Kurnool: The Sangameswara temple located on the river bed of Krishna at Kothapalli mandal in Kurnool district is unique in many ways. Perhaps, it is the only temple in India which remains submerged for a major part of the year.
The priest keeps offering prayers to the temple's shikara till it gets gets submerged completely in the water indicating floodwater entering the Srisailam reservoir.
As the water recedes in February and March, the temple gets visible allowing the devotees to worship the presiding deity.
On Saturday, more than 70 per cent of the temple got submerged under the water with only some gopurams visible. In the next 24 hours, the entire shrine is likely to get submerged. Temple priest
T. Raghurama Sarma had performed puja to the shrine for a last time this season this evening.
For nearly 8 months, the temple is under water when no prayers are offered to the presiding deity. The presiding deity is worshipped only for 4 months in a year.
This temple is built at the point of confluence (Sangam) of seven rivers -- Krishna, Veni, Tungabhadra, Beem-radhi, Malapaharini, Sangameswara, Bhava-nasani and hence, the name Sangameswara. Sangameswaram is considered as 'vayuvya dwaram' to Srisailam. The 'kshetram' also has temples of Surya, Mrityunjaya, Saraswati, Subrahmanya Swamy, Anjaneya Swamy and Narasimha Swamy.
Interestingly, the Shiva Linga made of wood is still intact even while remaining in water for 8 months every year.
