Jaladheeswara Swamy temple – Ghantasala

About Jaladheeswara Swamy temple

This temple is known as Sree Balaparvati Sametha Jaladheeswara Aalayam, is in a village named Ghantasala in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh and it is the fourth ancient temple and existed before the 2nd century A.D. This Siva Lingam has similar features with some of the ancient temples like Gudimallem (Chittor district near Sri Kalahasti), Amaravati, Draksharamam.

According to Skanda Purana, this temple Darshana has the same pious Punya Phala effect equivalent to Darshanam of Dwadasha jyotirlingas and Ashtadasa Shakti Peetams due to the placement of Siva and Parvati on a single Peetham. It is the only temple in the world to have lords Siva and Parvati on a single Peetham and According to the temple history, the Peetham was placed by Agastya Maharshi.

It is here Lord Siva is abiding with Parvathi on a raised dais and is called Jaladheeswaraswamy. Nowhere in India Siva’s icon is worshipped with the name of Jaladheeswara. It is one of the famous Shaiva Kshetra of Andhra Pradesh and the Vimana on the garbha griha bears a striking resemblance to that of Brihadeeswaraalayam of Tanjore. This temple contains many more beautiful icons of Ugra Narasimha, Kalabhairava, Saraswati, etc. The icon of Saraswathi resembles Mohenjadara’s image, and it is a unique one in many respects. The Aalaya thus claims many uniques, making it stand apart from other Sivaalayas.