Parasurameswara Temple, Gudimallam

About Parasurameswara Temple, Gudimallam

Located in Yerpedu mandal of Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, the Parasurameswara Temple is renowned for preserving an exceptionally ancient Shiva linga that represents a crucial milestone in Hindu sculptural history. The linga shaft features a relief depicting Shiva holding a ram, an axe, and a water-vessel, with a yaksha figure beneath his feet—an early iconographic representation that predates standardized later forms. Scholarly analysis places the linga between the 3rd century BCE and 2nd century CE, with recent studies supporting a 2nd century CE date. According to temple tradition, the linga was consecrated by the sage Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, following his cycle of warrior penance, which inspired the deity's name. The temple structure surrounding this ancient linga was constructed during the Chola, Pallava, and Vijayanagara periods, creating a layered architectural history that spans multiple centuries.

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