Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Sri Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple at Mahanandi, in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most sacred Shiva kshetras of the Rayalaseema region. It lies at the foot of the forested Nallamala hills, about 20 km from Nandyal, and is famous for its Swayambhu Linga, for the crystal-clear spring that rises beneath it and fills the temple's pools all year round, and as the chief of the Nava Nandis – the nine Nandi shrines of the area. Goddess Kameswari Devi is worshipped here as the Lord's consort.
Sthala Puranam (Legend)
According to tradition, King Nanda, a ruler of the Nandyal region, wished to perform abhishekam to Lord Shiva with milk, and a cowherd of Gopavaram village was in charge of bringing it. The cowherd noticed that one cow came home every day without any milk. He followed her into the forest and, hiding in a thicket, saw her stand over an anthill and let her milk flow – while a young boy drank it. Amazed, he told the king, who came to see for himself. As the king watched, the boy vanished, and the startled cow trampled the anthill. The Lord revealed himself there as a Swayambhu Linga, and devotees say that the marks of the cow's hooves can still be seen on the Linga today.
History and Architecture
The original temple was built by the Badami Chalukyas in the 7th century, and further additions were made in the 10th and 15th centuries. Inscriptions of the 10th century record that the temple was repaired and rebuilt several times. The tower over the main sanctum is in the Chalukya style, while the other structures of the temple show the later Vijayanagara style.
The Sacred Spring and Pools
The great wonder of Mahanandi is its water. A perennial spring rises from just beneath the Swayambhu Linga in the inner sanctum, and devotees can touch the water near the Linga as they offer their prayers. The spring feeds the temple's pushkarinis: the main pool is about 60 feet square, and its water is kept at a constant depth of about five feet. The water is so clear that coins on the bottom can be seen from the surface; it stays lukewarm and keeps flowing whatever the season, and devotees regard it as healing. A holy bath in the pool before darshan is part of the pilgrimage.
The Nava Nandis
Within about 15 km of Mahanandi stand nine shrines of Lord Shiva, each named for Nandi, together known as the Nava Nandis: Mahanandi, Shivanandi, Vinayakanandi, Somanandi, Prathamanandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi (also called Vishnunandi) and Naganandi – see the Nava Nandis page for all nine. Many devotees visit all nine, especially during Maha Shivaratri and Karthika Masam, and Mahanandi is regarded as the foremost among them.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri – the main festival of the year, celebrated with great devotion (usually February–March).
- Karthika Masam – lamps, holy baths and special worship on the Mondays of the month (usually October–November).
Visitor Information
- Timings: the temple opens early in the morning; listed hours include a morning session from about 5:30 am, with darshan again in the afternoon and evening. Please check locally, especially on festival days.
- Holy bath: bring a change of clothes if you wish to bathe in the pushkarini.
- Nava Nandi yatra: allow a full day if you plan to visit all nine Nandi shrines.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: Mahanandi is about 17–21 km from Nandyal by two routes, with regular APSRTC buses, and about 90 km from Kurnool.
- By Train: the nearest railway station is Nandyal Junction, about 18 km away.
- By Air: the nearest airport is Kurnool Airport at Orvakal (KJB), about 78 km away by road; Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad (Hyderabad) is about 290 km away by road.
Nearby Temples
Pilgrims often combine Mahanandi with the Jyotirlinga kshetra of Srisailam (about 120 km) and with the Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple (about 65 km), famous for its growing Nandi. The Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Mantralayam is also in the Kurnool region.
