Sri Parasurameswara Swamy Devasthanam, Gudimallam in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh.

12^th May 2019.

It was a long-time wish to visit the Sri Parasurameswara Shiva Temple at Gudimallam, in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, which has the earliest Shiva Linga, dating back to the 2^nd century BCE. Thanks to Mr. Manoj for organizing this visit. In addition to this temple, we had been to Appalayagunta, Nagalapuram, Narayanavanam Vishnu temples, Ramagiri Sri Kala Bhairava & Sri Valeeswarar Temple, and Sri Pallikondeswarar Temple at Surutapalli.

Moolavar    : Sri Parasurameswara Swamy

Consort      : Sri Anandavalli / Sri Parvati.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance to the Rajagopuram on the west, on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River. The Tamil inscription tablets are installed (in the outer praharam) on the right immediately after the entrance. In the outer praharam sannadhi for Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Sri Anandavalli, Suryan (life-size), balipeedam, dwajasthambam, and Rishabam.

ARCHITECTURE

An open mandapa is at the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum on the south side. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. The bhitti starts with vedikai. Vishnu kantha pilasters are on the bhitti with kalasam, kudam, mandi, and palakai. The sanctum sanctorum consists of an apsidal sanctum (semi-circular shape), antarala, and ardha mandapam. 

 

 adhistanam- moat form

MOOLAVAR SHIVA LINGAM DETAILS

As per the leaflet issued by the temple, the Moolavar  is 7 feet tall and represents “Thiri-Murtis” – “Lord Brahma” in the yaksha roopam, “Lord Vishnu” in Parasurama avatar, and “Lord Shiva” in Purusha Linga avatar.  

Explanation of the relief onthe  Shiva Linga: The relief on the Linga facing front is Standing Shiva with two hands. The right hand holds a ram by the hind legs, with the head hanging downwards.  The left hand holds a globular pot and an Axe (parasu – used in the battlefield), which rests on the left shoulder. The Shiva Linga is installed within a pair of stone rings. Lord Shiva is standing on the shoulders of a crouching dwarf yaksha, who is seated on his knees. Ornaments are shown on the neck, ears, and hands. The hairstyle seems to be Pallava style. The above details may be seen during abhishekam only, and the rest of the time, the Shiva Linga will be completely covered with flowers and garlands.

 Moolavar with decoration

Moolavar ( PC - Web site )

The sanctum is about 4 feet below the Antarala. Due to this, the village was called Gudipallam, which got corrupted to the present name of Gudimallam. It is believed that the Swarnamukhi river water touches the moolavar once in 60 years, and it last happened on 4^th Dec 2005.

A stucco Gajabirushta vimanam is over the sanctum. The space between the sanctum and the praharam forms a moat.  The sun's rays fall on the moolavar during the Sun’s movement from Uttarayanam to Dakshinayanam, i.e., North to South.

Apart from regular poojas, Abhishekam to Sri Anandavalli goddess will be done every Friday between 8.00 hrs and 09.00 hrs, followed by Kunguma archana from 10.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs.  The problem of delay in marriage and childlessness will be relieved by performing the Swamy Abhishekam.

Anandavalli Ambal shrine

HISTORY& INSCRIPTIONS:

The sanctum walls and the adhisthana bear  the inscriptions of Pallavas /Banas (842 to 904 CE)/Chozha,  and Vijayanagara (Yadavaraya 1346 CE) period, and mention Shiva as Parasurameswara. The inscriptions mainly speak about donations/gifts made to this temple in terms of money, cows towards the functioning of regular poojas, and burning of perpetual Lamps. During the Vikrama Chozha period, 1126 CE, the old temple was reconstructed. The temple is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The Pallava King Dandivarman’s 49^th reign year 845 CE inscription on a stone set up near the well in the Parasurāmēśvara temple, records an endowment of a piece of land called 'Nandikundil' as ericceruvu to the tank named Velleri of the village of Tiruvippirambēdu, by Ayyappōrri, the headman of Kaliyamangalam and a member of the alumgana of Tiruvippirambēdu, to provide the charges for the upkeep of the tank. It is stated that the gift was made when Māvali Vānarāya was ruling the country. The imprecation at the end of the inscription says that one who maintains the charity shall obtain the merit of having performed one thousand horse-sacrifices and the one who destroys it shall incur the sin of ruining Vāraņāsi.

NOTE

1. This symbol for one thousand occurs in one of the Nanāghāt inscriptions. This line has been read by Gopinatha Rao as narai, which is probably a printer's mistake for narai. The reading narai is unlikely, as the symbol for ai in other cases where it occurs in the inscription (Il. 6, 22 and 30) is not separated from the consonant to which it belongs. Besides the accusative narai, would be wrong and would have to be corrected into an or pār.

2. This side of the stone is damaged, but no letters have suffered on that account. The I/. 46 to 58 are altogether omitted in IA, x1, 104-14.

3. The length of na is added to the right of n and goes up; compare SII, i, 114 and ii, 200, note 1.

4. The vowel e is almost a semicircle with a loop at the left end.

The Nandivarman III’s 23^rd reign year 869 CE inscription on a stone lying near the well in the Parasurāmēśvara temple, records that while Vikramaditya-Māvali-Vānarāya was ruling over the Vadugavali-mērku (province), Mullirkiļār, (one) of the members of the committee (gana) administering (the village of) Tiruvi[p]pirambēdu, purchased by a deed of sale, (the field called), Vēppembolappal (from) Kaniyar Agnisarman of Kulaippalūr who was a member of the committee administering this village, and gave (it) to (the god) Mahadeva (Śiva) of (the temple of) Parasurāmēśvara at this village, as an endowment for (supplying) ghee to the sacred lamps. The assembly of the village ordered that all the oil mills (sekku) of the village shall be set up on this land and the oil required exclusively for the sacred lamps shall be procured (from them).

The Pallava King Nrpatungavarman’s 24^th reign year, 893 CE, inscription on a stone lying near the well of the Parasurāmēśvara temple records a transaction of the sabha of the village Tiruvirpirambēdu in Šilai-nādu, a s.d. of Tiruvēńgadakkōttam (details lost). Mentions Vāņavidyā-dhara-Mahabali Vānarāya of the race of Mahabali (Bāņa family) who was then ruling the country to the west of Vadugavali.

Rajaraja Devar’s 15^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Keththamiratti’s son Kalingamittan. For the same, one madai pon was given as capital, and two Siva Bramanars agreed to burn from the interest.

Rajaraja Devar’s 15^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam during Thirupalli Ezhuchi and burning sandhi lamp by Vennaiyur Nattu Vallathu Sathanizhan Chokkan Santh…. For the same paddy, one madai pon was gifted to the temple.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Rajaraja Devar’s 13^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Kontheri Boyan Chakkaramiratti Peruman’s son Maveduththan alias Virasingavelalan. For the same, 2 madai pon were gifted to the temple.   

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Rajaraja Devar’s 27^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp at Thirukamakottamudaiya Nachiyar Maragathavalli temple by Puzhal kottathu Kundriyur nattu Iranapakkam Thiruthangimulai Udaiya Pidaran. For the same, 1 ½ madai pon was gifted to this temple.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Rajaraja Devar’s 9^th reign year inscription records the gift of punjai, and Nanjai lands for ThirumaRRupadi.

Vikrama Chozha’s 9^th region year inscription starts with his meikeerthi records the gift of lands at Silaiyur Nadu  as thevadhanam for the ThirupadumaRRu, burning of perpetual lamp and naivedyam, for the well-being of Narana Devan alias Kulothunga Chozha Karupparudaiyar, who constructed this stone temple by his son Naranadevan Pudalaraisan alias Vikrama Chozha Karupparudaiyan. Shiva was called Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Perumpanapadi Thiruvenkada Kottathu ThiruvirpiRampettu Mahadevar Parasuramichuramudaiyar.

Vikrama Chozha’s 8^th reign year inscription records the establishment of Chandeswar and naivedyam on Chithirai Thirunal.

Rajaraja Devar’s 19^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Manavir Kottathu Chirur Punnai Kizhan Saranathennavan Sangan alias Karkadarayan. For the same, 3 cows are gifted to this temple. The same person also created the Thirumanjana Well in the praharam.

Rajaraja Devar’s 20^th reign year inscriptions record the endowment of burning 2 sandhi lamps by Thirumanamerkudaiyan Kulachiraiyandar’s son Sambanthandar of Thirukalahasthi. For the same, 2 madai pon were gifted to this temple.

Rajaraja Devar’s 11^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Kaminayakkan’s daughter Mudhuvatti. For the same, 1 ½ madai pon was gifted to the temple.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Rajaraja Devar’s 10^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp. For the same buffalo, 5 were gifted to this temple.

Rajarajara Devar’s 14^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by the king’s Senapathy Soorapoththan alias Angarayan. For the same, 9 madai pon were gifted to this temple.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Rajaraja Devar’s 16^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Kadapoyan Eriyapothan alias Athigaiman. For the same, 30 cows are gifted to this temple.

Kovi Rajakesari Barmar’s 4^th reign year inscription on the slab installed in front of the temple records the endowment of naivedyam for 1 year and 360 days to Shiva of this temple. The same land was gifted to this temple. This inscription mentions that Koothaperuman (Natarajar) was established by Madurantagan Kandarathithar.

References:

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - VIII

2. ARE, 1903, no. 226; EI, xi, no. 22(B) and plate i; IA, xl, 104-14.

3. Inscriptions of the Pallavas by T V Mahalingam.

 Inscriptions

Inscription stones 

 Pillar with inscriptions

LEGENDS
The legend of this temple is connected to Parasurama, an avatar or the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs continuously.

CONTACT DETAILS

The following mobile numbers, +919490181917 and +919030029200, may be contacted for further details.
Temple website: http://www.gudimallamtemple.com/index.php

HOW TO REACH

Gudimallam is about 20 km from Tirupati, and direct buses are limited.

Gudimallam is about 3.6 km from Papanaidupet, and frequent buses are available from Renigunta up to Papanaidupet, which is about 10 km.  

Share autos are available from Papanaidupet.

The nearest Railway Station is Renigunta.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

 Mukha mandapam

 Subramaniar Sannathi

Loose sculpture - Jyeshta Devi - Thavvai

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---