{{short description|Hindu temple in Telangana, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox Hindu temple | name = Keesaragutta Temple | native_name = Kesarigiri | image = Temple at Keesaragutta, AP W IMG 9127.jpg | alt = | caption = Keesaragutta Temple as viewed from the staircase on the hill. | map_type = <!-- India Telangana --> | map_caption = Location in Telangana | coordinates = | country = [[India]] | state = [[Telangana]] | district = [[Medchal-Malkajgiri district|Medchal-Malkajgiri]] | location = [[Keesara|Keesara Village]], [[Medchal-Malkajgiri District]] | elevation_m = | deity = [[Shiva]] | festivals = [[Maha Shivaratri]] | architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]] | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | inscriptions = | established = 100 BCE | creator = [[Rama]] }} '''Keesaragutta Temple''' is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Hindu temple|temple]] dedicated to Lord [[Shiva]] and his consort, [[Parvati]], at [[Keesara]]gutta, Keesara Village, [[Medchal-Malkajgiri district]], [[Telangana]], [[India]]. It is located on a small [[hillock]], roughly 30 km (18 miles) from central [[Hyderabad]], and 12 km (7 mi) from ECIL. The temple draws several [[lakh]] devotees for the [[Maha Shivaratri]] festival, as well as during the month of ''[[Kartika (month)|Kartika]]'' on the [[Hindu calendar]].
On top of one of the rock-cut caves around the temple, an early [[Telugu language|Telugu]] inscription, read as 'Thalachuvanru', was found.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Ancient Temples of Telangana |url=http://anyflip.com/voxm/rlzk/basic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011122959/http://anyflip.com/voxm/rlzk/basic |archive-date=11 October 2017 |access-date=28 July 2017 |website= |publisher=Government of Telangana |page=47}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-01-10 |title='తొలుచువాండ్రు' తొలి తెలుగు శాసనమే |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/telangana/which-was-first-telugu-inscriptions-once-again-become-debatable-1426488 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Sakshi |language=te}}</ref> Dated to the 5th century CE, it is the earliest known Telugu inscription in the [[Telangana]] [[States of India|state]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4gpDAAAAYAAJ&q=Telugu+label+inscription |title=Itihas |date=1989 |publisher=Director of State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh. |volume=15 |pages=34 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-10 |title=విష్ణుకుండి రాజధాని కీసర |url=https://www.ntnews.com/editpage/editorial-article-news-5-398554 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=[[Namasthe Telangana]] |language=te-IN}}</ref>
==Legend== Legend has it that [[Rama]] installed the [[lingam]] here to atone for the sin of killing [[Ravana]] (who was a [[bramhin]] by birth, but a demon by nature). He selected this beautiful valley, surrounded by hills and verdant greenery, and ordered [[Hanuman]] to bring a lingam from [[Varanasi]] (the holy city of Kashi or Benares; believed to be [[Shiva]]'s favourite place). Hanuman was late in arriving with the requested lingam and, as the auspicious hour was nearing, Shiva himself appeared before Rama and presented a lingam to him. Thus, the lingam in the temple is called a [[Swayambhu]] Linga. It is also called ''Ramalingeswara'', as Rama had installed the lingam.
Hanuman returned from Varanasi with 101 lingams to choose from, but felt aggrieved at not having his lingam installed; instead, he threw them all over the area. Even to this day, several lingams can be found scattered outside the temple. These lingams are worshipped along with the lingam in the sanctum of the temple, to this day.
To pacify Hanuman, Rama ordained that precedence would be given to him for worship at the temple. He also said that the hillock where the lingam was installed would bear the name ''Kesarigiri''—“Hanuman, the son of Kesari”. Over a period of time, it has colloquially transformed and is now known as Keesara, and the hill itself as Keesaragutta. Ever since, rituals have followed the command of Rama.
==Archaeological Excavations==
Exploration and Excavations were conducted by the archaeological department in the surroundings of Keesaragutta<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201975-76%20A%20Review.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 May 2013 |archive-date=23 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823122954/http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201975-76%20A%20Review.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Temple. Many ruins of brick structures and Shiva Lingas were found on the hill north of the temple, and on a hillock near the water’s edge. The ruins and artifacts dated to the era of the [[Chalukyan Empire]]. Fortification walls, [[Yagasala]] and prayer halls were all excavated there. Some vestige remnants and rock-cut cisterns were found on the hills, an indication that [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhism]] flourished there simultaneously together. On 18 October 2014, twelve idols of [[Jain]] [[Tirthankara]] dating back to the 4th-5th century were found near the temple steps at a depth of one foot which proves that [[Jainism]] co-existed along with Hinduism at Keesaragutta during the time of Vishnukundinas in 4-5th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Idols-of-Jain-Tirthankaras-belonging-to-4th-century-unearthed/articleshow/44895614.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021171323/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Idols-of-Jain-Tirthankaras-belonging-to-4th-century-unearthed/articleshow/44895614.cms|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-10-21|title=Idols of Jain Tirthankaras belonging to 4th century unearthed - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sakshipost.com/index.php/news/state/47446-was-keesargutta-a-jain-temple.html?psource=Feature|title = Telugu States Latest News, Breaking News, News Headlines, Live Updates, Today Top News}}</ref>
On top of one of the rock-cut caves around the temple, an early Telugu label inscription reading as 'Thulachuvanru' can be noticed. On the basis of [[Palaeography|paleography]], the inscription is dated around the 4th to 5th centuries CE.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":1" /> It is the earliest known inscription with Telugu words from the [[Telangana]] region.<ref name=":0" />
== References ==
{{Commons category}} {{reflist}}
{{Hindu Temples in Telangana}}
{{coord missing|Telangana}}
[[Category:Shiva temples in Telangana]] [[Category:Hindu temples in Telangana]]