Andhra Pradesh: Pilgrims throng Kundaleswaram temple in Konaseema

Archaeological department has not paid attention to the temple so far.

Famous spiritual speaker Chaganti Koteswara Rao had narrated his experience of visiting Varanasi before the Pushkaralu in 2015. A few priests there asked him whether he had taken a holy bath in River Godavari at Kundaleswaram and had the darshan of Lord Kundaleswara Swamy.

One of the priests suggested to Koteswara Rao that he should first visit Kundaleswaram and then come to Varanasi for the darshan of Kasi Visweswara Swamy. The priest also made some references to ancient books mentioning Kundaleswara Swamy.

The spiritual speaker’s video mentioning his 2015 experience has become viral over the past one year. As a result, devotees have been thronging Kundaleswaram for the darshan of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Devi.

“We have come to Kundaleswaram for the darshan of Shiva after hearing Koteswara Rao,” said Arka Subba Lakshmi, who visited the temple from Hyderabad along with her family members and relatives.

Temple executive officer K. Gangadhar told Deccan Chronicle that previously, a small number of devotees used to visit the temple, most of them belonging to Kundaleswaram and surrounding villages. But, the number of devotees visiting the temple has now risen to nearly 1,000–1,500 per day on an average, particularly on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

Temple priest Kallakuri Kameswara Sarma said as per mythological history of the temple, God Markandeya, Narada and others had taken the darshan of Lord Shiva and Parvathi at the temple site after having their bath in River Gowthami (Godavari).

Kameswara Sarma mentioned that the temple connection with Varanasi figures in “Kasi (Bhima) Khandam” written by Kavi Sarvabhouma Srinadhudu in the 15th Century and Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th Century.

Talking about 1975s, Kameswara Sarma disclosed that the then main priest of the temple had the bitter experience of losing all his three children. Later, the priest set up 24 Shiva Leelas atop the temple in Kundaleswaram. The priest and his wife were then blessed with three sons, who are now Vedic acharyas.

However, though the number of pilgrims are increasing, there are no transport facilities to reach Kundaleswaram and the temple. Officials have also not paid any attention to cleaning and developing the Kundaleswaram Ghat near the river.