Bugga_Ramalingeswara_temple

Bugga Ramalingeswara temple

Bugga Ramalingeswara temple

Hindu temple in India

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is a Siva shrine situated on the southern bank of the Penna river in Tadipatri, Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] It was built between 1490 and 1509 by Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu I, a chieftain of the Gutti-Gandikota region during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire.[2]

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Musical pillars and the main unfinished gopuram

The presiding deity is a linga, considered to be ‘swayambhu’ (naturally occurring or self originated).[1] The temple has seven small independent pillars in front of the Vishnu shrine and when struck they produce 'saptaswara' (the seven musical notes).[3] The gopurams of the temple are unfinished and were described by architectural historian James Anderson as ‘wonders’.[4]

Description

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is 4 km (2.5 mi) from Tadipatri railway station. It was likely built between 1490 and 1509 during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire.[2] As per the Tadipatri kaifiyat collected by Colin Mackenzie in 1802, the temple was built by Ramalinga Nayudu, a chieftain of the Gutti-Gandikota region in Vijayanagara Empire.[2]

The temple consists of a sanctum, ardhmandapa, and mukhamandapa in an axial line. The temple contains bas relief structures illustrating episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The presiding deity (linga) being a ‘swayambhu’ (naturally occurring or self originated).[1] Unlike other Hindu temples where the deities are east-facing, in this temple the Shiva linga faces west.[4] When struck, the seven pillars in front of the Vishnu shrine produce 'saptaswara' (a musical scale).[3]

The architectural historian James Anderson described the gopurams of this temple as ‘wonders’.[4]

  • Entrance to Garbhagudi
  • Unfinished gopuram
  • Unfinished gopuram
  • Musical pillars
  • Rocks used for construction
  • Inside the temple
  • Panoramic view of the temple
  • Temple carvings

References

  1. [1]
    Arch. Series. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Archaeology. 1960.
  2. [2]
    Reddy, V. K. Rakesh (10 August 2015). "Apathy hits Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  3. [3]
    Bhaskar, V. S. "District Census Handbook, Anantapur, Part XII-A & B, Series-29". p. 21. The seven small independent pillars in the temple when touched produce 'Saptaswara' (the seven musical notes).
  4. [4]
    "Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple: Visit this offbeat gem from the Vijayanagara era". www.beontheroad.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
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