Alampur
Encyclopedia
Alampur is a temple-town situated in Mahbubnagar district
, in the Telangana
region of Andhra Pradesh
, India
.
It is located at about 90 KM from Mahabubnagar, 27 km From Kurnool
and 200 km from Hyderabad. Alampur is the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra
and Krishna
and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi(also known as Navabrahmeshwara Theertha) and the Western Gateway of Srisailam
,
the famous Shaivite (Shaivism
) pilgrim centre. The principal deities at Alampur are
Brahmeshwara and Jogulamba. It is surrounded by the Nallamalai hills.
Alampur is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river
.
and Qutb Shahis of Golconda
.
Alampur was previously Known as Halampuram, Hamalapuram And Alampuram. Name of this place as Hatampura, mentioned in the inscription dated AD 1101 belongs to Western Chalukya Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI
. There are Navabhrama Temples, these impressive temples should be visited on tour to Andhra Pradesh
not only because they are historically important but also because they reflect remarkable architectural skills.
SRI SRI JOGULAMBA
Jogulamba (also called as Yogulamba / Yogamba) is one of the eighteen Shakti peethas. Oordhva danta pankti (Upper jaw with tooth) of devi fell here. She is the Shakti of Bala brahmeswara swamy.
Jogulamba mahadevi / Roudra veekshana loochana //
Alampuri sthita mata / Sarvartha phala siddhida //
Where is Jogulamba Shakti peeth ?
INDIA > ANDHRA PRADESH > NEAR KURNOOL > ALAMPUR [Jogulamba in 18 Shakti peethas map]
While going to Kurnool from Hyderabad we have to turn left at Alampur cross-road (12k.m before reaching Kurnool). Alampur is at 12k.m distance from that spot. It is a small village and the Jogulamba temple is located in the South-East corner of the village very beside Tungabhadra river.
Nearest Bus station: Alampur.
Nearest Railway station: Kurnool.
Nearest Air port: Hyderabad.
First Previous Next
Jogulamba devi in temple
Jogulamba dhyana rupa
Jogulamba templeBala brahmeswara swammy temple
bala-brahmeswara.jpg (12.26 KiB) Viewed 7097 times
Jogulamba temple:
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. Now, a new temple was constructed in the same place and the goddess was shifted in to it. New temple of Jogulamba is very much beautiful to see with a nice granite flooring. It is surrounded by a water pool. Villagers of Alampur tell an interesting reason for it: "Jogulamba is an Ugra rupa (highly energetic and hard to worship) and this water pool makes the atmosphere cool so that we can easily worship her".
Idol of Jogulamba is typical. She is in sitting position. She has huge amount of hair with lizard, scorpion, bat and a human scull in it. Idols of Saptamatrikas, Vighneswara and Veenapani veerabhadra are also present in the temple. Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swammy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple.
Alampur is called as "City of Temples". All of them are very old and famous for their sculpture. They are under control of Indian Archeological department. The entire temple campus was built on the bank of river Tungabhadra. Out of them, temples of Nava brahmas and the temple of Kanchi kamakshi are most important.ficance of Alampur
. There are a total of nine temples in Alampur. All of them are dedicated to Shiva
. These temples date back to the 7th century A.D and were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers who were great patrons of art and architecture. Even after a time span of several hundred years, these grand temples still stand firm reflecting the rich architectural heritage of the country.
The temples are emblematic of the Northern and Western Indian styles of architecture. They do not reflect the Dravidian
style of architecture as is generally common with the temples in this region. The brilliance of the artists who carved the sculptures of these temples is indeed commendable.
The Navabhramma temples are present on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river
, enclosed in a courtyard.
At Taraka Bhramma temple, the 6th-7th century CE inscriptions present here.
Swarga Bhramma temple was built during 681-696 AD by Lokaditya Ela Arasa in honour of the queen of Vinayaditya, it is mentioned in an inscription found above the Dwarapalaka image.
It is the finest example of Badami Chalukya Architecture
and sculpture. This temple is the most elaborately ornamented temple. Temple with an imposing tower (Rekhanagara vimana) is finest compared to other temples at Alampur.
Padma Bhramma temple having polished stone sculpture of Shivalinga .
AS per the inscriptions, Bala Bhramma temple dates back to 702 CE.
It is the main shrine of worship, Shivaratri is celebrated.
Vishwa Bhramma temple having sculptural scenes from the epics. It is one of the most artistic temple.
There are other temples like Suryanarayana temple dating back to 9th century. And Narasimha temple with inscriptions belongs to Sri Krishna Devaraya (Vijayanagar Empire). You are sure to be impressed by the Suryanarayana and the Narasimha temples that are also found in the same complex. The exquisite sculptures in the temple are very admirable.
In 7th century AD Badami Chalukyas built these temples. The temples are not exactly in the
Dravidian
style but in Nagara style of architecture. The shikharas of all these temples have a curvilinear form and are adorned with the miniature architectural devices.
The plans and decoration similar to that of the rock cut temples (found in Karnataka
and Maharastra).
Geography
Demographics
According to The Imperial Gazetteer of India
, Alampur was a taluk of Raichur district
, Hyderabad State
. It has an area of 184 square miles (476.6 km²) in 43 villages. The population in 1901 was 30,222, compared with the 27,271 in 1891. Alampur, the headquarters, had a population of 4,182. Krishna river
separates the taluk from Mahbubnagar district on the North and the Tungabhadra from Madras state. The confluence of these two rivers is situated in the extreme east of the taluk.
India census
, Alampur had a population of 9350. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Alampur has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 64% of the males and 36% of females literate. 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.
See also
External links
Group of Monuments, Alampur, Andhra Pradesh
Mahbubnagar district
Mahabubnagar or Mahboobnagar , also known as Palamooru is a district in the Andhra Pradesh state of India, in the Telangana region. It is named after its largest city and district headquarters, Mahabubnagar.It is the second largest district in the state in terms of area...
, in the Telangana
Telangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
region of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
It is located at about 90 KM from Mahabubnagar, 27 km From Kurnool
Kurnool
Kurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
and 200 km from Hyderabad. Alampur is the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra
Tungabhadra River
The Tungabhadra River is a sacred river in southern India that flows through the state of Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, where it serves as the chief tributary of the Krishna River...
and Krishna
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi(also known as Navabrahmeshwara Theertha) and the Western Gateway of Srisailam
Srisailam
Srisailam is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of River Krishna, about 232 km south of Hyderabad....
,
the famous Shaivite (Shaivism
Shaivism
Shaivism is one of the four major sects of Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer,...
) pilgrim centre. The principal deities at Alampur are
Brahmeshwara and Jogulamba. It is surrounded by the Nallamalai hills.
Alampur is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river
Tungabhadra River
The Tungabhadra River is a sacred river in southern India that flows through the state of Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, where it serves as the chief tributary of the Krishna River...
.
History
Alampur was under the rule of Shatavahana Ishvakus of Nagarjunakonda, Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara EmpireVijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
and Qutb Shahis of Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
.
Alampur was previously Known as Halampuram, Hamalapuram And Alampuram. Name of this place as Hatampura, mentioned in the inscription dated AD 1101 belongs to Western Chalukya Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI
Vikramaditya VI
Vikramaditya VI became the Western Chalukya King after deposing his elder brother Somesvara II. Vikramaditya's reign is marked by the start of the Chalukya-Vikrama era. Vikramaditya VI was the greatest of the Western Chalukya kings and had the longest reign in the dynasty. He earned the title...
. There are Navabhrama Temples, these impressive temples should be visited on tour to Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
not only because they are historically important but also because they reflect remarkable architectural skills.
SRI SRI JOGULAMBA
Jogulamba (also called as Yogulamba / Yogamba) is one of the eighteen Shakti peethas. Oordhva danta pankti (Upper jaw with tooth) of devi fell here. She is the Shakti of Bala brahmeswara swamy.
Jogulamba mahadevi / Roudra veekshana loochana //
Alampuri sthita mata / Sarvartha phala siddhida //
Where is Jogulamba Shakti peeth ?
INDIA > ANDHRA PRADESH > NEAR KURNOOL > ALAMPUR [Jogulamba in 18 Shakti peethas map]
While going to Kurnool from Hyderabad we have to turn left at Alampur cross-road (12k.m before reaching Kurnool). Alampur is at 12k.m distance from that spot. It is a small village and the Jogulamba temple is located in the South-East corner of the village very beside Tungabhadra river.
Nearest Bus station: Alampur.
Nearest Railway station: Kurnool.
Nearest Air port: Hyderabad.
First Previous Next
Jogulamba devi in temple
Jogulamba dhyana rupa
Jogulamba templeBala brahmeswara swammy temple
bala-brahmeswara.jpg (12.26 KiB) Viewed 7097 times
Jogulamba temple:
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. Now, a new temple was constructed in the same place and the goddess was shifted in to it. New temple of Jogulamba is very much beautiful to see with a nice granite flooring. It is surrounded by a water pool. Villagers of Alampur tell an interesting reason for it: "Jogulamba is an Ugra rupa (highly energetic and hard to worship) and this water pool makes the atmosphere cool so that we can easily worship her".
Idol of Jogulamba is typical. She is in sitting position. She has huge amount of hair with lizard, scorpion, bat and a human scull in it. Idols of Saptamatrikas, Vighneswara and Veenapani veerabhadra are also present in the temple. Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swammy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple.
Alampur is called as "City of Temples". All of them are very old and famous for their sculpture. They are under control of Indian Archeological department. The entire temple campus was built on the bank of river Tungabhadra. Out of them, temples of Nava brahmas and the temple of Kanchi kamakshi are most important.ficance of Alampur
Navabhrama Temples
Alampur Navabhrama Temples are located at Alampur in Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. There are a total of nine temples in Alampur. All of them are dedicated to Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. These temples date back to the 7th century A.D and were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers who were great patrons of art and architecture. Even after a time span of several hundred years, these grand temples still stand firm reflecting the rich architectural heritage of the country.
The temples are emblematic of the Northern and Western Indian styles of architecture. They do not reflect the Dravidian
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
style of architecture as is generally common with the temples in this region. The brilliance of the artists who carved the sculptures of these temples is indeed commendable.
The Navabhramma temples are present on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river
Tungabhadra River
The Tungabhadra River is a sacred river in southern India that flows through the state of Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, where it serves as the chief tributary of the Krishna River...
, enclosed in a courtyard.
- Taraka Bhramma
At Taraka Bhramma temple, the 6th-7th century CE inscriptions present here.
- Swarga Bhramma
Swarga Bhramma temple was built during 681-696 AD by Lokaditya Ela Arasa in honour of the queen of Vinayaditya, it is mentioned in an inscription found above the Dwarapalaka image.
It is the finest example of Badami Chalukya Architecture
Badami Chalukya Architecture
The Badami Chalukya architecture was a temple building idiom that evolved in the time period of 5th – 8th centuries AD. in the area of Malaprabha basin, in present day Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. This style is sometimes called the Vesara style and Chalukya style...
and sculpture. This temple is the most elaborately ornamented temple. Temple with an imposing tower (Rekhanagara vimana) is finest compared to other temples at Alampur.
- Padma Bhramma
Padma Bhramma temple having polished stone sculpture of Shivalinga .
- Bala Bhramma
AS per the inscriptions, Bala Bhramma temple dates back to 702 CE.
It is the main shrine of worship, Shivaratri is celebrated.
- Vishwa Bhramma
Vishwa Bhramma temple having sculptural scenes from the epics. It is one of the most artistic temple.
- Garuda Bhramma
- Kumara Bhramma
- Arka Bhramma
- Vira Bhramma
There are other temples like Suryanarayana temple dating back to 9th century. And Narasimha temple with inscriptions belongs to Sri Krishna Devaraya (Vijayanagar Empire). You are sure to be impressed by the Suryanarayana and the Narasimha temples that are also found in the same complex. The exquisite sculptures in the temple are very admirable.
Two Groups of Temples
Brahmesvara and Papanatha are the 2 groups of temples on either side of Alampur.In 7th century AD Badami Chalukyas built these temples. The temples are not exactly in the
Dravidian
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
style but in Nagara style of architecture. The shikharas of all these temples have a curvilinear form and are adorned with the miniature architectural devices.
The plans and decoration similar to that of the rock cut temples (found in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Maharastra).
Geography
Alampur is located at 26.02°N 78.79°E. It has an average elevation of 159 metres (521 ft).
DemographicsAccording to The Imperial Gazetteer of India
The Imperial Gazetteer of India
The Imperial Gazetteer of India was a gazetteer of the British Indian Empire, and is now a historical reference work. It was first published in 1881...
, Alampur was a taluk of Raichur district
Raichur district
Raichur District is an administrative district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located in the northeast part of the state and is bounded by Yadgir district in the north, Bijapur and Bagalkot district in the northwest, Koppal district in the west, Bellary district in the south, Anantapur...
, Hyderabad State
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
. It has an area of 184 square miles (476.6 km²) in 43 villages. The population in 1901 was 30,222, compared with the 27,271 in 1891. Alampur, the headquarters, had a population of 4,182. Krishna river
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
separates the taluk from Mahbubnagar district on the North and the Tungabhadra from Madras state. The confluence of these two rivers is situated in the extreme east of the taluk.
India census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Alampur had a population of 9350. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Alampur has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 64% of the males and 36% of females literate. 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.
See also
|
Pattadakal Pattadakal is a village in Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district. It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole... Aihole Aihole is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both.... Hampi Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka state, India. It is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, as well as several other... Lepakshi Lepakshi is a small village and Mandal headquarters located in the Anantapur District, in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is east of Hindupur and about north of Bangalore. From Bangalore, it can be reached by going west at Kodikonda checkpost on Hyderabad highway NH 7... |
External links
Group of Monuments, Alampur, Andhra Pradesh