Gudimallam Temple | Parasurameswara Temple

Sri Parasurameswara Temple is built on the banks of the Suvaranamukhi river. There is a fascinating tale about this place.

Legend has it that Parashuram’s mother Renuka was suspected of infidelity by her husband Sage Jamadagni. The Sage ordered Parashurama to behead his mother. Parashurama obeyed his father and when Sage Jamadagni wanted to reward his son, Parashurama asked him to bring his mother back to life. And she was brought back to life.

But Parashuram could not overcome guilt of beheading his mother and he felt remorse about his act. As a penance he was advised by other Rishis to worship Shiva at Gudimallam.

After searching for several days, Parashurama found the temple in the middle of a forest. He dug a pond nearby and began his penance.

Every day morning a single flower used appear in the pond and Parashuram offered it to Shiva. To guard the single flower, he appointed Chitrasena, a Yaksha. Chitrasena was actually a manifestation of Lord Brahma.

Chitrasena had kept a condition that to guard the flower he should be given an animal to eat and a pot of toddy. Parashuram agreed to it and he used to hunt an animal for Chitrasena daily.

One day when Parshuram went out to hunt, Chitrasena felt tempted to worship Shiva himself. He used the single flower to worship Shiva. An enraged Parashurama attacked Chitrasena when he found the flower missing.

Finding the transgression grievous, the Parshuram entered into a fierce fight with the demon. When the vanquished demon was about to be crushed, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed both with their desire of Sayujyamukti – merging in Him. Brahma as Chitrasena, Vishnu as Parasurama and Shiva as the lingam form the Gudimallam Shivalingam.

The main importance of the temple lies in the Linga which is housed in the Garbhagriha of the temple. This is supposed to be the oldest Shiva Linga discovered so far and it has been assigned to the 2nd or 1st century BC. The name of the temple is mentioned as Parasurameswara Temple in the inscriptions. These inscriptions do not refer to the original builders of the temple. But they register the gifts made to the temple of land, money and cows for the conduct of daily worship in the temple. The Black and Redware sherds of the 2nd or 3rd century AD have been brought to light during the course of excavations conducted in 1973. Potsherds of the Andhra Satavahana period (Circa 1st century AD to 2nd century AD) and large-sized bricks measuring 42+21+6 cms. of the same period have also been found. Hence, some historians assign the temple to the Satavahana period.