Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Naga Nandi is one of the Nava Nandis – the nine Nandi shrines of Lord Shiva in and around Nandyal and Mahanandi. It is found in the heart of Nandyal town, within an Anjaneya (Hanuman) temple close to the main bus stand.
Legend
According to tradition, Naga, the serpent deity, performed penance to Lord Shiva here, praying for protection from Garuda, the eternal enemy of serpents. Pleased, the Lord granted his protection – and so the shrine came to be called Naga Nandi.
Location
The shrine is inside the Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple in Arundhi Nagar, Telugu Peta, only about 200 m from the Nandyal APSRTC bus station. On maps it is listed as "Sri Anjaneya Swamy and Naga Nandi Temple".
The Nava Nandi Yatra
Naganandi is one of the Nava Nandis – the nine Nandi shrines around Nandyal and Mahanandi, whose names are Prathamanandi, Naganandi, Somanandi, Shivanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi, Garudanandi, Vinayakanandi and Mahanandi. All nine lie within about 15 km of one another, and devotees try to visit them in a single day. On the yatra, Naganandi usually follows Prathamanandi and comes before Somanandi, and the pilgrimage ends at the great Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple.
About the Shrine
The founding year of the shrine has not been published. It is a living place of worship, visited especially by pilgrims on the Nava Nandi yatra.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri – the most popular time for the Nava Nandi yatra (usually February–March).
- Karthika Masam – lamps and special worship, especially on Mondays (usually October–November).
Visitor Information
- Timings: official timings are not published; the shrine is usually open in the morning and evening. Please check locally, especially if you plan to cover all nine shrines in a day.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: The temple is a short walk from Nandyal bus stand; Nandyal Junction railway station is also in town.
- By Train: the nearest railway station is Nandyal Junction (about 4 km by road).
- By Air: the nearest airport is Kurnool Airport at Orvakal (KJB), about 59 km away by road.
