My Visit to Kotilingeshwara Temple (Siddipet)

                 

                          

                           

Kotilingeshwara temple was established in 1979 by Swamy Sri Madanananda in Indira Nagar located nearly 2.5 kms from Siddipet bus stand on the highway towards Medak. A welcome arch with idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati with Lord Ganesh and Lord Subrahmanya on either side greets the devotees. The temple tower is beautifully decorated with figurines of Lord Shiva and his Parivar (family). On the back side of the tower one can see the figurines of Sri Kalahasthiswara and that of Kannappa worshipping Shiva. A beautiful Nandi statue is seen in the hall facing the inner sanctum.

 Sri Madanananda Swamy had a vision to build a temple with one crore Pardhiva Lingams (lingams made of clay). Searching for a suitable place  Swamiji arrived at Koppole village  by the blessings of Koppole Sangameshwara. He asked his devotees to write the name of the village where they want a temple on a piece of paper and keep at the feet of Sangameshwara Swamy. He ordered one of his devotees to pick up one piece of paper. The piece of paper contained the name of Siddipet. So Swamiji arrived at Siddipet and stayed at Sharabeshwaralayam. His devotees made one crore Shiva lingams made of clay (Parthivalingams).   Philanthropists and people at Siddipet also extended financial support. In May 1979, Swamy performed Yantrasahita Vigrahapratishta.The main idol was brought from Varanasi. In the sanctum Shiva Panchakshari-written manuscripts were buried beneath the main idol at a depth of one foot. Divine symbols of Chandra Rekha, Bhasma Rekhalu, Parvathi and Ganga Devi are seen on the main idol in the temple. Once a cobra with Shiva lingam mark on its hood arrived on the bag containing the Parthiva lingams and stayed there for four hours to shower blessings on the devotees. 

There are twelve sub-shrines in the temple hall. The central hall or mukha mantapa is supported by thirty-six pillars. The mukha mantapa is beautifully painted with green, pink and gold colours.  The temple walls are decorated with beautiful carvings and designs. There are other halls like a sacrificial hall to conduct homams and yagnas, a library and a function hall to conduct marriages.

 The Sadananda Ashram where Swamy lived provides accommodation facility. There is an independent Vedic Patashala in Ashram premises. The subshrines in and around the temple are those of Sri Raja Rajeshwari, Gayathri Devi, Anjaneya, Dattatreya, Subrahmanya,  Santoshi Mata,Adi Shankaracharya, Murali Krishna, Navagrahalu, Sri Pashupainath, Sai Baba,Tulasi Mata, Chandishwara and Madanananda Swamy and Sri Shiva Sthupam. Just near the entrance before entering the Mukhamantapa. 

There is a big hall where one can see one hundred and eight lingams along with idols of Uma Maheshwara. Every Monday Shiva Kalyanam is performed here. Special poojas are done during festivals and on Shiva Rathri. The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. This temple has become a holy pilgrimage spot for all devotees. One can spend peaceful time in the serene surroundings of temple which has many beautiful shrines with exquisite sculptures and idols. The nearby tourist places are: Sarabheswaralayam(2 kms), Kondapochamma Sagar, Sangameshwara Temple (20kms), Ananthasagar(30kms), Siricilla Textile City(34kms) and Vidya Saraswathi Kshetram(60kms) from Siddipet.

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    19th December, 2021                          Somaseshu Gutala