Erakeswara Temple, – Pillalamarri

Legend has it that Pillalamari village was formed after the collapse of a huge banyan tree which spread across seven acres. A man from the Erukula tribe was passing the tree and heard the conversation between the birds sitting on the branch of the Banyan tree about the arrival of earthquake which leads the tree to fall and the exposure of huge treasure under that tree. The man rushed to Bethireddy, the local chief and conveyed the message. Within few days the earthquake hit and the tree collapsed exposing treasure. Bethireddy constructed a township in the place along with the temples using the wealth from the treasure and named this village after the man who conveyed the message from birds as Erkapuram and the name of the Lord as Erakeswara.

Pillalamari is the headquarters of Recharla Cheifs, subordinates of the Kakatiyas of Warangal. The Recharla Reddy’s natives of Amanagallu village, whose progenitor was Brahmasenani and this clan includes the Chiefs Muchareddy, Kata senani, Kama Chamupathi, Kata Chamupati, Betireddy and Namireddy who all were the ministers, Chiefs and subordinates under Kakatiya rulers. The last three were the sons of Kama Chamupati who ruled from Elakurti and handed over the Amanagallu area to Betireddy and Namireddy brothers. Bethireddy was a great warrior and was the chief of Kakatiya army under Rudradeva and Ganapatideva.

Namireddy and Betireddy built the present temples. The former built the Trikuta temple in the year 1195 CE in memory of their ancestors and installed three Lingas – Kacheswara, Kameswara and Nameswara. He built another temple beside it in the year 1202 CE and named the temple after him as Nameswara temple which is now being called as the Mahadevara Nameswara temple. Bethireddy constructed the large temple in the year 1208 CE and named the temple after his wife Errasani as Erakeswara temple.

The temple was partially damaged during the seize of Delhi Sulthans in the 14th century and was restored by Erapotu-lenka, a subordinate of Kapayanayaka of Musunuru dynasty in the year 1357CE.

Erakeswara temple:

The temple is built on a stellate plan similar to the temple mighty Ramappa temple at Palampet. The Erkeswara temple is one among the complete Kakatiya temple and consists of all features of the Kakatiyan art and architecture. The temple is constructed on the bank of a small canal connected to the Tank and is enclosed in a low compound wall.

The temple is constructed with double platform in which the lower platform forms the elevation from the ground level of about 4 feet height and also forms the circumambulatory path around the main structure. The main structure has a Garbhagriha, an Antharala and a Mukhamandapa on an elevated plinth. The main structure forms cruciform shape with garbhagriha on the west and porches of the mukhamandapa in east, south and north. The mukhamandapa can be reached through a flight of steps from three sides. The roofs of the outer porches of mukhamandapa are collapsed and only the pillars are remained.

The garbhagriha has a Linga in the center is a square chamber with doorframe in the east opening into antharala. The antharala is small square chamber connecting the garbhagriha with the mukhamandapa. The doorframes of the garbhagriha and arthamandapa are well executed with exquisite sculptures. The outer walls of the garbhagriha and antharala has various projections and decorative features carved on the architectural members and there is a superstructure over the garbhagriha in vesara pattern Vimana and a small superstructure called sukanasi connected to the main Vimana over the antharala.

The mukhamandapa is a pillared hall with porches on three sides. The inner hall is forms two squares with one inside the other. The central square formed by four well decorated pillars forms a Rangamandapa with the slight elevated circular platform. The mukhamandapa is closed with low walls on the sides like the other Kakatiya temple and is assessable through the doorframes opening into porches.

Nameswara Temple:

The temple is one among the prominent and intricately carved temples of the Kakatiya period. The temple is constructed beside the Trikuta temple and is enclosed in a compound wall. The temple is constructed on a plinth and consist of Garbhagriha, Antharala and Mukhamandapa. The temple is facing east and is assessable through the flight of steps reaching the porch of mukhamandapa in the east. The garbhagriha holding the Linga and the antharala are closed square chambers with well executed doorframes. There is a superstructure of Vimana on the top of the Garbhagriga. The doorframes of garbhagriha and Arthamandapa are highly decorated with series of carvings running all along the screens which include lions, swans, musicians and other ornate elements.

The Mukhamandapa is 16 pillared hall enclosed by low wall on the sides forming small elevated platform on the inner sides on which the side pillars are placed. The central four pillars forms the Rangamandapa and are exquisitely decorated with ornate carvings and sculptures. They resemble the pillars of the Ramappa temple. 

There are paintings on the ceiling of the temple which are mostly faded out and only two are in recognizable state. The paintings are the scenes of Samudramadhana, the churning of ocean by Devas and Asuras and the other is the fight scene of Rama and Ravana from the Mahabharatam.

Trikuta temple:

Trikuta temple is a cruciform shaped structure formed by three shrines connected to the common square shaped pillared hall with porch in the east. The three shrines all dedicated to Lingas are in the north, east and south direction connected to the mukhamandapa, each has a garbhagriha and an arthamandapa with collapsed superstructure.

The mahamandapa has pillars and is enclosed on the sides by a low wall connecting the shrines and the porch. The central four pillars forms the Rangamandapa with slight elevated circular platform. The doorframes of the garbhagriha and arthamandapa of the three shrines are well executed with decorative elements.

There are highly polished Nandi sculptures with ornate carving on its body in all the above three temples. There are small elevated platforms, one in before the Erkeswara temple and the other before the Nameswara temple on which the holds the Granite Inscription pillars.

The major festivals celebrated in the temple are the Sivaratri and Kartika Purnima. Along with these all other holy days as per the Saiva agamas are celebrated here in these temples. 

6 AM – 12 PM & 3PM – 9PM