Ancient temple in Nellore to get new lease of life

An ancient temple in SPSR Nellore district will soon get a new lease of life due to the efforts of Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. The Endowments department has sanctioned ₹1.50 crore from CGF (Common Good Fund) grant to develop Nageswara Swamy temple on Penna riverbank in Perumallapadu village of Chejerla mandal.

According to archaeologists, the temple was constructed nearly 200 years ago with Lord Nageswara as its main deity, and was consecrated by the Brahmin sage Parasurama. It lay submerged in the sand dunes for years after the Penna river changed its course following the 1850 floods.

In June 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, mine workers and local youngsters accidentally rediscovered a buried temple while excavating sand. Since then, the villagers have been urging the district officials to unearth the entire temple and redevelop it.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, along with the officials of the Endowments department and locals inspected the temple recently. “Although this temple has a rich history of around 1,000 years, the archaeologists believe that it dates back to the 19th century. Over time, it was buried under the sand dunes due to floods and natural waterflows,” the Minister said.

“This ancient temple is a testament to the great culture and spiritual tradition of the Telugus. The presence of such a temple on the banks of Penna river is a blessing for our district. The Endowment department is working towards preserving the ancient temples and their sanctity. We are discussing with the higher authorities on the restoration works,” he informed.

On the orders of the Minister, the Endowments Department has been working towards preserving and developing the temple. The Endowments Commissioner sanctioned ₹1 crore from CGF grant, and instructed District Endowments Officer to deposit a matching contribution of ₹50 lakh to call for tenders.