Mahanandi Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva.The Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple, an important shrine located here.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
One version is that in the beginning of Kritayuga, One Paravatha King had two sons called Silada and Nandi. The eldest son Silada got his name due to strict penance where he gave up eating food except Sila or Stone. The Lord was pleased by his devotion and converted Silada into holy hills and began to live upon him. In this similar fashion, the second son Nandi did the penance for Lord Siva. Lord Siva converted him as Nandi and made him his vehicle. The place where Nandi did penance is considered to be the place where the present Mahanandi exists. The other version is that a dynasty of local kings, known as Nandas ruled here in the 11th Century A.D and they built a number of temples and worshipped their ancestral deity the Nandi, hence the name Mahanandi. Temples here have received the patronage of kings of several dynasties including those of the famous Vijayanagar Another version is that Once there was a cow which used to yield less milk, to know the reason cowherd followed the cow and surprised to see that the cow is emptying milk into the mouth of a little residing in the anthill. Cowherd informed the King, next day king followed the cow and noticed that cow emptying milk on the anthill. In shock, king stepped font, on hearing the sound cow in fear stepped on the anthill and little boy disappeared from there. Knowing the mistake, King pleaded Lord for his forgiveness and the Lord pleased and self-manifested there in Linga form. One can still the cow footprint on the Ling.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
APSRTC run bus services to major cities like Tirupathi, Hyderabad, Kurnool, Vijayawada. Buses also come from parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu such as Bengaluru, Bellary and Chennai.
By Rail
The nearest railway station to reach the temple is Nandyal railway station.
By Air
The nearest airport to reach the temple is at Hyderabad, which is about 215 km from Kurnool.
Shrine Timings
4:45 AM to 8:30 PM
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Maha Shivaratri has celebrated here annually during February and March months.
Maha Shivaratri February/March
Ugadi March/April
Vaikunta Ekadasi December/January
Kartika Poornima November/December
Vijayadashami October
Extra Information About this Shrine
Mahanandiswara Swamy Mahanandi Temple Pools
There are three temple tanks in and around the main temple, two temple tanks called by Brahma Gundam and Vishnu Gundam are located outside the temple and the one inside the temple is called by Rudra Gundam. Temple tanks water source originates beneath Swayambhu Siva Ling inside the Sanctum of Sanctorium. Vishwakarma Brahmins designed the tanks such a way that water level remains at 5 ft, excess water flows thru the canals and fertile 2000 acres of agriculture land. Devotees are allowed to touch the main deity here unlike other temples where touching will be prohibited. This water possesses healing properties, devotees used to take the holy dip at the temple tanks. The water during the winter season will be very hot and vice versa during the summer. Water at Temple tanks will be warm at early hours of the days and water gets cooler as the day progress. Irrespective of the seasons, water here flows at a constant pace. Temple inscriptions state that this flow never stopped right from 6th Century.