Chaya Someswara Temple

Chaya Someswara Temple, also known as Chaya Someshvara Swamy Alayam, is a Saivite Hindu temple located in Panagal, Nalgonda district of Telangana, India.[1][2] The temple has three sanctum sanctorum, a form of temple architecture that is called Trikutalayam (three-shrine complex). These are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. The three shrines share a common hall (mandapam) with intricately carved pillars. These carvings depicts scenes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas. The temple has stepped pyramidal sikharas and was probably built in the 11th and 12th centuries CE during the rule of Kunduru Chodas and Prataparudra I of Kakatiya Empire over the Panagal region.[3][4][5][6][7] The temple is a popular pilgrimage site during Maha Sivaratri.

Chaya Someswara Temple
ఛాయా సోమేశ్వరాలయం
Chaya Someswara Swamy Temple at Panagal
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictNalgonda
DeityShiva
Location
LocationPanagal
StateTelangana
CountryIndia
Location in Telangana
Chaya Someswara Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates17.07747°N 79.29528°E / 17.07747; 79.29528
Architecture
Completed11th to 12th century CE

The temple is in close proximity to Pachala Someswara temple, another Saivite shrine in Panagal. The pillars in the Ardhamandapa and open spaces near the central Shiva shrine were designed and placed by the temple architect in such a way as to cast a unified shadow (Chaya in Telugu) constantly on the lingam all through the day, irrespective of the position of the sun. This gave its name to the temple - Chaya Someswara Swamy temple.[8]

Location

The temple is located in Panagal at a distance of nearly 4 km from the district headquarters of Nalgonda and at a distance of 107 kilometres from Hyderabad. It is located to the east of the village in the midst of paddy fields under the tank Udayasamudram.[9] The lingam in the temple is generally in knee deep water.[10] The temple is in close proximity (around 1 km) to the Pachala Someswara Temple, another Saivite shrine dating to the same period.[8] Panagal museum, an archaeological museum is located around 1.3 km west of the Chaya Someswara temple.

Description

This temple was built in the 11th and 12th centuries CE by the Kunduru Chodas. Parts of the temple were also built during the reign of the Kakatiyas. The temple has three sanctum sanctorum and hence is also called Trikutalayam. Of the three shrines, the one on the east houses Surya, the solar deity and the one facing north has a Vishnu shrine. The third one houses Sri Someswara (Lord Shiva), the main deity in the form of a lingam. The pillars are decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas. The temple got its name as there is an everlasting shadow (Chaya in Telugu) on the Shiva Lingam in the main temple all day long.[11]

  • Chaya Someswara Temple
  • Chaya Someswara Temple (wide angle)
  • Unified shadow cast on the Siva lingam
  • Carvings on the temple pillar
  • Temple gopuram

References
  1. Historic temple in a shambles - ANDHRA PRADESH. The Hindu (2009-04-28). Retrieved on 2016-06-11.
  2. Physics lecturer throws light on mystifying shadow. The Hindu (2010-06-03). Retrieved on 2016-06-11.
  3. Rao, P. R. Ramachandra (2005). The Splendour of Andhra Art. Akshara. p. 86.
  4. "Visalaandhra Daily Telugu News Paper -కళా నిలయాలు.... ఈ దేవాలయాలు..!". 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020. క్రీస్తు శఖం 11,12 శతాబ్ధాల మధ్యన ఉదయాన చౌడ మహారాజులు, కాకతీయ రుద్రమ దేవ మహారాజుల కాలంలో నిర్మితమైన పచ్చల ఛాయ సోమేశ్వర ఆలయాలు.....
  5. Chandaraju, Aruna (27 December 2013). "A little explored wonder". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  6. Reddy, T. Karnakar (16 September 2013). "Someshwara temple to shine soon". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. Vīrarāghavulu, Garimeḷla (1982). The Temple Empire. Veeraraghavulu.
  8. Satyavada, Neeharika (29 April 2018). "Glimpse into age of miracles". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  9. "ఛాయా సోమేశ్వరాలయం". 17 February 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  10. Pradesh, India Superintendent of Census Operations, Andhra (1964). District Census Handbook, Andhra Pradesh: Nalgonda. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 91.
  11. "Chaya Someswara Swamy Temple". Telangana Tourism.
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