namely Sage Shanka and Sage Likhitha were living during Treta Yuga. Once, Shanka was performing penance in a garden and Likhitha went to see him. He decided not to disturb his penance and waited in the garden. He plucked some fruits and ate them. After finishing penance, Shanka came to him and pointed out to his brother that he had eaten the fruits without the permission of the owner. Further, he informed that Likhitha has committed a theft.

Realizing his mistake, Likhitha went to the king and confessed his theft. The king ordered his two arms to be cut off as a punishment to his theft. Likhitha visited several sacred places and took bath in several sacred waters. Finally, he returned to his native place and took bath in the Bahuda Nadi / Cheyyeru (Cheyyi means arm & Yeru means river in Telugu and Bahu means arm and Nadi means river in Sanskrit) and got his arms back.

Dakshina Gaya:

It is believed that performing Tarpan for the deceased ancestors in the Cheyyeru River is equivalent in performing Tarpan at Gaya. Hence, Attirala came to be called as Dakshina Gaya.

Treteswara Temple, Attirala, Andhra Pradesh

Treteswara Temple, Attirala, Andhra Pradesh

Treteswara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Attirala Village in Rajampet Mandal in Kadapa District in Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple is located at the top of the Tretachala hill on the banks of Cheyyeru River. The temple is one of the state protected monuments in Andhra Pradesh declared by Archaeological Survey of India. Attirala houses three major temples namely Gadadhara Swamy Temple, Parasurameswara Temple and Treteswara Temple.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/08/treteswara-temple-attirala-legends.html

The Temple

The temple is situated at the top of the Tretachala hill and can be reached after climbing flight of steps. This temple is facing towards west with three tiered rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwaja Sthambam and Nandi can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, maha mandapa and mukha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Treteswara in the form of Shiva Linga.

There is a separate south facing shrine for goddess Kamakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva in the maha mandapa. Shrines of Chandikeswarar, Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Vinayaga, Pancha Lingas and Navagrahas can be seen in the temple premises. There is a Kalyana mandapa in the temple premises.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 8 Kms from Rajampet, 8 Kms from Rajampet Bus Stand, 8 Kms from Narayana Nellore, 10 Kms from Hastavaram Railway Station, 14 Kms from Nandalur, 56 Kms from Kadapa, 89 Kms from Tirupati Airport, 94 Kms from Tirupati and 221 Kms from Chennai Airport. The temple is situated on Rajampet to Narayana Nellore route.

Location