Shiva temple in Nalgonda goes under water and resurfaces

C R Gowri Shanker

Shiva temple in Nalgonda goes under water after resurfacing

Last time the temple had surfaced was during the drought of 2004.

 A view of the temple on banks of the reservoir before it got submerged in Udayasamudram reservoir.

Hyderabad: An ancient Shiva temple, which had recently surfaced after the Udayasamudram reservoir in Nalgonda district dried up, has gone under water with fresh releases from another project. It is said that the last time the temple had surfaced was during the drought of 2004. 

The reservoir is situated at Chandanapalli, about 2 km from Nalgonda and 100 km from Hyderabad.

The temple had attracted huge crowds before it was submerged by waters from the A Madhava Reddy lift irrigation scheme made of granite, the Shambhulingeswara Swami temple dates to the Konduri Chodulu dynasty (1040-1290 AD).

While the original black Shiva Lingam was submerged in sand and water, the 18 pillars made of black granite, a Ganesha idol and the Nandi were the star attractions. A Gajalakshmi idol stands in front of the temple.Interestingly, all the idols were intact, barring the effects of submergence and siltation over the years. 

“It is a very ancient temple dating back to 1040-1290 AD when Konduri Chodulu ruled the region. The temple is 15 feet high. Besides the Shiva lingam, which is submerged in sand and water, idols of Lord Vinayaka, Nandi, pillars surfaced and submerged again,’’ said P. Nagaraju, assistant director, department of archaeology and museums, Nalgonda/Mahbubnagar, said.

An idol of Nandi is seen in the sand before the temple got submerged in the reservoir.

Mr Nagaraju said he had visited the temple when it had surfaced. “The granite pillars make a sound of iron when struck, like the granite of the famed Ramappa temple. 

Though this is not a protected monument, given its historical importance, I have brought it to the notice of department director N.R. Visalatchy. We plan to relocate the temple,” he said.

It is believed that the Chodulu king Udayaditya constructed the reservoir which has been named after him.

The lotus shaped ceiling which is inside the temple.

The temple was believed to have been unearthed when digging for the reservoir began almost 1,000 years ago in the village which was then called Shambulingampalli. The 1.5-TMC ft reservoir provides drinking water to the villages.

In 2005, the reservoir was converted into a balancing reservoir. Though the Chandanpalli village was shifted, the temple was left behind.