The temple at Mallavaram was constructed in strict accordance with the Agama Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise detailing the architecture, rituals, and spiritual guidelines for temple construction. Upon its completion, a series of special Poojais and rituals were performed from January 31 to February 4, 1963, sanctifying the temple and inviting divine presence into its sanctum.
A remarkable figure known as Swamy became central to the temple’s spiritual narrative. It is said that Swamy would often enter the sanctum and sit directly upon the Shivan Lingam, entering deep states of meditation for extended periods. Devotees, gripped with awe and devotion, performed Abhishekam (ritual bathing) directly upon the deity while Swamy remained seated on the Lingam, a practice that defied religious convention but was accepted without fear or hesitation. This extraordinary phenomenon garnered attention from various major newspapers at the time.
From that point onward, pilgrims and devotees from all walks of life began flocking to Mallavaram, drawn by the sanctity and mystery surrounding the temple. Many offeredornaments, donations, and prayers, contributing to the spiritual and material enrichment of the shrine.
However, during the Subrahmanya Shasti celebrations in 1964, Swamy passed away suddenly, a deeply shocking moment for the local villagers and followers. When consulted, Hindu scholars and priests interpreted his death as a divine sign: that Swamy had chosen Mallavaram, a place once known as an Agraharam and a sacred ground for Yagnas and Vedic rituals, as his final abode.
This belief found historical validation in 1965 when copper plate inscriptions were discovered one foot beneath the surface during an excavation near the temple. These inscriptions, dating back to the Chola period, were sent to the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh. The plates were later entrusted to Dr. N. Ramesan, I.A.S, then the Finance Secretary of the state, who meticulously deciphered them. His scholarly efforts earned him a degree from Poona University, and the findings were published in the official archaeological monograph, Studies in Medieval Deccan History.
The set of 17 copper plates, sealed with the royal insignia of the Chola dynasty, chronicled the history of the Chola empire and the granting of land to Brahmins. The inscriptions reveal that during the reign of Veera Chola, who ruled the Vengi Kingdom for 24 years (1086–1110 AD), a land grant known as Alavelli Nilayam or Veera Chola Chaturvedi Mangalam was bestowed upon 580 South Indian Brahmins. Dated to 1038 AD, the plates describe in detail the spiritual purpose of the grant to uphold Yagnas, Yagas, and Vedic practices for the wellbeing of society.
Beyond royal chronicles, the inscriptions offer a vivid survey of village life, documenting everything from tanks and marshes to pathways, trees, and boundaries revealing the socio-cultural and spiritual fabric of the Agraharam village at the time.
The region, enriched by continuous Vedic chanting, Yagnic performances, spiritual discourses, andUpanishadic recitations, was once a hub of sacred energy. These sounds are said to have echoed and reverberated through the land, sanctifying its atmosphere for generations.
Source / Image Credit : srisubrahmanyadevalayam, godsayes, Adinarayana Rao Rayavarapu