Kaleshwaram, Sri Kaleshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram, Sri Mukhteshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram Temple, History of Kaleshwaram Temple, Kaleshwaram T

Kaleshwaram, Sri Kaleshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram, Sri Mukhteshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram Temple, History of Kaleshwaram Temple, Kaleshwaram T |Kaleshwaram, Sri Kaleshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram, Sri Mukhteshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram Temple, History of Kaleshwaram Temple, Kaleshwaram T

Kaleswaram, a holy temple town situated on the south bank of pavana Godvari in the Karimnagar District.

Among the unique features of this temple there are two lingas on one and the same Panivattam called Mukteswaralinga and Kaleeswaralinga; the Mukteswaralinga bears two holes in it and they cannot be filled up with any quantity of water poured into them.

The ancient temple dedicated to Mukteshwara Swamy is of special significcance as two Sivalingas are found on a single pedestal.

This picturesque spot Kaleswaram lies in the interior of thick forest at the confluence of the river Godavari and its tributary Pranahita. This place can be reached by bus from Karimnagar via Manthani or from Warangal via Parkal.

Another little known temple dedicated to Lord Brahma is found in Kaleshwar, in the Karimnagar area of north central Andhra Pradesh. As in Alampur, this temple is one in a group of shrines predominantly dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kaleshwaram, also known as Manthrakuta, is located 130 kilometers from Karimnagar, in the thick interior forests of A.P., at the confluence of the Godavari River and its tributary, Pranahita. The nearest village is Manthani, 32 kms. away. 'Kaleswara' also refers to the Lord of Death, or Yamaraj.

The antiquity of Kaleshwaram is established in Puranic literature, and it has been a center of Vaisnava, Saivite, and Jain worship over many centuries. The Skanda Purana mentions the importance of Kaleshwaram's placement at the river confluence.

The most visited temple in Kaleshwaram is the Mukteshwaraswamy Temple, which is one of the three Jyotirlingas in Andhra Pradesh. The Temple is jointly dedicated to Mukteswara (Shiva) and Kaleswara (Yamaraja), and is famous for the fact that two Shivalingas reside here, situated on a single panivattam (pedestal) in the sactum.

Alongside the Mukteshwaraswamy mandir are several smaller tirthas in the temple complex. Many of these, like the Brahma Temple, have fallen into ruin, their deities or murtis eventually removed and placed in front of the main temple as free-standing murtis. In his book, "The History and Culture of Karimnagar", Dr. J. Ramanaiah describes the Lord Brahma deity.

"There are a large number of loose sculptures placed in two rows outside the temple and beside the southern compound wall. The figures of dancers, archers, horse-riders, Garuda, Mithuna, Arjuna’s Matsya Yantra, Gopikavastrapaharana, Skanda riding on a peacock, lion in action at the back of the elephant holding its upraised trunk, male and female devotees with folded hands, etc., are depicted in different small panels can be noticed on the spot. The Nagas and Naginis found here are similar to those of Polas. Most of these loose sculptures are in red sandstone and can be dated back to 11th and 12th centuries A.D."

He goes on to describe the Brahmadev murti, a catur-mukha linga: "This linga is a fine sculpture in basalt with four faces carved on four sides. The linga is flat topped and it is now placed in the courtyard of the temple. Judging from its smooth polish and accuracy of carving, this sculpture resembles that of the Chaturmukha linga of the ruined Swayambhu temple, which is now placed in the courtyard of the Sambhunigudi in the Warangal fort. A similar Chaturmukha linga is also found at Manikesvara temple in Kalahasti."

The Shiva temple in Kaleswaram is one of three Shiva temples noted as residing in Trilinga Desham (Land of Three Lingams), the region of the Telugu speaking people of Andhra Pradesh. Kaleswaram forms one of the three corners of Andhra Desha, with the other two main temples being Draksharamam in East Godavari district and Srishailam in Kurnool. The site of the Brahma Temple marks the northernmost border of the Telugu nation.