Sri Prasanna Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Hari-Hara Kshethram - Devuni Gutta near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Nandagiri and Kotla Narsimhulapalle are the twin villages lying side by
side about 30 km to the north of Karimnagar. These villages can be
reached from Karimnagar via Ramadugu and from Jagityala via Gangadhara
by bus. The place is just 200 kms north of Hyderabad City.
There are various testimonials to state the historical and religious
importance of this place. It is said that King Satakarni (241 BC), the
son of King Sreemukha of Satavahana dynasty, while going on Jaithra
Yathra (victory lap) from Paithan (Prathistanapuram, present Aurangabad
in Maharashtra state), made a halt at Nandagiri village and very much
enjoyed the natural beauty of the place and constructed a Gagana
Mandiram (Sky palace) on the top of the hillock. Its ruins are visible
even now. Later on, it is said that the 17th king in the Satavahana
Dynasty, King Hala (who wrote Gatha Saptha Shathi in Pyshachika
language) and his wife resided at Nandagiri. Even though the Satavahana
kings practiced Jainism and Buddhism, they also patronized Vedic
religions. They constructed temples as per the Advaitha culture on the
advice of vedic scholars.
The practice of constructing temples in Karimnagar district owes to the
times of Rastra Kootas, vemulawada (Western) Chalukyas and Kakateeya
Kings.
It is said that the rare and unique sculpture of "SHODASHA BAAHU ASTA
MUKHA UGRA NARSIMHA" carved on a big boulder at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy
temple at Narasimhulapalle village dates back to early 8th century
AD, to the rule of Imperial Rastra Kootas, while the rock cut temple
(cave temple) and Main Mukha mandapam were constructed by the Imperial
Rastra Kootas either during later peiod of 8th century or early period
of 9th century AD. Later on the rulers of
Vemulawada
Chalukyas (Western Chalukyas, 755-968 AD) patronized this temple and the
Stepped Pyramid type of the Aalaya Gopuram reflects the temple
architecture of the Western Chalukyas. The Veerabhadra, Mallikarjuna and
Nanchareesvara (Somanatha) temples of Narasimhulapalle village reflect
the Kakatiya temple architecture. Therefore, they can be said to belong
to the 12th century. As Nandagiri once existed in an ancient mud fort,
it is known as Nandagiri-Kotla, and Narsimhulapalle is also called
Kotla-Narsimhulapalle. Before the Mauryas came to power, the Nandas who
ruled over Magadha are stated to have set up a military camp on the
banks of river Godavari known as Nava Nanda Dera, which is now known as
Nanded. The Nandas, who had their sway over the region, are believed to
have founded this Nandagiri with a mud fort around it and the traces of
its moat and walls can be noticed here and there in the twin villages of
Nandagiri-Kotla Kotla-Narsimhulapalle, which once existed within
the Kota or Fort.
A short documentary on very ancient temples at our village, Kotla
Narsimhulapalle in Gangadhara Mandal of Karimnagar District in Telangana
State
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Rmlo2W2HRcWTMzYzRWaU5DU2M/view
1. PRASANNA LAXMI NARSIMHA AND SEETHA RAMA SWAMY DEVASTHANAM
The Prasanna Laxmi Narsimha & Seetha Rama Swamy is on the hillock
known as Devuni Gutta. 60 steps carved in stone lead to the
temple.
En route, we find a Mandapa of Bhaktha Anjaneya, who is the Kshetra
palaka. It is said that this sculpture carved on a boulder pertains to
Vijayanagara empire and may be the work of Vyasa Raya.
There is a big boulder at the temple on which we find a sculpture of
"SHODASHA BAAHU ASTA MUKHA UGRA NARSIMHA"carved. A deep cave under
this boulder is converted into Garbha Alaya facing the west. The idol of
“Vaamankitha Prasanna Laxmi Narsimhawith four hands and Prabhavalai
behind it containing the Dashavathara is installed in the cave. The
temple consists of the Garbha Griha and Mukha Mandapa which is a
was Ten Sq. feet laid on 12 pillars. The idols of Alwars said to
have been installed by Vedantha Deshikacharya are notice in the
Garbhaalya.
The main temple might have been constructed at a later period,during
later part of 8th century AD or early part of 9th Century AD by Imperial
Rastra Kootas.
In the Upa Sannidhi of the temple, we find a Mandapa wherein we find the
granite idol of “Vamankitha Seetha Rama” and another idol of Laxmana in
the form of Audi Seshu, facing the East sculpture.
Pratista of Dwaja Sthambha - On 24th June 2010.
2. ANNAPOORNA VISWANATHA TEMPLE
The Viswanatha temple on the banks of Koneru is on the eastern side
on Devuni Gutta. This temple was also constructed by the Rastra Koota
Kings during later period of 8th century AD or early period of 9th
century AD, as could be seen from the Siva Lingam and pillars of the
Mukha Mandapam.
Till 24th June 2010, there was only siva Lingam and no rituals are
conducted. On 24th June 2010, Saiva Peetadhipathi and sadguru Dr
Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy Garu has consecrated the idols of
Nandeeshwara, Vijaya Ganapathi, Chatur Baahu Annapoorna Devi and Dwaja
sthambham and since the daily rituals are being performed.
24th June is now celebrated as Pratista Day, every year. Maha
Lingarchana is performed to 365 Paarthiva Lingas by lighting 365
Jyothis (lamps) on this day.
3. NANDAGIRI VEERABHADRA SWAMY TEMPLE
The Kakateeya kings patronized Saivism and built several Saiva temples. Among them temples dedicated to Veerabhadra Swamy.
Nandagiri Veerabhadra Swamy temple containing Garbhalaya, small
Antharala and a 16 pillared Mandapa faces the north.
The image of Veerabhadra with four hands is installed in the Garbhaalaya
lying to w the south of Mandapa. He holds Damaru and Trishula in
upper hands and a Khadga in the lower right hand, while lower left hand
is in Varada Mudra. The gharbhalaya lying to the west of the Mandapa
contains Raja Rajeshwara Swamy in the form of Linga placed on a
pedestal. The roof of the Mandapa is flat except the central part
noticed in Kadalika Karna process. The central square slab contains a
full blown lotus with its bud looking down from the center. A similar
roof is found in the Garbhagriha. There is a parapet wall on all sides
of the Mandapa. The decoration of four petalled lotuses is noticed on
Adhistana of the temple. The spires on both the garbha grihas are
star-shaped in stepped pyramidal form crowned by the stone Kalasas. The
cornice of the roof is slightly slant decorated with half-moon stones.
There is a Chalukyan Nandi before the temple over which a four pillared
Mandapa is built recently. There is a Nandi Sthambha standing erect in
the courtyard with a stone slab at its top once containing a miniature
Nandi Mandapa, which is lost.
4. MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY TEMPLE
There is a ruined temple of Mallikarjuna Swamy facing East.
This temple also belongs to the rule of Kakateeya Kings (12th-13th
Century AD). The Antharala and Mukha Mandapa are lost. Th Dwar Dwae
extant Garbha Griha contains Linga placed on a high pedestal. which has
mouldings of Kakateeyan Art. The Antharala doorway carved with Saiva
Dwara Palakas at the base contains lattice windows on either side. The
Garbha Griha door way carved with TRISAKHAS contains Saiva Dwara
Palak at the base flanked by beautiful female figures with fly- whisks
in their hands. The lintel contains Gaja Laxmi motif at the centre. The
projecting cornice above the lintel is decorated with semi-circular
stones and a number of drip-stones. The turrets are sculptured on the
architrave.
This ruined temple is reconstructed/renovated during the year 2011-2013
and Dwaja Sthambha erected. The Temple Development committee has taken
pains to rebuilt this dilapidated temple.
5. SOMANATHA TEMPLE(YERUKALA NANCHAREESHWARA GUDI)
There is a ruined Somanatha temple lying in the fields at a little
distance from Veera Bhadra Swamy temple. There is a big kakateeyan Nandi
now lying before the ruined temple containing several ornamental bands
running along and across its body. It has a collar ornamented with Haras
of bells around its neck. The festooned rump garland feature of the
Kakateeya sculpture. This temple which is in dilapidated state require
reconstruction , renovation and regular maintenance and worship.
DEVUNI GUTTA
There are ruins of the fort on the top of the hillock. Two or three
inscriptions on stone pillars (Shila Shasanas) are found here. It is
mentioned in the Karimnagar Mandala Charithra, a Telugu book published
by Thygaraja Lalitha Kala Parishath, Karimnagar, that these stone
inscriptions were investigated by Late Sri Suravaram Pratapa Reddy and
poet Doopati Venkata Ramana Charyulu and published in the Telugu daily
newspaper Golkonda Patrika. Unfortunately, copies of these papers are
not available to ascertain the history of the place. The Department of
AP Ste Archaeology and Museums, Hyderabad, also did not make any mention
about these inscriptions in the book on Inscriptions of Karimnagar
District, published in the year 1974.
“Kalvakota Ranga Rao Deshapandye Memorial Trust”was founded by the
members of late Kalvakota Ranga Rao, Deshapandye of Narsimhulapalle on
11th November 2005 .The main objective of this Family Trust is
maintenance, protection, and renovating the temples of Laxmi Narsimha
and Viswanatha.
On 21st November 2013,” Sri Laxmi Narsimha And Annapoorna Viswanatha
Temples Trust” was formed and registered at Karimnagar. Both these
Trusts together are managing the temples.
Sri Laxmi Narsimha & Annapoorna Viswanatha Temples Trust
2-9-47, Mukarrampura Karimnagar 505 001 Telangana State, India
Mobile # +91 98493 30132, +91 9989063757
E mail : hariharakshetramknr@gmail.com
hariharakshetramknr.org
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