Alampur is a temple-town situated in Mahbubnagar district,in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at about 90 km from Mahabubnagar, 27 km From Kurnool and 200 km from Hyderabad. Alampur is the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi(also known as Navabrahmeshwara Theertha) and the Western Gateway of Srisailam, the famous Shaivite (Shaivism) pilgrim centre. The principal deities at Alampur are Brahmeshwara and Jogulamba. It is surrounded by the Nallamala hills. Alampur is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river
Alampur was under the rule of Shatavahana Ishvakus of Nagarjunakonda, Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara Empire and Qutb Shahis of Golconda. Alampur was previously Known as Halampuram, Hamalapuram And Alampuram. Name of this place as Hatampura, mentioned in the inscription dated AD 1101 belongs to Western Chalukya Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI. The Alampur Navabhrama Temples are historically important and reflect remarkable architectural skills.
Jogulamba temple:
The principal deities are Jogulamba and Balabrahmeshwara. Goddess Jogulamba is the 5th Shakti Peeta among 18 shakta peetas in India where Sati Devi's upper teeth fell.
Old temple of Jogulamba was destroyed by Bahamani sultans in the 14th century. The idols of Jogulamba and her two shaktis Chandi, Mundi were protected from them and placed in Bala brahmeswara swamy temple untill 2005. Now, a new temple was constructed in the same place and the godess was shifted in to it.
Idol of Jogulamba is typical. She is in sitting position. She has huge amount of hair with lizard, scorpion, owl and a human scull in it. Idols of Saptamatrikas, Vighneswara and Veenapani veerabhadra are also present in the temple. Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swamy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple.
Meaning of Jogulamba rupam
All of us know that the idol of Jogulamba has lizard, scorpion, bat, and skull in her hair. I head a meaning for this rupam from an Upasaka.
Jogulamba can be understood as Gruha Chandi. Those symbols show the signs of decay of a house. If a house starts to loose it's Jeeva kala (life), the number of lizards in that house will start increasing. The next step is high occurrence of scorpion appearance. If bats enter a house it's the third step which finally will lead to skulls in the house (Deaths in that house). If we worship Jogulamba she will cancel the results caused by these signs. She is also worshiped to relieve Vastu doshas.
Navabrahma Temples
Alampur Navabrahma Temples are located at Alampur in Andhra Pradesh. There are a total of nine temples in Alampur. All of them are dedicated to Shiva. These temples date back to the 7th century A.D and were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers who were great patrons of art and architecture. Even after a time span of several hundred years, these grand temples still stand firm reflecting the rich architectural heritage of the country.
Story Of Renuka Yellamma:
Once upon a time Alampur was the ashram of Maharshi Jamadagni and his wife Renuka. They were spending their lives by worshiping Balabrahmeswara and Jogulamba. Renuka was great at Pathi bhakti and Daiva bhakti (devotion on Husband and God). Daily she used to bring water from Tungabhadra with a new pot freshly made up of sand. This was possible because of her devotion. One day she saw a king of Gandharvas taking bath in the river with his wives. She thought that they were living happily by the grace of God. She forget that the real happiness comes from the worship and not the materialistic wealth. Because of that sin she couldn't make the pot and went home with-out water. Jamadagni asked the reason. She told the truth. He became angry and ordered his first son to kíll Renuka. But, the son refused to kíll his mother. Jamadagni asked his second and third sons. They too refused. But, the fourth son Parasu Rama kílled his mother by cutting her head with his axe. Jamadagni was pleased and told that Parasu Rama can ask a boon. Parasu Rama requested to give life to his mother. Jamadagni rejuvinated her.
The head of Renuka which is Maya rupa (Materialist thoughts) became Ekaveera (one of the 18 Shakti peethas) and the body of her which is Matru rupa (Mother of Parasu Rama) became Bhudevi. Bhudevi is present in a small temple in the campus of Bala brahmeswara swamy. She gives children to the wanted.
Alampur is called as "City of Temples". All of them are very old and famous for their sculpture. A museum is also present in the premises of the temple which is maintained by Archaeological Department. There is a Mahishasura Mardini Idol in this museum which is worth seeing. The exquisite sculpture, the gait and marvelous art is simply superb which stands as the testimony to the Chalukya Art and Culture.
Alampur was under the rule of Shatavahana Ishvakus of Nagarjunakonda, Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara Empire and Qutb Shahis of Golconda. Alampur was previously Known as Halampuram, Hamalapuram And Alampuram. Name of this place as Hatampura, mentioned in the inscription dated AD 1101 belongs to Western Chalukya Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI. The Alampur Navabhrama Temples are historically important and reflect remarkable architectural skills.
Jogulamba temple:
The principal deities are Jogulamba and Balabrahmeshwara. Goddess Jogulamba is the 5th Shakti Peeta among 18 shakta peetas in India where Sati Devi's upper teeth fell.
Old temple of Jogulamba was destroyed by Bahamani sultans in the 14th century. The idols of Jogulamba and her two shaktis Chandi, Mundi were protected from them and placed in Bala brahmeswara swamy temple untill 2005. Now, a new temple was constructed in the same place and the godess was shifted in to it.
Idol of Jogulamba is typical. She is in sitting position. She has huge amount of hair with lizard, scorpion, owl and a human scull in it. Idols of Saptamatrikas, Vighneswara and Veenapani veerabhadra are also present in the temple. Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swamy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple.
Meaning of Jogulamba rupam
All of us know that the idol of Jogulamba has lizard, scorpion, bat, and skull in her hair. I head a meaning for this rupam from an Upasaka.
Jogulamba can be understood as Gruha Chandi. Those symbols show the signs of decay of a house. If a house starts to loose it's Jeeva kala (life), the number of lizards in that house will start increasing. The next step is high occurrence of scorpion appearance. If bats enter a house it's the third step which finally will lead to skulls in the house (Deaths in that house). If we worship Jogulamba she will cancel the results caused by these signs. She is also worshiped to relieve Vastu doshas.
Navabrahma Temples
Alampur Navabrahma Temples are located at Alampur in Andhra Pradesh. There are a total of nine temples in Alampur. All of them are dedicated to Shiva. These temples date back to the 7th century A.D and were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers who were great patrons of art and architecture. Even after a time span of several hundred years, these grand temples still stand firm reflecting the rich architectural heritage of the country.
- Taraka Brahma
- Swarga Brahma
- Padma Brahma
- Bala Brahma
- Vishwa Brahma
- Garuda Brahma
- Kumara Brahma
- Arka Brahma
- Vira Brahma
Story Of Renuka Yellamma:
Once upon a time Alampur was the ashram of Maharshi Jamadagni and his wife Renuka. They were spending their lives by worshiping Balabrahmeswara and Jogulamba. Renuka was great at Pathi bhakti and Daiva bhakti (devotion on Husband and God). Daily she used to bring water from Tungabhadra with a new pot freshly made up of sand. This was possible because of her devotion. One day she saw a king of Gandharvas taking bath in the river with his wives. She thought that they were living happily by the grace of God. She forget that the real happiness comes from the worship and not the materialistic wealth. Because of that sin she couldn't make the pot and went home with-out water. Jamadagni asked the reason. She told the truth. He became angry and ordered his first son to kíll Renuka. But, the son refused to kíll his mother. Jamadagni asked his second and third sons. They too refused. But, the fourth son Parasu Rama kílled his mother by cutting her head with his axe. Jamadagni was pleased and told that Parasu Rama can ask a boon. Parasu Rama requested to give life to his mother. Jamadagni rejuvinated her.
The head of Renuka which is Maya rupa (Materialist thoughts) became Ekaveera (one of the 18 Shakti peethas) and the body of her which is Matru rupa (Mother of Parasu Rama) became Bhudevi. Bhudevi is present in a small temple in the campus of Bala brahmeswara swamy. She gives children to the wanted.
Alampur is called as "City of Temples". All of them are very old and famous for their sculpture. A museum is also present in the premises of the temple which is maintained by Archaeological Department. There is a Mahishasura Mardini Idol in this museum which is worth seeing. The exquisite sculpture, the gait and marvelous art is simply superb which stands as the testimony to the Chalukya Art and Culture.
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