Sidhavateswara temple cries for attention

Kadapa: The ancient Jyothi Sidhavateswara Swamy temple at Jyothi village of Sidhavatam mandal, popularly known as South Gateway (Dakshina Mukhadwaram) of Srisaila Bramarambhika Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, is in a state of neglect.

The historical sculptures and structures, which testify the architectural brilliance of craftsmen of bygone era, and about 108 Sivalingams, which were believed to be installed during Mattirajula regime remain only as symbol of temple’s past glory.

According to historical sources, it is believed that the temple was built by rulers during Mattirajula dynasty on the outskirts of Jyothi village on the banks of river Penna in 7th and 8th centuries.

The importance and prominence of the village was revealed on a stone inscription which says the temple was patronised during the rule of Janthi Ramanayakudu in 1169 AD. Later an emperor Narendra Mrugaraju belonging to Rastrakoota dynasty had established 108 Sivalingams in the temple premises.

It is believed that Vegiri Malla Kakatheeya Rudramadevi, who was a staunch devotee of Sidhavateswara Swamy, stayed at Jyothi village for seven days every year during the annual fete and bestowed several gifts for the maintenance of temple.

The temple remained perished under sand up to 500 years ago and surfaced in 1962 as some youth of Jyothi village noticed one dilapidated structure with sand found Sivalingam in temple. Later, they started performing rituals during Sivaratri and Karthika masam.

In 2005, Sidhavatam Market Committee former chairman Sivaprasada Reddy, with the cooperation of temple EO Sivakumar, brought the issue to the notice of Srisailam temple authorities.

The Archaeology department took up the digging works with machines and identified ancient temples like Jyothirlingeswara temple, Kamakshidevi temple, Bheemeswara Swamy temple and number of Shivalingams in the premises.

There are four gateways to Bramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam. In the east Tripuranthakeswara temple in Prakasam district, in West Bala Brahmeswara Swamy temple in Alampur village of Mahboobnagar district, in the north Uma Maheswaraswamy temple in Mahboobnagar district, in South Jyothi Sidhavateswara Swamy temple in Sidhavatam mandal of Kadapa district. The Srisailam temple was neglecting

Sidhavateswara Swamy temple. When contacted by The Hans India, Srisailam temple official Paneendra Prasad said that recently higher officials from Srisailam temple have visited the Sidhavateswara Swamy temple and prepared estimations for restoration of temple.

By M Srinivas Rao