Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple

It is said that Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple was built during 750 to 973AD by Raja Narendra grandson of Parikshit.Tradition associate with this place with famous Telugu poet “Bheemakavi” but there is more definite proof of the famous Kannada poet “Pampa” living here as the court poet of Arikesari – II and dedicated his “Kannada Bharatha” to his royal patronage.

Once upon a time a king named Sri Raja Raja Narendra came to this place to hunt wild animals. But accidentally he killed a Brahmin boy who was drinking water from a pond. Then he got an incurable disease and went on pilgrimage to many holy places and returned back to this place. One day he drank the Holy water from the Dharmagundam and slept the night praying the Lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy. Lord Shiva appeared in King’s dreams and asked him to take out Lingam from Dharmagundam and place it in the temple.
Then the king took out the Lingam and cleaned it with Dharmagundam water. He has built a temple on the hill to keep Lingam inside the temple, while he was sleeping in the night Holy Sidhas came and established the God’s idol inside the temple. When king was worried about missing the chance to establish Shiva Lingam, Lord Shiva appeared in his dreams and promised that king’s name will be associated with the place forever. Thereafter his incurable disease also got cured.

As per another legend, Once Dharma Devata was doing penance to Lord Shiva. God was impressed with the penance of Dharma Devata and appeared in front of Her. Dharma Devatha asked a divine gift to keep Her as transportation mode of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva has granted the request saying that you will be My transportation mode as well as You will be prayed by all My devotees. So as per the legend, offering calf to Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy is praying Dharma Devata in first place.

There are two Vaishnava Temples in main temple complex i.e. Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple and Sri Seetharama Chandra Swamy Temple. Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is the Kshethra Palaka of Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple. The other deities in the temple are Goddess Raja Rajeshwari Devi to the right of the presiding deity and to the left is Lord Vinayaka. There are three mandapas on the Dharmagundam and the statue of Lord Shiva resides in the middle. The Lord is seen in a meditation posture with five Lingams surrounding the Holy Tank.

Sub Temples: Even though the main deity is Lord Siva at this place there are other sub-temples in the premises.
• Lord Bala Rajeshwara Temple and Koti Lingas
• Lord Uma Maheshwara Temple
• Lord Someshwara Temple
• Goddess Bala Tripura Sundari Devi Temple
• Lord Shanmukha Temple
• Lord Dakshina Murthy Temple
• Lord Chandikeshwara Temple
• Goddess Parvathi Devi Temple