Temples Decked Up Ahead of Maha Shivratri

Hyderabad: The Maha Shivratri festival, observed as a profound night of spiritual awakening and devotion to Lord Shiva, has seen temples across Telangana decked up with elaborate arrangements for special rituals and hassle-free darshan as lakhs of pilgrims queue before them. Iconic Shiva shrines have evolved into vibrant hubs of devotion, where devotees immerse in jagaranas, rudrabhishekam and poojas celebrated with intense fervour. Vemulawada’s Rajarajeshwara Swamy, renowned as Dakshina Kashi, and Keesaragutta’s Ramalingeswara shine with grandeur, poised to draw massive crowds.

Authorities at Vemulawada’s historic Chalukya-era Rajarajeshwara Swamy temple anticipate over five lakh visitors for the famed Kodala Dappu festival and healing rituals. Keesaragutta’s Ramalingeswara temple, a Ramayana-linked hilltop site with swayambhu linga and ancient caves; Chaya Someswara temple at Panagal in Nalgonda, famed for its 16-foot shadowless lingam; Kotipalli’s Kotilingala temple on the banks of the Godavari with its 13-foot lingam; and Sri Kashi Bugga temple at Kishan Bagh, known for a continuous natural flow of water over the Swayambhu Lingam believed to have remedial powers — all promise heavy rush. The Ardha Nareeswara temple in Kothaguda, dedicated to the combined form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Birla Mandir, Shivam temple at Nallakunta, and the 650-year-old Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Devasthanam at Saroornagar are also witnessing huge crowds.

Rooted in Shaivite traditions, the festival honours Shiva’s Tandava dance of cosmic creation and destruction, his marriage to Parvati, and his swallowing of Halahala poison during Samudra Manthan to save the universe. Devotees uphold strict fasts, midnight pujas with bilva leaves and milk offerings, and all-night vigils to conquer ignorance and attain moksha.

In view of the heavy influx, temple authorities have ramped up facilities: Vemulawada has extended darshan timings, offered free laddus and set up medical camps; Keesaragutta has sanitised steps, organised special queues, water stations and parking for thousands of vehicles; Chaya Someswara has provided shaded areas and streamlined queue lines for seamless darshan.

Hyderabad’s Kashi Vishwanath temple priest Ashutosh Sharma shared the spiritual essence: “Maha Shivratri marks Shiva’s cosmic dance of creation and destruction, ideal for moksha and healing. At midnight, perform linga abhishekam with milk, curd, honey, ghee and Gangajal while chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’; offer bilva leaves, datura and bhang; fast till evening on fruits; stay awake for jagarana reciting Shiva Tandava Stotram. This sadhana dissolves sins and invites prosperity.”

The TSRTC has deployed 2,243 special buses connecting 43 major temples including Srisailam, Vemulawada, Keesaragutta and Edupayala from MGBS, Koti, Secunderabad and Uppal.