Pushpagiri Temple complex | |
|---|---|
Religious Complex | |
 In the order from top left to bottom left, Vaidyanatheswara Swamy temple, Reliefs on the temple walls of Chennakesava Swamy, A panoramic view of Pushpagiri overlooking the river Penna, Indranatheswara Swamy temple, Trikuteswara Swamy temple | |
.svg)  Pushpagiri Temple complex Location in Andhra Pradesh, India | |
| Coordinates: 14°35′41″N 78°45′47″E / 14.594749°N 78.763004°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Rayalaseema |
| District | Kadapa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 380 m (1,250 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 500 (approx) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 516162 |
| Telephone code | +91 - 8562 |
| Vehicle registration | AP04 |
Pushpagiri Temple Complex is a temple complex located in Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh, India. Founded around 7th Century CE, it houses some of the oldest temple congregations in the region.
There are multiple legends associated with the origin of the temple complex. One of the legend says that it has come to existence from the Satya Yuga when Garuda in the process of freeing his mother from slavery has inadvertently spilled a drop of ambrosia into the surrounding lake. Another legend claims that during the time of Treta Yuga, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Vaidyanatheswara here and the flowers used in the process have accumulated so high that a flowery mound is established and hence the name Pushpagiri.
Srisaila Khanda of Skand Purana praises this temple as 'Nirvrutti Sangameswara' because of its reputation of devotees giving up lives in devotion to Lord Shiva.[1]
Whatever is the legend if is associated, it is now widely acknowledged that the temple of Sri Vaidyanatheswara has been in this temple complex from at least around 7th Century CE. This is corroborated by various Puranas including the Srisaila Khanda of Skanda Purana and Sriranga Mahatmya of Garuda Purana.[1]
Geographically Pushpagiri temple complex is located on the banks of the Pinakini river that meanders through the District which has origins on Nandi Hills in Karnataka[2][3] and is at a distance of about 16 kilometres from the district headquarters.[4]
- ^ a b Reddy, Prabhavati C. (26 March 2014). Hindu Pilgrimage: Shifting Patterns of Worldview of Srisailam in South India. Routledge. ISBN 9781317806318.
- ^ "Wikimapia". Wikimapia.org.
- ^ "Pushpagiri Temple Complex - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ^ Subramanyam, M. V. (3 August 2012). "Rope suspension bridge at Pushpagiri". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 April 2015.