Why Yaganti Nandi Is Growing?

Yaganti temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Sangama Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. The temple dates back to the 5th and 6th centuries with contributions from Pallavas, Cholas, Chalukyas, and Vijayanagara rulers. It has been built according to Vaishnavaite traditions.

• According to Stala Puranam, the sage Agastya wanted to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara on this site.
• * However, the statue that was made could not be installed as the toenail of the idol was broken and there was a certain disfiguration.
• * The sage was upset about the damage and performed a penance for Lord Shiva.

* Shiva on appearance advised that this place suits Shiva better as it resembles Kailash.

• Agastya then requested Shiva to give the devotees a Parvati Goddess as Lord Uma Maheswara in a single stone,
• * Shiva obliged and appeared as Uma Maheswara carved from a single stone.

* Crows stay away from the Yaganti area, they are not seen there.

* This is because Sage Agastya who meditated here was disturbed by Kakasura. The sage cursed that if crows come into the vicinity of the temple they would die.

• Crow is the vehicle of Shani Deva. Therefore it is believed that Shani would also not trouble those people who worship in the Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple.

Which God is Yaganti?

• The main murti worshipped in Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple is Ardhanarishwara.

* The sanctum sanctorum of this Shiva temple does not have a Shivaling.

* It is rarest of rare that a Shiva temple does not have a Shivaling in the sanctum sanctorum.

* Yaganti is perhaps the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped in the form of an idol, instead of Shiva Linga.

• Shiva and Parvati are worshipped in a single Swayambhu murti in the temple. Devotees can make out the difference as Shiva is smeared with vibhuti or sacred ash and Goddess Parvati is smeared with turmeric.

A Mysterious Fact:

The Nandi idol at the Umamaheswara temple in Yaganti in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is growing in size.

• As per the Archaeological Survey of India, the rock grows at the rate of 1 inch per 20 years (10 mm per 8 years).

• Saint Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy claims Yagan-ti Basavanna will come alive and shout when Kali Yuga ends.

* This will announce the end of a cycle of creation.

* It is also stated that millions of horses will come out of the three caves at Yaganti to serve the Kalki Avatar of Lord Vishnu.

* These claims and facts have raised public interest and attraction.

• The Basavanna idol over the last century has been growing continuously.

* Locals say the idol, situated next to a pillar, was initially much smaller.

* There was a space to do Pradakshinas (rounds) around Basavanna a century ago, but now it has taken up the gap between the stone pilla.

* A pillar had to be removed due to the increasing size of the Nandi.

Is It Good To Keep Nandi Statue At Home?

Scientific Notions:

• Although unbelievable, it came out to be true. Certain experimentation was carried out on this idol and it was said that the type of rock out of which the idol is carved has a growing or enlarging nature associated with it.

• Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (Mr. C. Mohan Rao, etc from Elur), have confirmed that the idol increases its size by an inch (1”) every 20 years. The department has also started collecting data along with the size of the idols every 15 years.

• Mines and Geology department officials said that stones grow due to chemical reactions.

* “The rock has silica substances and iron particles. When a mineral is converted to other granules of Silica, it expands”.

* But rocks do not permanently grow by absorbing water alone unless you are thinking of Stalactite.

* Growth usually involves chemical reactions that act upon the rock to increase its size or even break it into multiple rocks without physical weathering.

* As the Archaeology department of India pointed out, this Nandi is made out of a rock that has high mineral content.

* When the minerals come in contact with the moisture in the air, they expand and create pressure to increase the rock size by a few millimetres.

• A similar phenomenon is also enthralled in a small village in Romania. The Rocks here grow to such an extent that they fall off into two rocks. People there started a legend that these rocks have life and also reproduce. A lack of scientific knowledge created these myths and they loved to entangle them with God and religion.

• Well, it's just the process of weathering of rocks which is influenced by several factors like:

* Rock structure

* Climate

* Topography and slope

* Type of vegetation

* Land use by man.

The current size of the Basavanna idol is about five (5) feet high and fifteen (15) feet wide. It resembles the dimensions of the big Nandi of Lepakshi. What Is The Significance Of Nandi?

Other Features:

* Surrounding to Temple, there are three caves and One Pushkarinin to Visit

* Agastya Cave, Where Agastya muni performed his penance for Lord Shiva. One can enter the cave by climbing 120 steep steps.

* Venkateswara cave, the damaged idol of Lord Venkateswara is present in this Cave.

* Veera Brahmam Cave, This is the cave where Saint Sree Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy wrote some of his Kala Gnaanam.

• Another feature of this temple is Agastya Pushkarinin, a small pond of water on the temple premises.

* Water flows into this Pushkarinin from the bottom of the hill through the mouth of a Nandi (bull).

* The water is fresh and sweet, as it comes from the hills.

* No one knows how the water flows into Pushkarinin in all seasons, it is still unexplored.

* Devotees consider that a bath in the holy Pushkarinin before visiting Shiva is highly beneficial.

• And this temple architecture in terms of its sculpture shows the skills of ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis. Devotees consider it very convenient to have a holy bath in Pushkarinin. We pay homage to Lord Shiva after taking a bath in Pushkarinin. In Pushkarinin the sage Agasthya bathed and worshiped Shiva.

Transportation:

Yaganti is located in the Nandyal District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India

• * Approximately 100 km from the city of Kurnool.

* The temple is 14 km west of Banaganapalle (Mandal headquarters) on the Banaganapalle-Peapully road

* 55 km from Nandyal

* 80 km from Kurnool

* 308 km from Hyderabad

* 359 km from Vijayawada

We can reach the temple even from the Historic site Belum caves in 1.5hrs which measures a distance of 45 km.

What is the symbol of Nandi?

As a symbol of Shiva, the Nandi represents power, virility, joy, and delight, as well as a controlled potential for destructiveness. When carved as a free-standing figure, the Nandi is always shown in a resting position that emphasizes the calmer aspect of its power.