ALAMPUR --- JOGULAMBA

Alampur that has etched its name in letters of gold in the temple history of India, offers many unique which the kalachakra cannot stamp out with all her might, try however, much. The Navabrahma temples, bathing ghats, numerous shrines for almost all gods of the Hindu Pantheon together With temples for Yellamma and Bhudevi are only a few standing as testimony of its former glory. Among them, the Jogulamba temple merits first mention since Rasasiddheswar of kasi was bidden by his mother to trek down to south and begin building of temples with the blessings of Brahma and Jogulamba. He did. And raised the glory of this kshetra to its summit.

This shrine is deemed one of the eighteen Sakti-peethas consecrated by the Mother Sati's organ on being cut by Sudarsan Chakra of Lord Mahavishnu, when her corpse was carried on shoulder by Maheswar to avert annihilation of the whole worlds. According to sthalapurana, her august icon was originally installed in the Balabrahmeswar shrine. This temple has several exquisite pieces of superb sculpture signifying the royal bounty it received in the past. The saptamatruka deities sculptured on one single stone is a standing specimen of the sculptors' fine artistry. And there are many others too. During its heyday, it lured a steady influx of devout bhaktas and lifted them to their contentment. It is said that Adi Sankara visited this holy shrinee and offered prayers.

It is accessible by bus and train from Kurnool, the district headquarter town of Andhra Pradesh.