Bhu Varaha Swamy temple - Srimushnam

Sri Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple is dedicated to the third incarnation of the Lord Vishnu as Bhu Varahaswamy with the face of a wild boar. This temple is in Srimushnam around 40 Km from Chidambaram. First built by Cholas in 11th century this temple has significant contributions from the Thanjavur Nayak king Achuthappa Nayak. 

The highlight of this temple is the sixteen pillared Mandapam (Hall) built by Achutappa Nayak. Each pillar is a monolith and sculpted with sculptures of Yali, musicians, dancers, miniature idols and Gods. They have not left even the ceiling of the mandapam vacant. There are 24 masterpieces on the ceiling too. The Gopuram of this temple is seven layered studded with numerous sculptures. 

This mandapam is full of sculptures – all kinds of reliefs! It looks like it is an exhibition of their talent! Stand alone sculptures of elaborately decorated women are the main attraction in this mandapam!

In an age of rising religious intolerance a festival tradition that celebrates the unity between Hindus & Muslims is practiced in this temple. During the Maasi Maasam procession Bhoo Varahaswamy stops in front of the Dargah to pay homage to the Sufi Saint. During the halt the Imam offers prayers, rice, dry fruits & coconuts to the deity. In return a silk shawl with Tulsi leaves is offered at the Dargah for worship by Muslims! This happens once a year even today! This is the only Hindu temple which allows Muslims to enter it to pray to Hindu God!

Alampur Group of temples

Alampur is a tiny village on the boarder of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh! It is around 200 kms from the capital city of Telangana – Hyderabad.

This village is of tremendous archaeological and historical importance!  This region was under the rule of Pulakesi I during the 6th century. Subsequently it was ruled by various kings of Chalukyan Dynasty till it was invaded by Moguls during 1350 CE. During the Chalukyan rule starting from Pulakesi I various kings have built many temples in Alampur.

There are three clusters of temples in Alampur - Papanasi group of temples, Navabrahma temples and The Sangameshwara Temple.

Papanasi Temples are a group of twenty three Hindu temples dated between 9th- and 11th-century.

Navabrahma Temples are a group of nine early Chalukyan Hindu temples dated back to 7th century and are located near the meeting point of Tungabhadra River and Krishna River at the border of Telangana - Andhra Pradesh.

Then the stand alone temple of Sangameshwara Temple which was originally built at Kudaveli village, by the confluence (sangam) of two major sacred rivers the Tungabhadra and Krishna. Sangameshwara comes from the word Sangam meaning confluence of two or more rivers. The Sangameshwara Temple was constructed by Pulakesi I (540 CE to 566 CE) - in a similar style to the Navabrahma Temples.

When the Srisailam Dam was about to be built across Tungabadhra river, it was certain that this 7th century temple would be submerged in the waters of the catchment area of the dam. It was then the Archaeological Survey of India came out with the brilliant idea of uprooting the entire temple from its original place of construction and rebuilding it far away in a safer place so that this wonderful temple could be saved for posterity!  

So what we see today as Sangameshwara Temple is actually a reconstructed temple by Archaeological Survey of India.

The temples are significant for their simple square plans, intricate carvings of themes of Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. They also contain early examples of friezes that narrate legends from Hindu texts. The temples were a significant influence on the later era Kakatiya Hindu temples. 

The Alampur Navabrahma temples were badly damaged and some razed to the ground during the Islamic invasion of this region in 1390. They were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers, and early 8th-century inscriptions are found at the site which suggests that the site also had a Hindu monastery which has not survived. Their ruins have been restored by the Archaeological Survey of India after 1980.

All the temples in Alampur are under the care of Archaeological Survey of India. Still photography is allowed in every temple.