Mallikarjuna temple

Legend has it that in ancient time there were two Raskhasa brothers namely Mani and Malla, who got boon from Sakti that there shouldn’t be defeat from persons with red or white thilak on their forehead as those two were only the traditional colours used by Saiva and Vaishnava worshipers. With the power of the boon they defeated the lords of earth and started to create chaos. Devas rushed to Vishnu for help who suggest them to approach Siva. Siva on hearing the issue, disguised himself as a king named Mailaradeva and waged war on those two rakshasa brother. On knowing the power of the boon, Siva approached them applying yellow Tilak on forehead and defeated them. Those Rakshasa realized that the man was Siva and requested him to manifest himself at the place by name resembling them and also to place their heads near his feet. Hence the deity is called as Manimalleswara and Mailaradeva, later called as Mallana. The temple rituals which include designs called Patnam belongs to the local folk.

The Inavolu temple is initially built by Ayyanadevudu, a minister of Vikramaditya VI (Tribhuvanamalla), the Kalyani Chalukyan ruler. People belive that the temple is named after the minister as Ayyana Mallikarjuna which in time line became as Iyyanna Mallana and village name as Inavolu. There is an inscription in the temple dated 1118CE which records the donation of land to the temple priest. This inscription attests the fact that the temple was existing by that time. The temple received renovations and additions under Kakatiya rule and Recharla Padmanayakas rule. There is an inscription dated to 1389 CE of the Padmanayaka chief Anavota Nayaka.

Architecture:

The temple exhibits the Kalyani Chalukyan architectural features and additions of Kakatiya period. The temple is famous for its pillared hall which in total there are 108 pillars. The temple is enclosed in a compound wall built of large stone blocks to a good height. There are entrance ways in all four direction with steps (now merged into ground). There are three Entrance arches in East, North and South just in front of enrance ways which are similar in design to that of Kakatiya kala-Torana’s of Warangal but are much earlier than those.
The main temple belongs to the Kalyana Chalukya times and the double storied mandapa at the entrance and the Toranas belongs to the Kakatiya times.
The main shrine is located in the center of the courtyard and consist of a garbhagriha, an antharala, a Mukhamandapa, a Mahamandapa and Nandi mandapa, all constructed on an elevated platform. the grabhagriha is a square chamber consisting of large sculpture of Mallana along with his consorts place at the center. The garbhagriha has doorway in the east opening into antharala which is a small closed chamber opening into mukhamandapa. The doorways of Antharala and garbhagriha are well decorated and consist of doorjambs and lintel portion. The mukhamandapa is a 16 pillar hall closed on sides with wall and has four rows of four pillars each and has an entrance way in the east opening into Mahamandapa. The mukhamandapa is an open pillar hall with three entrances in north, east and south connected with porches. A Nandimandapa is placed in front of the east entrance of the mahapandapa with little separation from the main shrine.
There is Natya mandapa consisting of 24 pillars in the courtyard of the temple constructed on an elevated platform and consist of parapet wall on sides connecting the outer pillars. The central four pillars of the hall forms an elevated circular platform at center were the dance forms are performed at those times.

Art & Sculpture:
The main attraction of the temple is the idol of deity, Mallanna also known as Mailaradevudu locally, which is depicted with four arms holding weapons and his two consorts are seated on either sides. The right foot of the lord is depicted as resting on two heads (Rakshasa brother heads).
There are sculpture of Dwarapalakas on the doorjambs of both Arthamandapa and Garbhagriha. There are some carvings on the pillars of temple depicting various forms of Siva and Vishnu. The Nandi is beautifully carved and highly polished is the most attractive sculpture of the temple. It has polished surface and ornate elements running around its neck and body.

The most celebrated festival in the temple is Mallana Jatara and is a famous fairs of Telangana, which attracts huge crowd. The day of Sivaratri is also celebrated on grand scale.
Mallana jatara is held from the day of Bogi, a preceding day of Sankranti and held upto the Ugadi, during which the people from various sects offers Bonam to the lord. There is also a practice of drawing Muggu, a designs made with chalk and filled with colors and various performances and rituals are performed by the Uggu artists, a folkform of Telangana.

6AM-8PM