One of the famous monumental architecture temple which was built by Cholaraja king Kulathunga Chola in the Cholas styles and spread across 14 acres on 108 sculpted pillar on the river banks of Cheyyaru (Bahudha) and mostly the temple construction happened with red-stone. It can be termed as an Architectural Marvel of the temple in Kadapa District. Furthermore, renovations where happened for this temple under Pandyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara and Patiraja dynasties.
This temple is located in Nandalur town, which is hardly 2km from the Kadapa – Chennai highway road. Lord Soumyanatha is the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara (Vishnu Avatar). The great poet Andhra Kavitha Pithamaha Annamacharya also wrote around 16 sankeerthanas praising Lord Soumyanatha.
In the 11th century, the Cholaraja king Kulathunga Chola had laid the foundation for the Soumyanatha Temple. Later on, Cholas, Pandyas, Kakatiyas and Vijayanagara kings has done major construction modifications to this temple up to 17th century as per the history of the temple.
As the temple can be seen with entrance Rajagopuram, which is in the east direction and also acts as entrance to the temple. This temple consists of three main goupurams (east, north and south) only (As many are stating that it has four goupurams).
Image Credit: Captured from Youtube Video - Kadapa Tourism
After entering into the temple you can find Deepastambham, it can be termed as architectural marvel where one can see Lion heads carving on the four side of a surrounding pillar of eight feet height. It replicates how the people in that era used to utilize the light source by placing the light on the eight feet stone.
Image: Deepastambham
Dhwajasthambam with 20 feet can be seen here, with full of Brass coated plate surround for it. During the bramhosthavam time, priests will perform pooja in the name of Dhwajarohanam then bramhosthavams will start. Beside to Dhwajasthambam, one can see a small pond. In the temple premises, there is Anjaneya swamy temple (the idol will be in praying pose) and Narasimha swamy temple also. The temple is built with red stone, one can see a lot of Tamil language inscriptions on the wall of the temple, very Telugu language writing are very less.
There was a belief among the devotees here in Soumayanatha Temple, if any devotee is having any desire, he/she need to perform 9 rounds of pradakshina around the main temple. Later on once the desire is full filled the devotee has to visit the temple and need to go for 108 pradakshinas around the main temple. During Saturday, the temple seen with little bit crowd.
On the pillars and inside the temple one can see a lot of carvings also. In the main temple entrance onto the ceiling, there is a large fish carving and sun can also be seen here. One of the interesting fact in the temple is the sun rays will directly fall on the idol of the Lord in the temple once in a year.
Presently the temple is under Archaeological Survey of India, which is an Indian Government agency.
From
the inscriptions of the temple, it was said that around this temple and on the
bank of River Bahuda (Cheyyaru) there were 100 Sivalayams (Siva temples). The famous 5 Lord Shiva temples along the bank of River Bahuda
can be read here.
How to Reach:
One can get to Kadapa (Cuddapah) by flight and then take a taxi to Nandalur which is hardly 60 km from the Kadapa Airport. The nearest railway station is Nandalur. For Every 15 minutes buses are available from morning 6 am to evening 9 pm from Rajampet and Kadapa bus stand. Bus inquiry can get from here.
Chief Temple Officer:
Sri Soumyanatha Swamy Temple, Nandalur, Kadapa
Mobile: 09440772146
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