Kaleshwaram is a famous town on the borders of Telangana and Maharashtra. The town is famous for the ancient Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple Kaleshwaram in Bhoopalpalli district. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. The two Shiva Lingams on a single pedestal or Panavattam give uniqueness to the temple. One of the Lingams belongs to Lord Shiva (Mukteswara) and the other belongs to Lord Yama (Kaleshwara). The name of the temple thus gets its name from the presence of the dual power in the temple and has been named Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple.
The temple is believed to be one of those of Trilinga Desham or the Land of Three Lingas. The three Lingas is also known as Jyotir Lingas are present in the three corners of Telugu Land; one at Draksharamam and the other at Srishailam.
The many unique features of the Bhoopalpalli temple earn respect and admiration for itself. The Mukteshwara linga is beyond any scientific explanation. The Linga comprises a hole that is never full even when liters of water are poured into it. However, it is assumed that an underground passage leading to the Godavari never allows the hole to be completely full. Still, the temple remains a topic for spiritual legends.
The walls of the temple show signs of Buddhist rituals and traditions being followed years back. There are many rare sculptures on the temple walls. There are many interesting inscriptions and sculptures on the walls. A few represent Surya, Matsya and Brahma. The temple walls attract students of arts and are a good place for research and historical studies. The fish idol engraved on the walls is beyond the imagination and style of any sculptor and truly represents the class and the taste of the founder.
There are also hints of the Kakatiya architecture on the temple walls and other parts of the temple. The big Shiva Linga in this temple is very much similar to that of the Shiva Linga in Ramappa Temple.
Kaleswara Lingam (left) and Mukteswara Lingam (right). These lingams have two holes like nostrils in them. The Water poured on the lingam will enter these holes, and joins in the Godavari River.
The Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy temple at Kaleshwara town finds mentioned in the Skanda Purana. The text is the largest of the Mahapuranas and talks about the Lilas or activities of Karthikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati. The Purana also talks and describes many legends of Lord Shiva. And the Purana describes the jyotirlingas or the holy shrines of Lord Shiva. Hence, the Purana has mentioned the Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy temple.
Kaleshwaram is taken as a famous pilgrimage center by the devotees. People go there to purify themselves and to attain Punya. There are many holy temples here dedicated to the Shaivites. Many more are present that are dedicated to the Vaishnavites. Venkateswara Aalayam, Bindu Madhavaswamy Aalayam, Chandrasekhara Aalayam, and Someswara Aalayam are some of the few famous temples in Kaleshwaram.
Special Attractions of Kaleshwaram Temple:
The two Lingams on the same pedestal is a unique style of the temple. The Lingams of Lord Yama and Lord Shiva attract my tourists and devotees. The sculptures on the walls, especially the fish idol are worth seeing and studying.
Entry Fee to Sri Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple:
Entry to the temple is absolutely free. It is open to all sects of devotees. However, special prayers like Abhishekam of Kaleshwara and Mukthiswara are charged.
The specialty of Sri Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple Kaleshwaram:
The two lingams on the same pedestal belonging to Lord Yama and Lord Shiva are the major attractions to the temple. The temple gets its name due to the existence of the Lingas of Lord Kaleshwara and Lord Mukteswara or lord Yama and Lord Shiva.
The temple opens very early in the morning around 4:00 am. And it closes from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm and then reopens and stays open until 9:00 pm.
Sri Kaleshwara Temple Timings:
Morning: 4:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Evening: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Sri Kaleshwara Temple Seva Timings:
Suprabhatha Seva: 4:30 AM to 5:30 AM
Abhishekam: 5:30 AM to 6:30 AM
Darshanam: 7:00 AM to 12:30 AM and 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Shiva kalyanam: 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Anna Puja and Maha Nivedana: 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM
Dwara Bhandanam (Temple will be closed): 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Darshanam: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Pradoshakala Puja: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Dwara Bhandanam (Temple will be closed): 8:00 PM
Kaleshwaram Temple Pooja:
- Lakshmi Patri Puja(must inform before a week)
- Shiva Kalyanam Daily
- Mahanyasa Rudrabhishekam Daily
- Satyanarayna swamy vratham Daily
- Kala Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Puja Daily
- Navagraha (shani) puja Daily
- Abhishekam Daily
- Abhishekam (in mandapam) Daily
- Anna Puja Daily
- Laksha Vathula (lightening)
- Navagraha Homam Daily
- All Vahana Pujas
Other Deities in Kaleshwaram:
- Sri Kaleshwara Muktheeshwar
- Shubhananda (Parvathi) Ammavari
- Saradhwathi Ammavari
- Prakara Devathalu
- Sri Surya Bhagavanudi
- Sri Valli Devasena Sametha Subrahmanya Swami
- Aadhi Muktheeshwara Swami
- Sri Sangameshwara Swami
- 9. Sri Dattatreya Swami
- 10.Sri sita lakshmana hanuma sametha ramalayam 11.Gundam cheruvu 12.Sri lakshmi narasimha swami aalayam
Other Attractions of Kaleshwaram:
The Triveni Sangham is located very near the Kaleshwaram Temple,. The Sangam is the intersection of 3 rivers – Godavari, Pranahita and Saraswathi.
The Bathing Ghats are made on the Godavari River for the devotees.
Boating facilities are available at the point intersection Pranahita River and the Godavari.
The Pushkara snanam at Kaleshwaram takes place once in 12 years. It is the festival for the holy bath at Godavari-Pranahita-Saraswathi Triveni Sangam
The water or milk for the Lord Shiva Lingams Abhishekam appears at the Triveni Sangham of Kaleshwaram.
Where to stay:
Lodges and cottages have been formed from TTD that provide basic yet comfortable accommodation to the devotees at Kaleshwaram.
Distance to Sri Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple:
277 kilometers from Hyderabad to Kaleshwaram.
125 kilometers from Karimnagar to Kaleshwaram Temple.
110 277 kilometers from Warangal to Kaleshwaram Temple.
60 277 kilometers from Manthini to Kaleshwaram.
How to reach Kaleshwaram Temple:
By Air:
The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport 293 km and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur is 368 km.
By Rail:
The nearest rail station is Ramagundam railway station which is 69.6 km, Peddapalli is 96.2, Warangal is 119 km and Kazipet is 127 km.
By Road:
The bus frequency is quite high from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) or Imlibun Bus Station. For every 30 mins, you will get a bus.
Kaleshwaram is well connected with Hyderabad, Warangal, Guntur, Vijayawada, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Korutla, Metpalli, Godavarikhani, Ramagundam, Husnabad, Peddapalli, Manthani, Narsampet and Parkala depots.
Other Temples Near Sri Kaleshwara Muktheeshwara Temple:
- Sri Shubhananda Temple
- Sri Mahasaraswati Aalayam
- Sri Ramalayam
- Sri Dattatreya Swamy Temple
- Sri Aadi Muktheeshwara Swamy Temple
- Sri Subramnyaswamy Temple
- Sri Vijaya Ganapati Temple
- Sri Suryaalayam
- Sri Godavari Maata Alayam
- Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple
- Sri Naga Devata Temple
Kaleshwara Temple Address:
Sri Kaleshwara Muktheeshwara Swamy Devasthanam
Kaleshwaram Village,
Mahadevpur Mandal,
Bhoopalpalli,
Bhoopalpalli District,
Telangana – 505504.
Cell : +91 9121590439
