Keesaragutta Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva and his consorts Bhavani and Sivadurga at Keesaragutta in Medchal-Malkajgiri District. It is about 30 km from Hyderabad and 12 km from ECIL. It is located on a small hillock. The temple draws up to lakhs of devotees on Shivaratri and karthika masam.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
Legend has it that Sri Rama installed the Siva lingam here to atone for the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahman. He selected this beautiful valley surrounded by hills and verdant greenery for the purpose and ordered Hanuman to bring a Siva lingam from Varanasi. Hanuman was late in arriving with the Siva lingam and as the auspicious hour was nearing, Lord Siva himself appeared before Sri Rama and presented a Siva lingam for installation. Hence the lingam in the temple is called Swayambhu Linga. It is also called Ramalingeswara as lord Sri Rama had installed the lingam. Hanuman returned with 101 lingams for selection from Varanasi and felt aggrieved at not having his lingam installed. Hence he threw them all over the area. Even to this day, several lingams are found scattered all over the place outside the temple. To mollify Hanuman, Sri Rama ordained that precedence would be given to him for worship at the temple. He also said that the hillock where the lingam was installed would bear his name kesarigiri i.e., Hanuman, the son of Kesari. Over a period of time, it has colloquially transformed and is now known as Keesara and the hill as Keesaragutta. Ever since the rituals follow the command of Sri Rama.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
Keesara is just about 30 kilometres from Hyderabad. We can reach Keesara Gutta within a short drive of 30 minutes from Hyderabad by road. Frequent buses are there from Jubilee Bus Station, Secunderabad and from Imliban Bus Station, Hyderabad.
By Rail
The nearest railway station to Keesaragutta Temple is Bolarum railway station Junction which is 18 Km away from the temple.
By Air
The nearest airport to Keesaragutta Temple is Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad which is 42 Km away from the temple.
Shrine Timings
6:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
MahaShivaratri, Shiva Kalyanam, Sri Ramanavami, Hanuman Jayanthi, Ramalingeshwara Brahmotsavam and festivals and auspicious days of the Karthik month and Magh month are the important festivals celebrated here.
Extra Information About this Shrine
The significance of 101 Shiva Lingams: Among these Shiva lingas, some are of up to 1 meter. Several legends say that these lingas indicate the life and fertility. The lingas have a base structure which represents the womb.
Other Temples in Ramalingeshwara Swamy Temple complex and around Keesara Gutta When we enter in dwajasthambam is seen and inside we see Goddess Bhavani matha in the separate sanctum and as we proceed further we see Anjaneya Swamy with Siva linga in front. Ganapathi, Lord Subramanya with Valli Devasena are seen to the sides of the main door of Main sanctum. Inside the main sanctum, Siva Lingam known as Ramaligeswara Swamy is seen with a sculpture of Siva at the back of Lingam. As we come out there is a small sanctum Goddess Durga Devi is seen. Outside the Siva temple, there is Sthala Vruksham with Naga, Devatha under it. Now we come to another hall like thing with Dwajasthambam in front.
Here we see Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and opposite of the sanctum, Lord Garuda is seen. We can see Shiva panchayadhana, Murthy, with Nandi in the front. Finally, we see Sita, Rama and Lakshmana and Hanuman facing them in the front in a small sanctum. There are sculptures of Maha kali, Maha Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi, are also in the same hall. At a distance, we see Hanuman in the separate sanctum and nearby there is huge Hanuman on a platform.
