Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/v40zDMCUpcs
Location: "Shri Chennakeshava Swami Temple, 18/9/9/41, Srisailam Hwy, Dastagirnagar, Kesav Giri, Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad, Telangana 500005"
On the Kesavagiri hillock
in the congested Chandrayangutta area of the Old City of Hyderabad, five
kilometres from Charminar, right in the midst of chaos is the Swayambhu
Chennakesava Swamy temple, which is believed to be over 600 years old and is a
rare example of a temple built to reconcile the warring Shaivites and
Vaishnavaites. Though
there is no proper record of when the temple complex was built, Srinivas
Rangachary and his brother Vendantacharya, hereditary trustees, assert that
their family has served the temple for seven generations and the temple was
built during the Vijayanagar dynasty.
The entrance to the Shiva temple is a small
blue-colored wooden gate.
The main temple houses
the presiding deity of Chennakesava, with a unique idol of having a moustache.
Its housed in a 28-pillored mantapa. The temple has two more entrances on the
north and south side, while they are interconnected too. Visiting the temple
provides a very beautiful and sere experience with sound of various devotional
songs that keep running in the ears.
Smaller temples of
Brahmarambha and Chenna Mallikarju-naswamy, Shivalayam and a rare idol of Lord
Hanuman with ‘Shanku and Chakra’ are also part of the temple complex. Devotees
also pray to the famed Ganesh Vruksham, which represents Lord Ganesha. One has
to climb 200 granite steps to reach the temple. Till the steps start there is a
steep climb for autos/vehicles to reach to the point.
The temple is built of
rocks and granite. Swayambhu idol is built of granite but with recent
restoration work, there is another smaller idol which is also kept there.
Another important unique
feature of the temple is the presence of a 4-armed Swayambhu Chaturbhuja Lord
Hanuman, who stands guard to the main idol.
The temple is a Hari-hara
kshetra because it houses for Lord Shiva as Ramalingeshwara and Lord Vishnu as
Chenna Kesava.
Sub temples dedicated to
Andals and Alwars are also present here.
Based on my own
observations and also from what I read, although very ancient, there is hardly
any support or maintenance of the place with the old dharmashala there
collapsed, no water for devotees to wash their feet after climbing the steps,
no facilities of any railing to hold while climbing up. During monsoon, the
risk increases by large amount too.
Prof Madabhushnam Sridhar Acharyulu, the Central Information Commissioner, who
belongs to the family of original hereditary trustees, says he owes his present
position to Chennakeshava Swamy. He says there is no recorded history of the
temple, but it is certainly 600-700 years old. Another interesting thing about
the time period is, with no architectural style followed, it refers to a
period, when there was no fixed influence of any particular style.
A good part of the temple was developed during
the period of Chennama Charyulu, hereditary trustee. He saved the temple from
vandalism by then Muslim rulers."
The temple is constructed on 12 acres of land with another 300 acres of land
spread over surrounding areas of Shamshabad, Palamukala, Gurramcheruvu, and
Gokavaram (Nalgonda).
Although ancient, the temple is under neglect and very
minimal intervention is done by the government and ASI.