Kaleshwaram

Shri Mahadeva /Shiva Those people who do not enter the temple can have darshan of Shiva outside the temple

Kaleshwaram is a village in Bhupalpally district of Telangana, India.  This village is famous for its temple – Kaleshwara Muktishwara temple on the banks of river Godavari.  Here river Godavari merges with its tributary Pranahita. 

People taking bath before performing certain rituals

It is believed that underneath this area of merger is Mystical River Saraswathi flows.   This makes it confluence of three rivers, hence called ‘Triveni Sangamam’ – confluence of three rivers giving it greater sanctity. 

A view of the river

This temple complex has temple of Shri Ganesha, Shri Mahadeva and Shri Yamadharmaraja.  People believe that worshiping Yama and Shiva together will lead them to moksha. 

Boating in the river.  Diya lit and let in water in reverence of  deceased ancestors

This temple mainly devoted to Shri Mahadeva in picturesque location on the banks of river is one of ‘Trilinga temples’,  the other two - one is Srishaila Mallikarjuna Swamy in Srishailam and Bhimeshwara Swamy in Draksharamam, both being in Andhra Pradesh. This temple is about 277Km from Hyderabad.  It can be reached by RTC buses or own vehicles.  The journey through forest areas will be pleasant.  Temple dormitories provide rooms for night stay.

In Hindu culture it is believed that after death of a person if his ashes are mixed in river he will attain moksha.  In Telangana most people visit Kaleshwaram and after special rituals and sanctification of ashes in the urns, the ashes are immersed in the river at Triveni Sangamam.

Sanctification of ashes

Offerings to deceased ancestors.  They are made of rice flour and after appropriate ritual will be offered to cow or dropped in river or lake

. 

Carrying ashes for immersion at Triveni Sangamam

In Telangana most people visit Kaleshwaram and after special rituals and sanctification of ashes in the urns, the ashes are poured at Triveni Sangamam.

This family looks like have come for a jolly trip.

The visit to the temple gives peace and calmness to the mind and soul.

These are made alongside the banks in reverence to Shiva, decorated and worshiped

Mettugutta Ramalingeshwara Temple

Entry arch

Warangal is a city of historical importance.  The Kakatiya Kings who ruled this city had built many architecturally and sculpturally beautiful buildings and temples.  Kakatiya kings being Shivaites have built many Shiva temples.  Thousand pillars temple and Ramappa are world famous for engineering marvel also.  There are also lesser known temples which are unique in their own way.

On the way to the temple.  The one seen is Ganesha temple.
The piled stones - Twin rocks are called as 'Donthulamma gundlu'
These were stones with which Hidimba played 'kacchakayalu'!

Mettugutta Ramalingeshware temple is special for its serene location on hillock surrounded by rocks, trees and water trenches.  Anyone traveling in a train passing via Kazipet railway station can have the glimpse of twin rocks and temple.  The temple is about 2Km from Kazipet railway station on the highway to Hyderabad from Warangal.  This is half a kilometer from the main road in the village Madikonda.  The rocky road to the temple passes between rocks and trees and water trenches. According to local people, in this beautiful place love blossomed in the hearts of Hidimba and Bheemasena.  The area between the twin rocks was the abode of Hidimba and people believe that Bheemasena had fallen in love with Hidimba during their exile into forest. 

Another mythological story is attached to this place.  Lord Rama during his forest stay along with Sita had lived in this area.  Here, he worshipped Lord Shiva – Swayambhu Linga.  As Shri Rama worshipped, Lord Shiva here is called as Ramalingeshwara.  Temple is said to be built by Kakatiya kings.  Lord Rama’s temple also is built here.  There are nine gundams (water trench) – Pala, Ginne, Kannu, Kathi, Rama pada/ Bheema, Brahma, Vara, Mangala, Chakali gundams, around these temples.  These gundams will never dry up in any seasons.

Ramalingeshwara Temple

Swayabhu Shivalinga.  The one behind it is sculpted one.
Recently silver panipattum is made to cover the original one.

The temples will be open everyday in the morning from 6AM to 1PM and 5PM to 7PM for regular rituals.  On second Sunday of every month 'Mahanyasa Poorvaka Rudraabhishekam’ is performed by the Mettu Ramalingeshwara Seva Samithi.  All the material for this ceremony is provided by the Seva Samithi and anybody can participate in it for free. Those who want to take part in the abhishekam should reach the temple before 8AM, men should wear lungi and shella on shoulders and women should wear sarees.  After the abhishkem lunch is served for all. Special festive rituals are held on Mahashivaraathri and Sree Ramanavami, when people throng for puja and abhishekam.

Mahanyasa Poorvaka Rudrabhishekam

There is a small library with spiritual books and free health camp is held on  2nd Sunday of the month. There  The view of tricities looks wonderful from here.  Also we can view the trains passing on the tracks from Kazipet railway station.

Rama Temple

Vara (Boon) gundam.  People believe that if a childless couple takes
a dip in this will soon be blessed with offspring

? Kathi (Sword) gundam

 

Kannu (Eye) gundam

  

A train on the track is seen.  This is another gundam covered
with greenery. ?Ginne(bowl) gundam

Bheema/Rama pada (foot) gundam.  When the water is less in the gundam
imprints of toes can be seen - people say.

The twin rocks look so small and standing just behind.
But they are far away

On the rocks here and there there are flowering plants

This temple is under endowments department.  If this department takes some interest and develops this area by cleaning the gundams and beautifying the surrounding areas will make it iconic pleasant tourist spot in Warangal district.  This can also become attractive location for shooting movies too.

An old building in dilapidated condition

Mini pond on the way to the temple

Exit

Shri Someshwara Temple - Kolanpaka

The straight road from beside the Aleru railway station has two diversions after 6KM.  The straight well laid road leads to Bachchannapet village, the left diversion leads to Shri Someshwara Temple which is about ½ KM from main road, and the right diversion leads to Jain Temple few yards away. 

The road to Someshwara temple is a kachcha road.  An arch is under construction now.

Here Lord Shiva is ‘Swayambhu Linga swaroopa.’ The victory of Shivaite Kings on Rashtrakutas and Kakatiya kings resulted in the strengthening of Shaivism.  Even the Kakatiya kings being Shivaites many Shiva temples were built and patronized.  As there are four temples, Sri Suvarna Someshwaralayam, Ganesha, Rajarajeshwari and Subramanyeshwara temples, it is also called “chathushkutaalayam”.  Here we also find “Sahasralinga” temple.  The ruling king then wanted to install one crore Shiva Linga in his kingdom.  As a thousand were less he got those sculpted on a single Linga, thus completing one crore count.  So this Sahasra Linga temple is also known as ‘Kotilingala’.  The other name for this temple is “pachchala Someshwaralayam”.

Aadi Jagdguru Renukaacharya, the founder of Veera Shaivism is ‘Swayambhu'.  He spread the doctrine of Veera Shaivism.  He established

1)      Someshwara Temple – Kolanpaka

2)      Shri Sidheshwara swamy temple - Ujjaini

3)      Bheemanathswamy temple - Kedaarnath

4)      Mallikarjuna swamy temple - Shrishailam

5)      Shri Vishveshwara swamy temple - Kaashi.

After this he appointed ‘Acharyas’ at all these places and had attained salvation at the Swayambu Linga. 

The forefront mandap has many sculptures of yesteryears and stones with scriptures on either side.  There is a four pillar mandap with nandi in front of Someshwara Temple. This temple in the peaceful environment bestows calmness to the mind and blessings of Almighty.  

Kolanpaka - Someshwara-Sahasralinga Temple Slideshow: Shivarani’s trip to Nalgonda (near Kondapur) was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

 

*The information about the Temple is mostly from the literature collected from the office and book on “Shri Someshwaram (Panagallu)”, written by Acharya Shri Surya Prakash.