varunteamsuzuki
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 2 Jul 2023
Hyderabad to Jogulamba Temple - Alampur (5th Shakthi Peetam Drive)
Dear All, Known as Dakshina Kasi, this place is a must-visit to experience the divinity of Lord Shiva and Ammavaru. I'm surprised at how our ancestors crafted the lingas with different materials. It is an architectural masterpiece. Places to cover: 1. Brahmeswara Temple, Navabrahma Lingas, and Sangameswara Temple 2. Ammavaru temple 3. Papanasanam and 4. Museum Quick and Key Points: 1. Darshan will take approximately 2 hours to cover the above-mentioned places. 2. The drive from Hyd to Alampur is approx. 200Kms drive 3. You have plenty of options with respect to hotels and fuel stations. I usually prefer Food Pyramid, which has decent food and clean and safe bathrooms. 4. If you have time to pack food and have it near the temple (nothing like that), I didn't find any good restaurants in Alampur to have lunch. While returning from the temple, you can go to Kurnool to have lunch (where you might find some good restaurants). 5. I'm not sure how good the restrooms are on the temple premises. 6. The ticket cost is reasonable. 7. Temperatures on the higher side make it better to carry umbrellas. 8. Harita's government-maintained hotel is there, but I'm not sure how good it is. Have a safe drive, experience divinity, and save our culture.
159manik
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 11 Feb 2023
Nice
Reached here from kurnool, just 1 hr bus journey, temple is awesome, had afternoon darshan , prasad also available, nice Shaktipeeth
Somaseshu
★★★★4.0Wrote on 30 Nov 2022
A temple complex with beautiful sculptures and carvings
Alampur (referred as “Hemalapuram†in Skandapurana) Jogulamba is the famous fifth Mahashakti peetha on the western banks of Tungabhadra River near the confluence with the Krishna River. Here the upper teeth of sati Devi fell and became a Shati Peetha. So, this place is called “Dakshina Kashi†or “Varanasi of the Southâ€. The Tungabhadra River flows here from south to north. It is nearly 28kms from Kurnool. From Hyderabad it is 220 kms. The name "Jogulamba" means mother of Yogis. In the same premises one can see the Navabrahma temples built by Badami Chalukyas in the seventh and eight centuries. The Jogulamba temple premises is very spacious. The Goddess is seen sitting on a corpse with a scorpion, a frog and a lizard on her head. Her body is emaciated and she looks ferocious. Sri Sankaracharya established Srichakram and pacified her by performing poojas. The original temple built in 7th century was destroyed by Bahamani Sultans in 1390. The Vijayanagara king, Hari Hara Rayalu, stopped further attacks and fortified the temple. The idol and the guardian deities were shifted to Balabrhameshwara temple. In 2005 Jogulamba temple was re-built and the original idol was installed in the new temple. The guardian deities are still seen in Balbrahmeshwara temple. The Navabrahma temples were shifted from their original place during construction of Srisailam hydro-electric project as the whole place was submerged. The temples were re-built away from the original site. The Chalukya kings constructed Nava Brahma temples temples in Northern architectural between 650 and 750o A.D. The Sangameshwara temple, the oldest of all Chalukyan temples (610-642) was shifted to Alampur in 1979. According to Skanda Purana Brahma did penance here and regained his powers of creation from Lord Shiva. So, the idol of Shiva is called Balabrahmeshwara. The other Shiva idols were also named as Brahma temples. They are: Bala, Kaumara,, Arka, Veera, Vishwa, Garuda, Swarga Padma and Taraka Brahmeshwara. These temples resemble the rock-cut temples in western India with a simple tower, and the sanctum with a rectangular pillared hall in front. These temples have carvings on pillars and friezes showing legends from Hindu scriptures. The walls are decorated with sculptures of demi-gods like Gandharvas, figures of swans and pea-cocks. During Muslim invasions Sha Ali Dargah was constructed near these temples in 17th century. Among Navabrahma temples, worship is done only to Balabrahmeshwara Linga which has many dents and an opening on the top. Water flows form this opening. The shrines of Lord Narasimha, Mahishasuramardini, and various rishis are seen. In Garuda Brahma and Kumara Brahma temples, there are elaborate carvings on the pillars. The Arka Brahma and Padma Brahma temples are in ruined state. The Taraka Brahma temple was built in Southern style with an inner sanctum, Antarala and a porch. Sculptures and inscriptions recovered from Navabrahma temples and surroundings are preserved here. Many Kannada inscriptions of Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta and Kalyani Chalukyas are seen here. In 2019 the Government of India included this temple under the pilgrimage rejuvenation advancement drive scheme. The Navabrahma Temples are listed as an archaeological and architectural treasure by the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple timings are from 7.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. The temple staff members are quite indifferent and unresponsive. They are not maintaining temple timings. In Jogulamba temple only one priest was appointed. He has to do all poojas without nay assistant. We have to wait for a long time. The menace of monkeys is quite disturbing. They even enter the temple hall and snatching fruits and bags from the devotees. The temple office is not decent-looking Even for huge donations, a small slip is issued without any prasadam or photo of the presiding ng deity. No boards are kept with clear directions so that devotees can see all Navabrahma temples. Employing guides will help devotees a lot in knowing about the historic importance of this temple complex. The temple surroundings are not neatly maintained. The Archaeological survey of India and the state government should collaborate in beautifying the temple surroundings. Basic facilities like drinking water, clean toilets and cafeteria should be provided. A book stall with gift items and pamphlets will be an added attraction. As the temple is not far away, many city people will prefer to visit this place if adequate amenities and transport facilities are provided. The museum should be shifted to a better location and the exhibits and sculptures should be showcased and labelled properly to give relevant information.
Suryakatakam
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 2 Jan 2020
Jogulamba Devi Temple is 5th Sakthi Peetam of Ashtadasa Shakti Peetas and the Western Gateway of Srisailam.
Jogulamba Devi Temple is 5th Sakthipeetam of Ashtadasa Shakti Peetas. Alampur is the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi and the Western Gateway of Srisailam.Here Goddess Jogulamba is seen seated on the Corpse with scorpion, frog, and lizard on the head. She is seen in a naked avatar with her tongue stretched outside, an avatar of fierce goddess that grants Siddhi in Yoga and hence called Jogulamba. This word is a changed form of Yogula Amma in Telugu which means Mother of Yogis. Temple Location: This temple is located in Alampur Town of Gadwal District, Talangana, India. Alampur is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river. Alampur situated at 215 km away from Hyderabad. Distance from Mahbub Nagar is 127 km and near by town is Kurnool which is 25 km away. Temple History: Jogulamba Devi Temple is 5th Sakthipeetam of Ashtadasa Shakti Peetas where Sati Devi's upeer teeth fell.Old temple of Jogulamba was destroyed by Bahamani sultans in the 14th century. The idols of Jogulamba and her two shaktis Chandi, Mundi were protected from them and placed in Bala brahmeswara swammy temple until 2005. The new temple constructed in the same place and the goddess was relocated. As per the local people Jogulamba is an Ugra rupa and the water pool surrounded to the temple makes the atmosphere cool.Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swammy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple. Temple Darshan Timings: Morning 07:00 am to 01:00 pm Evening 02:00 pm to 08:30 pm Special Attractions: 1. Water pool around the temple 2. Ashta Dasha Shakti Peeta's display on Temple Pillars 3. Yagna Shala Near By attractions: 1. Nava Brahma Temple 2. Archeology Museum 3. Papanasi Temple 4. Sangameswar Temple 5. Tungabadra River
MandiraD_12
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 22 Jul 2019
Beautiful Jogulamba maa blessing us all
This is a must visit temple, Shaktipeeth of maa, enroute from Hyderabad to Bangalore with max 20 kms detour, this is along with the cluster of NavaBrahma temples. The presence of maa is very strongly felt, must visit.
