Temple in Kurnool resurfaces
Sanghameswara temple remains under water for 222 days
The Sanghameswara temple at the confluence of seven rivers in Kurnool district is becoming visible as the water in the Krishna river and Srisailam dam recedes.
The temple remains under water for about 222 days every year when the Krishna river is in full flow. Devotees can enter the temple and offer prayers to the Shivalinga only for about four months in a year.
Temple priest Telakapalli Raghunatha Sarma said
that water needs to recede by another eight feet before people can enter the temple. “I am hopeful we can enter the temple in the 10 days. The sludge will have to be cleaned up,” he said.
Right now, only the gopuram of the temple is visible.
The temple began getting submerged after the construction of the Srisailam dam in 1980. It was not relocated like many other temples in the area. It remained hidden under water for more than 20 years and resurfaced in 2003.
The temple priest said that the Linga, made of neem wood, was installed by the Pandavas after they visited the Srisailam Mallikarjuna temple. The Shivalinga is said to have been brought from Kashi and consecrated at the confluence of the Krishna and Tungabhadra and other five tributaries. The idol was named Sangameshwaram after the Sangama or confluence of rivers.