Yaganti:  Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple.

Yaganti is located in Kurnool District of AP. The place is about 300 kms from Hyderabad. Yaganti is well connected by bus from all the places. We visited Alampur, and from there we visited Yaganti, via Bethamcharla, and Banagapalli.

Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy temple is one of the holy temples in Kurnool. The temple is surrounded by mountains. There are several natural caves which add to scenic beauty to the place. People visit the place in large number during Maha Sivarathri day. The temple was constructed and completed by first Vijayanagara Sangama Kings Harihara Bukkarayalu in 15^th Century.

There is a five tier Raja Gopuram for the temple with Dwajasthambam erected.

Main Deity is Lord Siva in Ardhanareeswara form known as Uma Maheswara Swamy.

There is a small pond in front of the temple.

Interesting fact about this pushkarani is there is water all round the year. Here water flows into the pushkarani from bottom of the hill through the mouth of Nandi. We do not see any water flowing from the hill. No one knows how the water reaches the pushkarani in all season. Holy bath in the pushkarani is considered highly beneficial. Water here is clear and sweet. Saint Agasthya has visited this place and worshipped Lord Siva of this temple.

Nandi in the temple is too big. Archakar says this Nandi grows at the rate of 1 inch for every twenty year. Initially it was smaller in its size, and devotees were able to go around it. Nandi is seen in a mandapam. It is to a side of the mandapam and not in a straight line to main deity. Due to the growth of Nandi already they have removed a pillar.

According to Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy, the Nandi of Yaganti will come alive and shout at the end of Kaliyugam.

Sthala Purana says Agasthya Muni was traveling down towards south, and happens to visit this place. Looking at the secnic beauty of this place he wanted to construct Temple for Lord Venkateswara. The idol that was made, to install in the temple, was broken near the toe nail and sage was a bit upset and he started penancing in a cave here. Lord Siva appeared in front of Agyasthya, who tried to find the reason for what has happened. Lord Siva replied him that the place appears like Kailash surrounded by mountains which is more suitable for Siva Temple. Agasthya muni requested Lord Siva to give darshan along with Goddess Parvathy, as Uma Maheswarar on a single stone for devotees to worship. Siva obliged to him, and stayed here in Yganti as Uma Maheswarar.

When sage Agasthya was performing penance, the crows disturbed him. So he cursed the crows, as not to enter the place. From that time onwards crows are not seen in Yaganti kshetra. Devotees, who worship here, need not fear about Saneeswara Bhagawan, since crow is his Vahan. We do not see Navagraham in this Siva temple.

 

A devotee by name Chittappa worshipped Lord Siva, to whom Lord gave darshan as a Tiger. Chittappa was able see Lord Siva, in Tiger and he shouted “Neganti Shivunnu ne kanti” Which means I saw Siva I saw) and danced in joy. Over a period the place was known as Yaganti.

Agasthya cave:

We have to climb about 100 steps inside the cave to reach the top.

Agyastya penanced and worshiped Lord Siva.

Venkateswara cave:

The steps are steep here. We see the moorthy of Sri Lord Venkateswara, to which the toe is damaged.

Veera Brahmam cave:

We find steps leading to Brahamam gari cave.

Here we have to climb steps to reach the entrance of the cave. The entrance is too low and one has to bend, to enter inside the cave

Here inside we find Siva Lingam and Nandi.

Sthala Purana says this is the cave where Viswakarma Brahmin, Saint Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmam wrote some of his “Kala Gyanam.”

Here on the top of mountain cliff at the back of Uma Maheswara Swamy temple, lamp is lit in the evening. Devotees can pay for the lighting of lamp on the mountain cliff.