Alampur Jogulamba Bala Brahmeswara Swamy Temple is an ancient temple, located in Alampur Town near Kurnool in Jogulamba Gadwal District, Telangana. The main dieties are Bala Brahmeswara Swamy (Lord Shiva) and Sri Jogulamba (Goddess Shakti). The temple, also known by the name Yogulamba (or) Yogamba was built around 7th century and is one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas in the country. The temple is located on the banks of River Tungabhadra in Alampur. Alampur Jogulamba is one of the
Jogulamba temple is one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas, which are the most significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism. Alampur is considered the western gateway of Srisailam which is one of the 12 jyotirlingas. The town is also known as the Southern Kasi. Though today there are disputes to this as there are other southern temples existing like the Srikalahasthi and the Rameswaram temple.
The Jogulamba Bala Brahmeswara Temple combines with the Nava Brahma temples, a so called consortium of nine temples in its premises. Sati Devi’s upper teeth fell out here. The mythology of Daksha Yagna and the self-immolation of Sati is the origin story of Shakti Peethas. The original temple was grounded by Muslim invaders in 1390 CE. The temple was rebuilt after 615 years.
Nava Brahma Temples of Alampur:
Nava Brahma temples consist of Swarga Brahma, Taraka Brahma, Padma Brahma, Bala Brahma, Garuda Brahma, Kumara Brahma, Arka Brahma, Vira Brahma and Vishwa Brahma. The Brahma temples were built by Badami Chalukyas in the 6th century. However, most of these and the main Sri Jogulamba Bala Brahmeswara Swamy Temple were destroyed by the Muslim rulers. Now most of the remains are kept in the nearby museum.
Nava Brahma Temples:
a. Swarga Brahma Temple: Swarga Bharma is a hall temple and was built in the later part of the 7th century. The text at the main entrance above the dwarpalika image mentions that the temple was constructed by Lokaditya-Ela-Arasa, in honor of the queen of Vinayaditya, called Mahadevi.
The temple has an enclosed and covered entrance. The shrine of the temple is located at the end of the hall. The pillars connect the side wings of the rectangular hall. The temple has a six pillar porch in the East. The purangatha pillars are the ones heavily decorated. Special importance has been given to the dwarpals by the doorways. Ganga, jamuna and the Garuda Naga are also carved.
Figures of Krishna Lila, animals, Garuda-nose faces and many other beings are carved on the outer panels of the wall. The carvings here give a feeling that the human beings had passionate enthusiasm for elevating themselves to divine status. Among the other places for carvings are the Aihole and Pattadakal. There are however, some broken figures that can also be considered dynamic sculpture. Shiva in Shiva, Shiva with Parvathi, Mithuna couples and many other forms of carvings release energy to the Universe.
b. Taraka Brahma Temple: The Sourthern style of architecture differentiates theTaraka Brahma temple from the others in the Nava Brahma group of temples. It has a garbhagriha, an antarala and a veranda. The three walls of the Garbhagriha feature the Devakoshtha in the center. The image of Paralambapadalakshmi on the antarala doorway is fascinating. The top of the temple consists of Sala, Kudu and Panjaran that replicate the gopuram style.
c. Padma Brahma: Sri Padma Brahma temple is also built in the hall style similar to Swarga Brahma temple. Now only the sculptures of two dwarpalikas (gate keepers) near the square gateway remain. These figures have a flying figure on the top. The sculptures elsewhere in this temple were destroyed by Muslim Invaders belonging to Moghal rule.
d. Bala Brahma: The Bala Brahma temple has been repaired many times as the worship in the temple has been quite regular since centuries. The images of Jogulamba, Durga, Narasimha and the Rishis are to be seen here. The courtyard has images of Mukhalinga, Sahasralinga and Mahishasuramardini. The image of mother goddess had been intact even during the destructions carried out by Moghul invaders in the small temple.
e. Garuda Brahma: With architecture on similar lines as in Padma Brahma, Garuda Brahma temple is distinguished by elaborate carvings on the pillars inside the hall. It also features the calm shadows secured for the extension of consciousness into the non-sensuous realms of calm.
f. Kumara Brahma: The doorway exhibits a row of seven heads. The significance of these carvings is still unsolved. Even the carvings on the pillars of the veranda remain a mystery.g. Arka Brahma: The temple now in a very disgraced form with no roof.
h. Veera Brahma: The Chakkam carvings on the inner ceilings of the artha mandapam are worth seeing.
i. Vishwa Brahma: This temple has been constructed in a very similar manner as that of the Swarga Brahma. However, there is no veranda in this temple. The sculptures when made had been similar to those of the swarga Bharhma. Unfortunately the visibility of the sculpture has gone down with time and no maintenance and the invasions. The Trivikrama figure might have been a magnificent piece when carved. Another such magnificient sculpture would have been the Gangavatarana, the Mithunas, the floral relief of makaras and birds with flying figures.