Photo By: G. Shyam Kumar
Inavolu (Warangal): The famous Iloni Mallanna Jatara has begun on a grand note here on Saturday. The religious event of historic Inavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple begins on Bhogi, the preceding day of Sankranti festival, and continues till Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.
Lakhs of pilgrims from across the district and neighbouring districts take part in the event and fulfill their vows. Torana Bandhanam, Vigneshwara Pooja, Punyahavachanam, Prajarohana, Mahanyasapurvaka Rudrabhishekam and others will be held to mark the commencement of the jatara.
On Makara Sankranti Day on Sunday Mahanyasapurvaka Ekadasi Rudrabhishekam, Mahanivedana, Mantrapushpam and others will be held at the temple, informed the Temple Committee chairman S Kumaraswamy Goud and executive officer Sheshu Bharati.
Vardhannapet MLA Kondeti Sridhar has been monitoring the arrangements. The officials said that all arrangements for the convenience of the devotees have been made. Facilities like drinking water, 108 ambulances have been deployed to provide emergency medical services.
Special buses are being run by the APSRTC from locations like Kazipet, Hanamkonda and Warangal to the temple. Security arrangements with 200 police constables, 120 home guards, 60 women constables, and four circle inspectors under the supervision of Mamanur DSP Eshwara Rao have also been made.
The otherwise sleepy tiny village comes to life with scores of shops being set up on either side of the roads leading to the temple and thousands of people thronging this place. Devotees, men and women who came to fulfill their vows could be seen dancing in trance chanting invocations to God.
The `Pothurajus’ and women carrying `Bonams’ decorated mud pots with prasadam stand as an attraction at the temple. The special feature of the jatara is that people come and raise a temporary settlement in and around the temple.
Inavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple situated at Inavolu village of Vardhannapet mandal in the district is one of the ancient Lord Shiva temples in south India. The temple dates back to 11th century and was built by Kakatiya rulers. It was built with 108 pillars and has a giant magnificent Nruthaya Mandapam on eastern side.
The presiding deity Shivalingam of the temple referred to as ‘Ardhapranavattam’ (Shivalinga with half doom). The temple has four entrance gates with rich architectural carvings that epitomising the cultural sophistication of Kakatiya dynasty.
The temple was built by a minister Ayyanna Deva of Kakatiya Kingdom – hence the name Inavolu. The presiding deity Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy is considered as one of the incarnations of Lord Siva. Mostly the Yadavas patronise the temples built for the deity. [The Hans India]