Bugga Ramalingeswara temple

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is a Siva shrine situated on the southern bank of the Penna river in Tadipatri, Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] It was built between 1490 and 1509 by Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu I, a chieftain of the Gutti-Gandikota region during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire.[2]

Bugga Ramalingeswara temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictAnantapur district
DeityLord Shiva
Location
LocationTadipatri
StateAndhra Pradesh
CountryIndia
Architecture
CompletedBetween 1490 and 1509
Musical pillars and the main unfinished gopuram

The presiding deity is a linga, considered to be ‘swayambhu’ (naturally occurring or self originated).[1] The temple has seven small independent pillars in front of the Vishnu shrine and when struck they produce 'saptaswara' (the seven musical notes).[3] The gopurams of the temple are unfinished and were described by architectural historian James Anderson as ‘wonders’.[4]

Description

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is 4 km (2.5 mi) from Tadipatri railway station. It was likely built between 1490 and 1509 during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire.[2] As per the Tadipatri kaifiyat collected by Colin Mackenzie in 1802, the temple was built by Ramalinga Nayudu, a chieftain of the Gutti-Gandikota region in Vijayanagara Empire.[2]

The temple consists of a sanctum, ardhmandapa, and mukhamandapa in an axial line. The temple contains bas relief structures illustrating episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The presiding deity (linga) being a ‘swayambhu’ (naturally occurring or self originated).[1] Unlike other Hindu temples where the deities are east-facing, in this temple the Shiva linga faces west.[4] When struck, the seven pillars in front of the Vishnu shrine produce 'saptaswara' (a musical scale).[3]

The architectural historian James Anderson described the gopurams of this temple as ‘wonders’.[4]

  • Entrance to Garbhagudi
    Entrance to Garbhagudi
  • Unfinished gopuram
    Unfinished gopuram
  • Unfinished gopuram
    Unfinished gopuram
  • Musical pillars
    Musical pillars
  • Rocks used for construction
    Rocks used for construction
  • Inside the temple
    Inside the temple
  • Panoramic view of the temple
    Panoramic view of the temple
  • Temple carvings
    Temple carvings

References
  1. Arch. Series. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Archaeology. 1960.
  2. Reddy, V. K. Rakesh (10 August 2015). "Apathy hits Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  3. Bhaskar, V. S. "District Census Handbook, Anantapur, Part XII-A & B, Series-29". p. 21. The seven small independent pillars in the temple when touched produce 'Saptaswara' (the seven musical notes).
  4. "Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple: Visit this offbeat gem from the Vijayanagara era". www.beontheroad.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
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