Chowda Devta Temple

Shri Chowdeshwari Devi Temple, Nandavaram

Nandavaram is a small village in the Banagana Palli town (mandal) of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. The village is best known for the famous Chowdeshwari devi [KasiVishalakshi] temple. Nandana Chakravarthy has built this famous temple. The original Chowdeshwari idol looked very fearful to watch. So, it was kept hidden behind the garbhagriha doors and a similar Chowdeshwaridevi deity was made with simiar resemblance but with less fearful lookings. It is this fearless deity that all the piligrims can see today in this ancient temple. The height of Chowdeshwari temple is adjusted now to create the required elevation for the new deity to sit perfectly above the original Godess hidden in this temple. It is said that the Godess Chowdeshwari has come all the way from Varanasi to Nandavaram via an underground tunnel [which you can see in the temple premisis] in just one day. Srichakra is present infront of the deity so, the piligrims can perform kunkuma Archana. Nandavaram Chowdeshwari devi is the presiding deity of Nandavarik Brahmin community and only Nandavarik Brahmins are allowed to enter the garbhagriha and perform the pooja rituals to Godess Chowdeshwari devi. The 60 feet high Dravidian style Gopuram built it the early 16th century is another main attraction of this temple. The temple koneru is present at some distance towards right side from the temple. The main festivals celebrated in Nandavaram are Navaratri and Chowdeshwari Jatra in the months of March and April.