The chief priest of the famous Sangameswaram temple, Telakapalli Raghurama Sarma, has chanced upon historical evidence of Maratha emperor Chatrapathi Sivaji’s performance of ‘Maha Shakti Puja’ at Sangameswaram and Srisailam in 1677 AD, a year after he launched a wave of conquests in south India.
Sivaji undertook a nine-day ‘Upavasa Deeksha’ (fasting) from March 24, 1677 to April 1, 1677 atop a hillock where goddess Sri Gayatri Devi’s footprint was recently discovered, Mr. Sarma said. The emperor also performed Maha Shakthi Puja’ on the Bhavanasi river banks at Sangameswaram, he added.
According to Sarma, Sivaji set off on his invasion of the Gandikota fort in Kadapa district after the Upavasa Deeksha and Shakthi Puja to Sri Gayatri Devi at Sangameswaram and Sri Bhramaramba Devi at Srisailam.
The historical evidence was traced in a book, Sivaji and his Times , written by Jadunath Sarkar and published in London in 1920. Another book, Dakshin Digvijay (Victorious Southern Tour), written by Major Mukund N. Joshi (Retd.), also throws more light on the events, he said.
“Sivaji left Haiderabad [Hyderabad] in March 1677 and marched towards the Krishna. From Karnul [now Kurnool], he proceeded to Nivritti Sangam, where Bhavanasi river flows into the Krishna, 24 miles north-east of Karnul, a spot considered by Hindus as the most holy place of pilgrimage,” Mr. Sarma said, quoting Sivaji and his Times . “The Rajah bathed in the whirlpool of Chakratirtha, performed religious ceremonies of a pilgrim and then made a rapid journey to Shri Shaila, while his army waited for him at Anantapur,” the book says, according to Sarma.
“At Srisailam, Sivaji was presented with a mystical sword by Goddess Sri Bhramaramba Devi and blessed him with victory in all his conquests. A sculpture in the Srisailam temple showing Shivaji kneeling before Sri Bhramaramba Devi and receiving the sword is ample evidence,” he added.
During his stay at Sangameswaram, Shivaji promised to build the northern Gopuram at Srisailam. From Srisailam, Sivaji travelled to Atmakur and Nandyal and proceeded via Kadapa to invade the Gandikota fort, Mr. Sarma said. The evidence of Sivaji’s visit to Sangameswaram brings to light the fact that it was a prominent pilgrim centre for ages, Mr. Sarma said.
Sangameswaram temple priest T. Raghurama Sarma says the emperor undertook a nine-day fasting atop the hillock where Goddess Gayatri Devi’s footprint was recently discovered
