Pushpagiri Temple Complex

Pushpagiri Temple complex
Rural
In the order from top left to bottom left, Vaidyanatheswara Swamy temple, Reliefs on the temple walls of Chennakesava Swamy, A panoramic view of Pushpagiri overlooking the river Penna, Indranatheswara Swamy temple, Trikuteswara Swamy temple
Pushpagiri Temple complex Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 14°35′41″N 78°45′47″E / 14.594749°N 78.763004°E / 14.594749; 78.763004Coordinates: 14°35′41″N 78°45′47″E / 14.594749°N 78.763004°E / 14.594749; 78.763004
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
Region	Rayalaseema
District	Cuddapah
Area
• Total	7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Elevation	380 m (1,250 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	500 (approx)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	516162
Telephone code	+91 - 8562
Vehicle registration	AP04

The Pushpagiri Temple Complex is situated in the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the Pinakini River that meanders through the District which has origins on Nandi Hills in Karnataka and is located at a distance of about 16 kilometres from the district headquarters.

The name Pushpagiri derives from a local legend that to extricate his mother Vinutha from the shackles of slavery of his stepmother Kadruva, Garuda has embarked on a journey to the heavens to conquer Lord Indra and fetch the holy nectar of Ambrosia. Garuda while returning from the heavenly abode passed by the hamlet then called - Kampalle, where he unintentionally spilt a drop into a local pond formed by the river Pinakini.

The pond immediately was granted divine powers of transforming back to their youth, all those that took a dip in it. Consequently, people began to throng the pond for a dip in its waters. Upon seeing this unprecedented miracle, the Devas approached God Vishnu who instructs Garuda to cover up the pond with a rock from a nearby mountain.

The megalith Garuda placed on the pond, started floating like a flower - Pushpa in Sanskrit. To stop it from raising again, God Vishnu and God Shiva drove the rock under with their feet into the land. Thus the name Pushpagiri which in Sanskrit would mean a flowery mound.

The temple complex is located at 380 metres (1,000 ft) above the sea level and covers an approximate area of 7.5 square kilometres (2.9 sq mi). There is lush greenery surrounding the hamlets that include in the temple complex with crops watered from the rain as well as the river year round.