117.230.148.28: /* The Temple */

2021-05-05T06:31:52Z

The Temple

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Pallikondeswara Temple
| image =Suruttupalli1.JPG
| caption =
| map_type = 
| map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|13|9|N|80|18|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| district = [[Chittoor district|Chittoor]]
| location = [[Surutapalli]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Pallikondeswara ([[Shiva]])
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| number_of_temples =
| number_of_monuments=
| inscriptions =
| date_built =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Pallikondeswara Temple'''(also Pradosha kshetram) is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the god [[Shiva]] located in [[Surutapalli]],<ref>[[#V.|V. 2006]], p. 26</ref> a village in [[Chittoor district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The presiding deity Pallikondeswara, unlike other Siva Temples, will be in reclining posture in the lap of his consort [[Parvati]].

== The Temple ==
[[File:Suruttupalli4.JPG|thumb|A temple sculpture depicting the central icon|left]]
Palli Kondeswarar translates to reclining deity. Shiva as Palli Kondeswarar is seen in a reclining posture in the lap of his consort [[Parvati]] as Sarva Mangalambika, which is typical of [[Ranganatha]] form of the god [[Vishnu]]. The temple was built during the late [[Vijayanagara]] period and the deity here is termed as ''Bhoga sayana Siva''.<ref>A. Satyanarayana, Pedarapu Chenna Reddy, ''Recent trends in historical studies: festschrift to Professor Ravula Soma Reddy'', p. 253</ref> This icon of Shiva is unusual; most Shiva temples contain a [[Lingam]], his aniconic symbol, as the central icon. The gods [[Ganesha]], [[Kartikeya]], [[Surya]], [[Chandra]], [[Indra]] and sages such as [[Narada]] are seen standing around Shiva.

The performance of [[Pradosha]] here is noteworthy. The temple has countless icons, besides the central icon:
# Gods: [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], [[Chandra]], [[Kubera]], [[Surya]], [[Indra]], [[Ganesha]], [[Kartikeya]] with consorts [[Valli]] and [[Devayanai]]
# Sages: [[Bhrigu]], [[Markandeya]], [[Narada]], [[Agastya]], [[Pulastya]], [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]], [[Tumburu]], [[Vashista]], [[Viswamitra]], [[Valmiki]]
# [[Adishankara]], another form of Shiva, in a separate niche.
# [[Navagraha]] deities in a shrine
# [[Nidhi|Sanganidhi and Padumanidhi]] with their consorts Vasundara and Vasumadhi respectively.

== Legend ==
[[File:Nandi Infront of Pallikondeswara Temple.jpg|thumb|Nandi in front of Pallikondeswara Temple]]
During the [[Samudra manthan]] (churning of the ocean of milk) by the gods and demons, many treasures along with the [[Amrita]] (elixir of the gods) and the poison [[Halahala]] rose from the ocean. To rescue the beings of the world from the poison, Shiva consumed it. When the poison was just going down the throat of Shiva, his consort Parvati stopped it there by tightly holding Shiva’s throat, turning Shiva's neck blue. After the episode, Shiva proceeded to his abode [[Kailash]] with Parvati. On the way, he felt exhausted and slightly uncomfortable, when he reached a place in the bounds of Andhra, which came to be called Suruttappalli. There, He lied down to relax, keeping his head in the lap of Parvati. The gods, who were concerned about Shiva’s well-being assembled there and stood around him, waiting for the Lord to open his eyes. This lying posture of Shiva is rare and unique, is almost similar to Vishnu’s reclining posture.

== Festivals ==
Pradosham, the fortnightingly festival is celebrated in all the south Indian temples. This temple garners around 15,000 visitors during pradosham and around 30,000 during the [[Sivarathri]] festival.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/02/28/stories/2003022801290600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615023339/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/02/28/stories/2003022801290600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|title= Deities in rare form|date=28 February 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=12 October 2016}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Commons category}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Subburaj|first=V. |title=Tourist Guide to Chennai |year=2006|publisher=Scarecrow Press, INC.|location=t. Krishna Press|isbn=81-7478-040-8|ref=V.}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Chittoor district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Andhra Pradesh]]

Pallikondeswara Temple, Surutapalli - Revision history

117.230.148.28: /* The Temple */