About Keesaragutta Temple
The history of Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple at Keesara goes back to the early ages. One can say that it the oldest inhabited place in Hyderabad. History of the city starts with the history of Keesaragutta. This place was once the capital of Vishnukundins dynasty. According to the legend, Lord Rama installed a Shiva Lingam here, for the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahman.
He selected this place, surrounded by lush greenery and asked Hanuman to bring Shiva Lingam from Kashi(Varanasi). But the mighty Hanuman could not return on time and as the auspicious hours was about to end, Lord Shiva appeared before Lord Rama and gave him a Shiva Linga to install. The deity at Keesara, is called as Ramalingeswara, as Lord Rama had installed the deity.
When Hanuman returned with 101 lingams from Varanasi for Lord Rama to select, he was aggrieved to see that a Lingam was already installed. The enraged Hanuman threw all the Lingas that he had, all over the place. Till this day, devotes do find several lingams scattered at the temple premises. To appease Hanuman, Rama ordained that precedence would be given to him to worship at the temple. Rama also proclaimed that the hillock, where the deity was installed, would bear the name of Hanuman, as he is the son of Kesari. Over the years, the name has been transformed as Keesara and the hillock as Keesaragutta.
Historians believe that eleven ‘Ashwamedha Yagnas’ were performed here during the fifth and sixth centuries by the Vishnukundin Kings. It is also believed that the temple hosted Vedic ceremonies like ‘Rajasuya’, ‘Purushmedha’, ‘Sarvamedha’ etc.
Apart from the temple, the site is also of great archaeological importance. Exploration and excavations were conducted by the archaeological department at the premises of the temple in the late 70s and early 80s. Ancient remains of brick structures were found, north of the temple. It is also believed that the slopes of the hillock acted as a water resource. The archaeologists dated back those remains to that of Vishnukundin times. Fortified walls, Yaga shala and prayer hall were unearthed from this site during excavations. There were also few vestige remains and rock cut cisterns that were found here which indicates that both Jainism and Buddhism flourished here.
Timings to visit
6:00 AM – 12:45 PM | 3:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Seva Timings
- Suprabhata Seva: 6:00 am to 6:30 am
- Mahanyasa Poorvaka Rudrabhishekam: 6:30 am to 7:30 am
- Maha Harathi: 7:45 am
- Abhishekam: 8:00 am to 12:45 pm
- Archana: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Abhishekam: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Nivedana, Harathi, Mantra Pushpam: 7:00 pm to 7:20 pm
- Pavalimpu Seva: 7:20 pm to 7:30 pm
Festivals Celebrate at Keesaragutta Temple
Shivaratri, Karthika Masam, Sri Rama Navami, Ugadi
How to reach Keesaragutta Temple
By Air: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport – 66.3 km,
By Train: Secunderabad railway station – 28.7 km,
By Road: Hyderabad – 40 km, Secunderabad – 32 km
Address
Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Temple Hill Top Rd, Keesaragutta, Keesara(V), Medchal Malkajgiri District, Telangana, 501301.
Telangana Official Website Of Keesaragutta Temple
Also Read Place To Visit In And Around Medchal Malkajgiri District
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