India’s first Siva shrine at Gudimallam, housing 1.6-metre-tall Linga, remains a hidden gem
The Gudimallam Parasurameswara Swamy Temple, located 21 kilometres southeast of Tirupati, dates back to the second century CE and is recognized as India's first Siva temple. Despite its historical and religious significance, the temple remains relatively unknown due to its remote location. The temple houses a 1.6-metre-tall Siva Linga carved from dark brown igneous rock, notable for its unique iconography and glossy surface.
- ▪The Gudimallam temple dates back to the second century CE and has witnessed the Chola era.
- ▪It is officially recognized as the first Siva temple in India by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- ▪The Siva Linga at Gudimallam is 1.60 meters tall and carved from dark brown igneous rock.
- ▪The Linga features a unique representation of an erect male organ, known as Urdhvaretah.
- ▪Originally, the shrine was hypaethral, meaning it was open to the sky and integrated into the local settlement.
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Located 21 kilometres southeast of Tirupati, the ancient Gudimallam Parasurameswara Swamy Temple dates back to the second century CE. Having witnessed the era of the Cholas and preserved rustic folk traditions for thousands of years, Gudimallam remains a hidden gem. Yet, despite lying so close to the world‑famous temple city of Tirupati—which draws millions of devotees—the shrine has often gone unnoticed, largely due to its remote and less accessible location.Today, the temple is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is officially recognised as the “first Siva temple in India.” Its Siva Linga is remarkable for its unique iconography, depicting a near‑perfect representation of an erect male organ (Urdhvaretah).
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