Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
Shiva temple · Yaganti (near Banaganapalle), Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India
Photo: Pusulurisudhakara · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple is a Shiva temple at Yaganti, near Banaganapalle in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity, Uma Maheswara Swamy, popularly called Yaganti Swamy, is Shiva worshipped together with Parvati (Uma). The temple sits among rocky hills with natural caves and springs, about 11 km from Banaganapalle according to the Nandyal district administration.
It is best known for its very large stone Nandi, which the district administration measures at about 15 by 10 by 8 feet, and for the caves above the temple linked to the sage Agastya and the poet-saint Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy. Maha Shivaratri is its biggest festival.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
According to local tradition, the sage Agastya first wanted to build a temple to Venkateswara here, but the image he had prepared was damaged and could not be installed. He then did penance to Shiva, who is said to have told him that the hills resembled Kailasa and suited Shiva better. At Agastya's request, tradition holds, Shiva and Parvati were installed together as Uma Maheswara in a single stone.
Devotees believe the Nandi (Basavanna) facing the shrine is slowly growing. Local accounts say there was once space to walk around it and that a pillar had to be removed. A prophecy attributed to Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy says the Nandi will come alive at the end of the Kali Yuga. Another local tradition holds that crows do not come to the temple because of a curse laid by Agastya.
Heritage
History of Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
Popular accounts credit the temple's construction to the Sangama rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire, usually naming Harihara and Bukka and often dating it to the 15th century. HinduTone could not find an inscription or official survey confirming this, and the two dates do not fit together, since Harihara I and Bukka I ruled in the 14th century. The Vijayanagara link should be read as a widely repeated attribution, not settled fact.
The caves in the hill behind the temple have long been places of worship. The Agastya cave, reached by a steep flight of steps, holds an image of the goddess and is believed to be where Agastya did his penance. The Venkateswara cave holds a damaged image of Venkateswara. A third cave is associated with Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy, the 17th-century saint, who is said to have composed part of his prophetic Kalagnanam there.
Architecture and sacred features
The temple stands at the foot of a hill, with a carved gopuram over the entrance and the great Nandi in front of the sanctum. Next to it is a pushkarini (temple tank) fed by a spring that flows from the hill through a carved Nandi's mouth. Local accounts say the spring runs all year.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Climbing to the Agastya and Veerabrahmendra caves involves steep, uneven steps, and the Veerabrahmendra cave is low enough that visitors must bend to enter. Crowds are heavy around Maha Shivaratri. Confirm current timings and arrangements with the temple office or the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
Maha Shivaratri
The Nandyal district administration notes that Shivaratri at Yaganti draws a large gathering of devotees from across the region.
Location
How to Reach Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
Yaganti is about 11 km from Banaganapalle, according to the Nandyal district administration, and is reached by road from Banaganapalle. Nandyal, the district headquarters, has the main railway junction in the area, and Kurnool is the nearest major city.
The nearest airport is Kurnool Airport (Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Airport) at Orvakal. Many visitors combine Yaganti with the Belum Caves and Mahanandi in the same district.
Location: Yaganti (near Banaganapalle), Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India
Nearest airport: Kurnool Airport (Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Airport), Orvakal
Nearest railway station: Nandyal Junction
More in Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh · Shiva temples · Temples in Kurnool District
Questions
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nandi at Yaganti really growing?
Devotees and local accounts say the stone Nandi has grown over the past century and that a pillar had to be removed. Reports often attribute this to slow expansion of the rock, citing the Archaeological Survey of India, but HinduTone could not find a published ASI study confirming it.
Which deity is worshipped at Yaganti?
The presiding deity is Uma Maheswara Swamy, Shiva and Parvati worshipped together in a single stone image. Locally the deity is called Yaganti Swamy.
How big is the Yaganti Nandi?
The Nandyal district administration gives its size as about 15 by 10 by 8 feet.
Where is Yaganti temple?
It is in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, about 11 km from Banaganapalle according to the district administration.
What caves are there at Yaganti?
Three caves above the temple are visited: the Agastya cave with a goddess image, the Venkateswara cave with a damaged Venkateswara image, and a cave associated with Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy.
Who built Yaganti temple?
It is popularly credited to the Sangama rulers of Vijayanagara, but HinduTone could not confirm this from an inscription or official survey, and the dates in circulation do not match.
Why are there no crows at Yaganti?
According to local tradition, the sage Agastya cursed crows that disturbed his penance, so they do not visit the temple. This is a belief held by devotees, not a documented observation.
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q8046685 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Yaganti temple — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- District Administration, Nandyal (Government of Andhra Pradesh) — Temple Tourism – Nandyal District
- District Administration, Nandyal (Government of Andhra Pradesh) — Places of Interest – Nandyal District
- Wikipedia — Yaganti temple (pointer for legends and caves)
- Exotic India — Why Yaganti Nandi Is Growing – Mystery of the Expanding Idol
- Aaj Tak — Yaganti Uma Maheswara temple Nandi idol size increase: geologists explain
Further reading: Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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