About Yaganti Temple:
Yaganti Sri Uma Maheswara Temple along with the growing Nandi is a major tourist attraction place near Banganapalle or Banagana Palli town in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state.
Lord Shiva is the primary deity of this temple. The other important deities worshiped here in the Yaganti temple are Goddess Parvati and the huge Nandi idol that has grown its size over time.
Visitors enjoy the quiet, noiseless atmosphere in the Yaganti Temple and is a perfect destination for them to experience the true spirituality.
Tourist Attractions at Yaganti:
Yaganti Basavanna (Nandi):
Huge growing Nandi idol facing Lord Shiva and measuring approximately 5 feet high and 15 feet wide present in the temple is the main tourist attraction of Yaganti. The Nandi has been growing continuously over the last century.
Earlier, there was space to do parikrama or rounds around the Nandi earlier, but now it has grown in size and covered the pradakshina gap between the stone pillars.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the Nandi grows its size by an inch every 20 years as the rock has some chemical properties (silica and iron) to make it grow in size.
According to the Kalagnanam written by Sri Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy, this huge growing Nandi will come alive and shout at the end of Kali Yuga.
Yaganti Caves:
Many cave temples like Agastya Cave, Lord Venkateshwara cave, Rokalla caves, Sanka caves and Pothuluri Veera Brahmam Cave present adjacent to the main Yaganti Uma Maheshwara temple.
Sage Agastya Cave:
This is the cave where Sage Agastya performed penance to the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy.
Lord Venkateshwara cave:
According to the beliefs of the local people here, the idol of Lord Venkateswara Swamy here in this cave is much older than the one present in Tirupati.
Veera Brahmam Cave:
It is here at this cave Srimadvirat Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swami wrote his Kalagnanam, the book of prophecies.
Temple Pushkarini:
Pushkarini, a small pond of fresh and sweet holy refreshing water coming from the hill and emerging from the mouth of the Nandi (the sacred bull calf) is another attraction of Yaganti temple.
Akasha Deepam/Sky Lamp:
Another attraction of this ancient temple is the burning lamp called Akasha Deepam present at the top of the hill, which is continuously lit all day long.
Yaganti Temple History:
Yaganti Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple was constructed in the 15th century by the Sangama Dynasty ruler Harihara Bukka Raya of the great Vijayanagara empire.
Yaganti Stala Puranam:
Sage Agastya wanted to construct a temple for Lord Venkateshwara Swamy at this place. However, he could not install the statue as the toe nail of Lord Venkateshwara idol was broken and the sage was deeply moved and started a penance for Lord Shiva, who then appeared as Uma Maheswara Swamy carved from a single stone at Yaganti.
Yaganti Temple Distance:
Kurnool: 83.5 KM
Banaganapalli: 11 KM
Accommodation at Yaganti:
APTDC is offering limited cottage facility for the visitors at Yaganti, but you can also consider staying in Nandyal, Kurnool or Anantapur.
How to Reach Yaganti Temple:
Yaganti temple is well connected to all parts of the country via rail and road networks.
Road:
APSRTC (The government operated bus service of Andhra Pradesh) operates frequent buses from Nandyal, Kurnool and Banaganapalli to Yaganti temple.
Rail:
The nearest railway station is present at Panyam.
Air:
Hyderabad International Airport is the closest airport to reach Yaganti.
Best Time to Visit Yaganti:
Best time to visit this place is between October to February.
Festivals Celebrated at Yaganti:
Karthika mMsam and Maha Shivaratri are very special for Lord Shiva devotees and they celebrate with great fervor in the Yaganti Temple.
Yaganti Temple Timings:
The temple is open to the devotees from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the morning and from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the evening.
Nearby Attractions:
Owk Reservoir
Jogulamba Temple Alampur
Gandikota Fort
Kurnool Fort
Kurnool Museum
Kurnool Saibaba Temple
Jagannatha Gattu Temple
Belum Caves:
Belum Caves, the second largest caves in India, are located at a distance of about 44 km from the Yaganti Temple.
The name is derived from the word "Bilum", which translates to hole / caves in Sanskrit and is also called as "Belum Guhalu" in Telugu Language.
Visitors can see the large caverns, water galleries, stalactites, sinkholes, long passages, stalagmites, Patalganga (a perennial underground stream) and large chambers inside Belum Caves.
Carry enough water with you because you have to walk and crawl a lot in the caves.
Both Yaganti and Belum caves can be covered in a single itinerary.
Yaganti Temple Route Map:
Author Note:
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