Ramalingeswara Temple, Keesaragutta

Legend has it that Rama after his victory over Ravana in Lanka was insisted by a Muni to install a Linga to get rid of sin for killing Ravana as he was a Brahmin. Rama choose this place to install a Linga and ordered Hanuman to bring the Linga from Kasi within the fixed mohurtham. Hanuman was unable to bring the Linga on time and hence Siva himself manifested as Linga before Rama. Thus the Linga was termed as the Ramalingeswara signifying the manifestation of Siva for the sake of Rama. Hanuman on reaching the spot with a Linga from Kasi, found that Rama was already performing the rituals and got disappointed for not making on time and coiled his tail around the Linga he brought. Rama called Hanuman on observing his distressed state, Hanuman rushed towards Rama and in the course he waged his tail with force which resulted in Linga to be thrown away in great force. The Linga hit the ground and scattered into 100 pieces on the hillock and a Linga evolved from each scattered piece. Hanuman and others were shock by the incident, Rama realized the Leela of Siva and told Hanuman that this place is to be named after him as Keesarigutta. In time course the name settled as Keesaragutta and the swayambhu Linga as Rama Lingeswara.

Keesara is the capital of Vishnukundins who ruled during the 4th-5th centuries CE and the origin of the Ramalingeswara temple might belongs to their times as there is an ruined brick temple uncovered in the excavations which consist of brick walls and structures belonging to the 4th-5th centuries. During the rule of Kalyana Chalukyas in the 10th-12th centuries CE, the temple is expanded and artistic elements were added in terms of decorations and sculptures. Later, the Kakatiyas of Warangal renovated the temple in the 13th century and endowments were made for the maintenance of the temple. 

The Ramalayam behind the main shrine is believed to be established by Akkana and Madanna, the prime ministers of Abul Hassan Tanisha, the ruler of Golconda. 

The temple constructed on a hillock can be reached through a flight of rock cut steps leading to the east entrance gateway or modern constructed steps leading to the south entrance gateway (Gopura) from the approach road . The temple is enclosed by a compound wall with entrances on all four sides attested with Gopuras. The east gopura is the main entrance among them and has five storied superstructure. The entrance gateways leads into the open courtyard which consist of main shrine at the center and subsidiary shrines on the sides. 

The main shrine consist of Garbhagriha, Arthamandapa, Mukhamandapa, Mahamandapa and Nandimandapa. The architectural members of the first three structures belongs to the Kalyani Chalukyan times and includes the renovation elements added during the Kakatiya period. The sanctum sanctorum has the main deity in the form of Linga at its center is a square chamber enclosed on all sides and has entrance doorway in the east leading into arthamandapa. There is a Dravidian Vimana over the garbhagriha. The arthamandapa is a small square chamber with doorways on east and west sides which lead into mukhamandapa and main chamber respectively. There are dwarapalakas depicted with four arms standing cross-legged on either side of the arthamandapa doorway.  The lintel has the image of Linga being sprinkled water by elephants on either sides. The mukhamandapa is a pillared hall closed on its sides in modern times. The Mahamandapa is a modern structure constructed infront of mukhamandapa. There is a Nandi mandapa in front of the shrine which consists of a beautifully carved monolithic Nandi of the Kalyani Chalukyan period.

There are subsidiary shrines in the court yard dedicated to Kasi Visweswara, Panchayata Siva, Narasimha, Rama and Nagas. The presence of Narasimha and Sitarama Lakshmana shrines in the Siva temple is a rare occurrence and signifies the Hari-Hara worship. 

There are few dilapidated structure on the hillock around the temple premises constructed during various periods in the historic timeline by different cheifs or officers who ruled the area. Most of the structures now has remained only the pillars and few with garbhagriha. There is an arch with grid columns on either side for the purpose of holding lamps, constructed in Islamic architectural features on the path of rock-cut steps. 

The major festivals celebrated in the temple are Sivaratri and Kartika-purnima. All the holy days as per the Saiva tradition are celebrated in the temple and festivals like Ugadi, Srirama Navami and Nursimha Jayanti are also celebrated in the temple.

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