Mahanandi Temple — The Abode of Shiva’s Gate Guardian

Mahanandi Temple

Mahanandi temple, situated inside thick forests east of Nallamala hills, is about 21kms from Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his gate-guardian Nandi. It is an ancient shrine built 1,500 years ago and is encircled by 8 other Nandi shrines together called Nava Nandis.

Mahanandi Temple History

Local folklore tells an interesting story about this temple. Once there lived a sage called Silada in Nallamala forest. He only ate stones as food. He meditated on Lord Shiva and led a content life. He had no children and so his wife requested him to pray to the Lord for a child.

Lord Shiva, the ever benevolent, blessed them with a male child and both they named him Mahananda. The boy grew up and after his thread ceremony (Upanayanam), he immersed in meditation of Lord Shiva. Pleased with his devotion, Lord accepted Mahananda as his vahana or vehicle. Shiva converted him into a bull and took him along to Kailasam, his heavenly abode.

The Lord converted this place of Mahanandi birth into a sacred Kshetra and the water arising out of this place was made into a holy river or Thirtha.

Mahanandi Temple Architecture

The present temple structure was built a Nanda king. Folklore goes thus: A shepherd herded his cows near a village called Gopitavaram. A particular cow would enter a bush and ooze its milk in the area. It returned home with an empty udder. On investigation, an ant hole was found and a child would collect and drink this milk daily.

This routine reached the Nanda King’s ears. He came down to the village to investigate personally. The cow ran away and the child disappeared as soon as the king approached. At night, the king had a dream in which the Lord Shiva said that he was the child who consumed the milk. The Lord also directed the king to build a temple in honour at the location and at the same time installing nine nandis in and around an 80 kms radius. He also directed the Nanda king to construct a water tank which will be served by the Holy Ganga herself.

Thus began the construction of this holy site. A huge tank was dug out and was named Rudra Gunda. Two other tanks were built with the names Brahma Gunda and Vishnu Gunda. The water has never dried in these tanks and it also irrigates 2000 hectares of fertile land under cultivation

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