The
visit to this Shri Rukmini Pandurangaswamy Temple, Proddatur, Andhra Pradesh,
was a part of “Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Heritage walk”, from 25th
to 28th December 2025, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”. This
place, Proddatur, is on the banks of the Penna River.
Moolavar : Shri Pandurangan
Consort : Shri Rukmini
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Pandurangan, Rukmini,
Anjaneyar and Garudan are on the top of the entrance. Dwajasthambam, Tulsi
madam. In the sanctum, Shri Pandurangan and Shri Rukmini are in a standing posture.
Pandurangan is keeping both hands on his hip.
In
the praharam, Vinayagar, Ramanujar and Anjaneyar. All three are in the form
of bas-reliefs on a flat stone. Vinayagar and Ramanujar are on both sides of
the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum, facing east. Anjaneyar faces north.
A stucco image of Ranganathar, reclining on Adhiseshan, is on the top of the east side
entrance.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum and a mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is
square in shape on an adhistanam. There are no deva koshtas on the bhitti. The
sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The two-tier vimanam with greevam and sigaram above the prastaram was built with
bricks. The construction of the temple followed the Dravidian architecture.
Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtas.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is said that an old small temple existed in the same place where the present
structure was built in recent years.
LEGENDS
Lord
Vitthal or Panduranga is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Once
upon a time, there was a devotee named Pundalik who was travelling to Kashi,
and on the way, he reached the ashram of a Saint named Kukkut. Pundalik asked
the saint the way to Kashi, to which he replied that he wasn't aware of the way, as he had never been there. Hearing this, Pundalik made fun of the Kukkut Rishi
for not knowing the way and further said, “A holy man like you should have
already visited Kashi. The Rishi kept quiet and didn't react to Pundalik’s
comments.
That
Night, Pundalik stayed at the ashram. Suddenly, he woke from his deep sleep,
hearing a woman’s voice. He saw that 3 women were sprinkling water in the
ashram and cleaning.
On
enquiry, Pundalik found that the 3 women were Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, the
three Holy Rivers that came down to clean the ashram of Rishi Kukkut. Pundalik
was a bit surprised how a saint like Kukkut, who had not visited Kashi, was so
holy and powerful that the 3 holy Rivers have come to His Ashram. The three
women told Pundalik that piousness, spirituality, and devotion don't depend
on visiting holy places or doing costly rituals. But depends on performing
one's Karma correctly (fulfilling all the duties and responsibilities).
They
further added that Sage Kukkut had served and nursed his parents most
faithfully and devoted all his life to them. Thus, he had accumulated enough
virtue to earn Moksha, and thereby the 3 holy women came down to Earth to serve
the Rishi.
On
the contrary, Pundalik has left his old parents at home and was visiting Kashi
to gain Moksha and blessings. Pundalik didn't bother to entertain the request of
his parents to take them along with him to Kashi. Pundalik, after hearing all
this, understood his mistake and rushed back home, and took his parents to
Kashi, and after returning from the holy Kashi, started to take utmost care of
his old parents.
Lord
Krishna was moved by the sincere devotion of Pundalik towards his parents and
decided to test Pundalik. Lord Krishna came to Pundalik’s home, but Krishna saw
that Pundalik was busy attending to his parents. Pundalik saw Lord Krishna at
the door, but his devotion towards his parents was so intense that he wanted to
finish his duties first and later attend to his guest.
Pundalik
has reached such a stage that it doesn't matter to him whether the guest is a
mere mortal or God. All that mattered was service to His parents. Pundalik gave Lord Krishna a brick to stand
on and asked Him to wait until his duty was completed. And Lord Krishna, moved
by the devotion of Pundalik to his parents, waited for him patiently.
Later,
Pundalik came out and asked Krishna for forgiveness for making Him wait.
Krishna asked for any desired boon, for which Pundalik said, “My Lord, what can
I ask for? My Lord himself waits for me..?” Krishna insisted that Pundalik
ask for a boon, and then he asked Krishna to remain on Earth to bless and take
care of His devotees.
Lord
Krishna agreed to stay there and is known as Vithoba, or the Lord who stands on
a brick. This form of Lord Vithoba is Swayambhu (which came into existence
on its own).
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi/ Mukkoti
Ekadasi, Hanuman Jayanthi, and other Vaishna festivals.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00
hrs.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple is on the Kadapa to Jammalamadugu main road, at Proddatur. This place, Proddatur, is about 24 km from Jammalamadugu and 52 km from Kadapa.
The
nearest Railway Station is Proddatur, and the temple is about 5 km.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
