Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Sri Chaturmukha Brahma Lingeswara Swamy Temple at Chebrolu, about 16 km from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the very few temples in India where Lord Brahma, the Creator, is worshipped. Here Brahma is not given a separate idol: his four faces are carved on the four sides of a Shiva Linga, so that Brahma and Shiva are worshipped together as Chaturmukha Brahma Lingeswara. The shrine stands in the middle of a temple tank, reached by a pathway across the water, which gives it a calm and striking setting.
History
The temple was built about two hundred years ago by Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu (1761–1817), the zamindar of Chintapalli and later Amaravathi, who was a great patron of temples in the Krishna and Guntur region – he is also remembered for his renovation of the Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple at Amaravathi. He is said to have given Chebrolu the name Chaturmukhapuram – "the town facing the four directions" – in keeping with the four-faced Lord of this temple.
Chebrolu itself is a place of great antiquity. In early times it was known as Tambrapuri, and the region was ruled in turn by the Satavahanas, Pallavas, Chalukyas and Kakatiyas. A Sanskrit inscription of the Satavahana period, found in 2019 at the town's Bhimeswara temple, records the building of a shrine to the Saptamatrikas. In Kakatiya times Chebrolu was governed by the general Jayapa, author of the classic dance treatise Nritta Ratnavali.
The Chaturmukha Linga
Lord Brahma is rarely worshipped in temples. Tradition explains this with a curse: Brahma is said to have claimed falsely that he had found the end of Shiva's endless column of light, and so lost the right to temple worship. At Chebrolu, Brahma is honoured within Shiva's own Linga – a beautiful expression of the unity of the Creator and Shiva. Facing the shrine is a large Nandi carved from a single red stone.
Temple Complex
The central shrine in the tank is surrounded by smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Goddess (Shakti) in her different forms. Chebrolu also has several other old temples, including those of Bhimeswara, Nageswara, Sahasra Lingeswara and Veerabhadra, which make the town worth exploring at leisure.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri – the main festival, with abhishekams and night-long worship (usually February–March).
- Karthika Masam – lamps and special worship on the Mondays of the month (usually October–November).
Visitor Information
- Timings: official timings are not published; the temple is usually open in the morning and evening. Please check locally before a special visit.
- Time needed: about an hour for the main temple; more if you wish to see the other old temples of Chebrolu.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: Chebrolu is on the Guntur–Tenali route, about 16 km from both towns; APSRTC buses and autorickshaws run from Guntur and Tenali.
- By Train: the nearest major railway stations are Guntur Junction and Tenali Junction, each about 16 km away.
- By Air: the nearest airport is Vijayawada International Airport, Gannavaram (VGA), about 65 km away by road.
Nearby Temples
Pilgrims visiting Chebrolu can also visit the Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Mangalagiri (about 33 km), the Pancharama shrine at Amaravathi, Kotappakonda and the Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada.
