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హేంజేరు సిద్దేశ్వరస్వామి దేవాలయం, హేమావతి, అమరాపురం మండలం, శ్రీ సత్యసాయి జిల్లా, ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్.

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info@hemavathitemple.com

Temple History

Hemavati

Temple History

Henjeru Siddeshwara Swamy Temples in Hemavathi Village, Amarapuram Mandal, Sri Sathyasai District is a very famous temple. Lord Shiva shines in the form of 5.8 feet Siddheswara in a quadrangular shape.

This temple was built in AD. Built in the 9-10th century, the Doddeswara temple here is very important for sculpture. Hemavati is also known as Kashi of the South. Siddeswaraswamy and Doddeswaraswamy temples are located here and it is special that they are facing west. All the pillars here are carved with smooth black stone. The way in which the legends are carved in the temples here is very amazing.

Windows and gawkshams are arranged here to bring in air and light like nowhere else in other temples. Sculptures of deities can be seen in these windows. In the vasaras here, there was an installation with Ashtadikpalakas. Built by the Nolambuls, this temple is named for its sculptural beauty.

Built by the Nolambs, these temples stand out for their sculptural style, Shiva lingams and Nandi idols. The most spacious garden in the temple with mesmerizing sculptures is an added attraction of the temple.

It is said that before the popular name of Hemavati was Penjeru. In course of time it became Henjeru. Siddeshwara here is known as Henjeru Siddeshwara Swamy. Hengeru means a place like gold. It is said that the place got the name Hemavati because of the rain of gold here. Hema means golden. It is said that the name was given to Haimavati, the daughter of King Nolamba, which later changed to Hemavati.

The entire area is adorned with a considerable number of stone “Shivalingam” and “Basavanna” figurines. Even today, local accounts report that farmers continue to find these “lingas” while plowing their fields. The temple has three inscriptions dating back to the 10th century that describe the endowment of the temple.

 

 

One inscription is recorded as a grant from the Hoysala ruler, while the other two are from the Velanadu Chola rulers. Notably, these kingdoms ruled areas at least 200 km away from this temple, which indicates the considerable importance of this holy place in the early 10th century.

There are four separate temples in the temple premises. The first is dedicated to Henjarappa, also known as Siddeshvara, in which the statue of Lord Shiva is depicted in a seated, Lalitasana posture, rather than in the traditional linga form. This depiction shows Shiva holding a damaruga, kapala (skull), trident and fourth hand in abhaya mudra. He is adorned with a yajnopeetha made of circular objects (rudrakshi or skulls).

Adjacent to the Henjarappa temple is the Kala Bhairava statue, a male and female figure standing on entwined snakes. It is a local belief that offering jaggery in this temple provides protection from scorpion attacks. The Doddeswara temple has a large lingam about 5 feet high and an idol of Basavanna standing in front. The fourth temple is similar to the Doddeswara temple which has another Linga. The temple premises have Kalyani in the courtyard and the temple entrance is decorated with sculptures on the gopuram. The compound is rectangular in shape and has a raised rectangular platform extending across its length and width, punctuated by equidistant pillars.

Upon entering the Henjarappa temple, one sees a mukhamantapa with four intricately carved black stone pillars. These pillars display a variety of sculptures, including carvings of men and women in various poses (such as dancing women and monks), a lion-faced animal, other birds and animals, and various gods and goddesses.

After passing through the mukhamantapam, you enter the inner mantapam with plain pillars without carvings. There is an idol of Henjarappa in the sanctum sanctorum.

Although the Brahmin priests in the temple are pure vegetarians, animal sacrifices are performed here. Earlier, the temple also housed an idol of Goddess Kali, which is now preserved in the Madras Museum.

The Nolamba inscriptions of the region mention the incarnation of Lakulisa at this place and grants from the Nolamba kings to the Kalamukhas. The presence of animal sacrifices, the worship of a monstrous form of Shiva (Kala Bhairava), the Kali idol and the mention of Kalamukhu all indicate that it was a popular place of worship for the medieval Saivite sects, their austerity and mysticism.

 


Henjeru is mentioned in several ancient inscriptions, the most important of which describes it as “Mahaghatikasthanam”. Historians suggest that “Mahaghatikasthanam” refers to a place of higher learning or a gathering place for the learned. Thus, this small village known today as Hemavati was once of considerable importance in earlier times.

In Hemavati

Famous Shiva Temples

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Siddeshwara Swamy Temple

During Chaitram and Vaisakh months, it is wonderful to see the sunlight touching the 5.8 feet tall Siddeshwara Swamy during the dusk.

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Doddeswara Swamy Temple

Sri Doddeswara Swamy Temple has Saiva Purana stories as well as Vishnava Purana stories engraved in them. Opposite the largest Nandi temple.

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Chela Bhairava Swamy Temple

It is believed that if jaggery is offered in the temple of Sri Chelabhairavaswamy, the Swami will protect their house from snakes, scorpions and any other poisonous insects.

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Malleswara Swamy Temple

In the Malleswara Swamy temple, the lingam shines brightly with the rays of the morning sun. It is on the left side of Doddeswara temple.

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Virupaksheswara Temple

The temple is famous for its sculpture. This temple is on the right side of Doddeswara Swamy temple. In the mandapa opposite to Shivalinga, Nandi's hand makes a sound.

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Navakotamma Temple

People here worship Navakotamma as the younger sister of Lord Siddeshwara. People here perform puja to Navakotamma to get children.

The coat of arms of the Nolambarajas is Nandi. Nandi sculptures carved out of smooth black stone are very beautiful in the temples here. It is remarkable that Nandi idols and Shivlingas have come out wherever excavations are carried out in the surrounding areas of Hemavati.

If you look here you will see almost all Nandis in Hemavati having their ears pierced. Finding a secret in the sculptures in the temple here, they broke Nandi’s ears and stole the diamonds. Similarly, it is said that Nandi’s ears were cracked for diamonds in all the rivers.

During the time of Nolambu kings, sculptors showed great talent in carving Nandus here. You will notice that the Nandus here are different from other Shaivite Kshetras in South India. Nandulu gets up and runs.

Nandi’s head, body and neck were carved with great skill by the sculptors of that time, who had groin straps and necklaces.

A long bell necklace around the neck can be seen carved as Nandi is placed on the floor while seated. On the lower part of Nandi’s neck, the Gangados can also be seen sculpted by sculptors to make them look very natural. Here one can see Nandu carvings of small Nandus Big Nandus with all kinds of sizes. By now, when excavations are carried out in the surrounding areas of Hemavati, it is natural that Nandu Shiva Lingams will come out.

A word may be said about one of the many inscriptions at Hemavati. To Surya’s right is a broken pillar with a long Canarese inscription that mentions Mahendra, the greatest of the Nolamba rulers. Its ancient vessels were cut into grans—a model of lapidary art.

Hemavati Temples

Om Namah Shivaya

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