The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : 12-day spectacle ends today

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

12-day spectacle ends today

Special Correspondent

Sunrays entering the temple at Markapur make the idols glow in golden hues.

ONGOLE: The 12-day spectacle of sunrays falling on the idols in Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swami temple at Markapur, making them glow for 20 minutes in a day, will come to an end on Sunday.

The temple, constructed in 1425 and known for its legends as well as archaeological marvels, has tremendous potential for development as a pilgrim and tourist centre.

Chief priest of the temple Nandyala Tirumalacharya said that sunrays fall at the feet of the idols only during Dhanurmasam.

The legend

Quoting scriptures, he said that the temple existed in all the yugas. As elephants roamed here in Kritayuga, it was called Gajaranya. It was called Madhavapuri in Tretayuga. It was said that ‘devatas’ visited the temple in Dwaparayuga when it was called Swargasopanam. In Kaliyuga, it is being called Markapuri.

As the Lord killed a demon by name Kesi, He became known as Kesava here.

As the Lord was strikingly beautiful and accompanied by His consort Lakshmi,

He was worshipped here as Lakshmi Chenna Kesava Swami. According to legends, the idols were installed here by Markandeya, a rishi, and so the place came to be called Markapuri.

The ancestors of Sri Krishnadevaraya worshipped the Lord here during their expeditions and got the temple constructed by their minister Siddiraju Thimmaraju in 1425.

The ‘galigopuram’ was constructed in such a manner that the sunrays would pass through three holes in the Garudalwar mandir between 6.40 a.m. and 7 a.m. every day for 12 days from December 23.

The rays falling at the centre of the Garudalwar mandir would reflect on the idols in the sanctum sanctorum making them glow with golden hues.

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