Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple at Vemulawada in Telangana is
dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is around 180 km north of Hyderabad. This a
very ancient temple and finds mention in the Bhavishyothara Purana. The unique
aspect of the temple is that Sri Rajarajeshwara is flanked by Goddess Raja
Rajeshwari (Goddess Durga) and by Lakshmi Sanhitha Siddhi Vinayaka in the main
sanctum.
Lord Shiva in the form of Sri Raja Rajeshwara is popularly
known as Rajanna of Vemulawada. The shrine is located at the center of the town
atop a small hill.
The temple has a gateway leading up the hill and a typical
south Indian style gopuram marks the entrance to the shrine.
The shrine has got a holy tank named Dharma Gundam, the
waters of the tank is believed to have medicinal properties. Legend has it that
in ancient times a king bathed in the tank and got cured of his leprosy. He
also found a Shivling in the water. He then installed it in the temple.
Devotees take a holy dip in the waters and then visit the temple in wet
clothes.
There are numerous smaller shrines in the temple complex. Important
among them are Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy form of Vishnu with Krishna murti
in the center and another one dedicated to Sita Ramaswamy. There are also other
shrines in the complex dedicated to Shiva and Durga.
It is believed that the architecturally beautiful shrine was
built between 9th and 10th century by Vemulawada Chalukyas.
The temple attracts maximum devotees during Shivratri and
during Kartik Month (November – December) in Telugu Calendar.
It is believed that if one pulls a bull around the temple
one’s wishes will be fulfilled.