అమరశిల్పి జక్కన్న చెక్కిన చెన్నకేశవుని గుడి -సోంపల్లె - Sompalle Chennakesava Temple Andhra Pradesh

Google map to reach the temple: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8U6uMq8y78ELmFVw5
I am going to show Chennakesava Swamy Temple, another form of Lord Srivenkateswara Swamy. This unique temple is located in Sompalle village, 37 km from Madanapalli in Annamaiya District, Andhra Pradesh. This village is also known as Sompalyam. This temple was built about 500 years ago i.e. in the 12th century during the Malicholas period and was improved during the Vijayanagara Empire period. This temple, built with amazing craftsmanship, is one of the many temples built by the immortal sculptor Jakkanna and his son Dankanachari. The entrance looks like this. This temple is under the Central Government. A stele erected by them. On this side there is the information of the temple architecture. Let's enter the temple premises. The 93 feet flagpole attracts us as it looks reaching the sky No matter how many efforts we make to erect this monolithic flagpole which is 30 feet into the ground and 63 feet high, in the end a woman who can say that I am a harlot can stand it if I follow the words of the elders and I believe that I am a harlot. Came forward that I will help myself to stand Dwajastambha. Krishnappa Naidu, who built this temple, warned that if she did not stand up, Shirachedam(unheaded) would happen, but she did not fear, but when she raised her hand with everyone, the Dhwajastambha stood up. Another surprising sight is the images painted on this Dwajasthamba. It is the sculpture of Annamacharya, father of Padakavitha. In the fifteenth century, the image of Annamayya, who continuously chanted 32 thousand hymns to Tirumala Venkateswara, had been carved here, so he might have come to this place. This is the Gollamandapam. The gollavas of that village used to provide milk and curd to Jakkana, his son dankanacharya and other sculptors who built this temple. Krishnappa Naidu, who built the temple for such a gift, asked them to build a mandapam as our symbol, and he agreed and built such a beautiful mandapam. Look at how beautifully their symbol of them is decorated with bowls of milk on one side and bowls of curd on the other! This mandapa is also a sculpture arch! This is the Uyya Mandapam used for Uyyalaseva by Chennakesava Swami and Goddess Lakshmi. On those days, when Swami swings on the Uyyala made of silver chains in this Uyyala Mandapam, if Bhakrasrenu sings Uyyalaseva songs, the hearts of the onlookers also flutter.

The temple gopuram has been repaired over time and looks like this. Let's go to the main temple. This is the altar of truth swearing at that time. The architectural ingenuity of this temple cannot be praised enough! It seems that the stones have been molded into this shape by hearing the words of the sculptors and including the jewels. It is said that in those days, people used to line up to see the important moments of Ramayana and Mahabharata painted with leaves. With the passage of time, these are digested. This is Kalyana Mandapam. Lord Chennakesava and Goddess Lakshmi used to perform kalyanam here on this pedestal. It is beautifully decorated as if all the gods are blessing from above. What a wonderful idea! Each pillar is a unique shape. All we can do is enjoy this magnificent architectural treasure. This is a divine service done by Mahashilps with the most diligent devotion, so that the glory of the Lord should not fade away for any number of generations. Annamacharyas who praised Chennakesava Lakshmi Devi's marriage as Kalyanamamma Kalyanamu may have written that kirtan here. Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy is enshrined here. This is the guru of Sriranchandra, Vasishtha Maharshi. This is one of the idols that were partially destroyed when the temple was invaded during the Muhammadan invasion of Ghazni. The idols of Jaya Vijaya in front of the sanctum are completely missing. When those invasions took place, Ammavaru Chaudeshwari goddess beat those troops in a fit of rage. Let's see the temple at the end.

Now let's have darshan of that Akhilanda Koti Brahmanada Nayaka, Atiloka Soundaryamurthy. How charming and beautiful! Coudn't able to describe such a sacred form. It is no exaggeration to leave the outer world and stay here. Let's enjoy and enjoy the beauty of this enchanting figure. Annamayya says that the he is the king at each and every angle. Swami is a living proof of that word. It felt very sad that there was no daily poojadika for such a charming figure. Let us beseech you, Lord, to bless everyone with eternal worship. Now let's see sacred pond. How vast! Once one imagines the splendor of such a beautiful temple with such a big roof and how beautiful it was in those days. you must visit this temple.