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Growing Nandi – A mysterious fact:
It is hard to believe that Nandi idol in Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple or Yaganti , a Shiva temple in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh is growing in size. Although unbelievable, it came out to be true. Certain experimentation was carried out on this idol and it was said that the type of rock out of which the idol is carved has a growing or enlarging nature associated with it.
Archaeological Survey of India has confirmed that the idol increases by 1 inch in every 20 years.The department collects data along with the size of the idols every 15 years.
Mines and Geology department assistant director C. Mohan Rao from Elur said that stones grow due to chemical reactions. “The rock has silica substances and iron particles. When a mineral is converted to other granules of Silica, it expands.”
The current size of Basavanna idol is about five feet high and 15 feet wide.It is said that people used to do Pradakshinas (rounds) around it in the past, but now Nandi has taken up the gap between the stone pillar.
This temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Sangama Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. It was built according to Vaishnavaite traditions.
There is the cave near the temple where Agastya performed his penance for Lord Shiva. One can enter the cave by climbing 120 steep steps.
There is another cave called Venkateshwara cave. The damaged idol of Lord Venkateswara is present in this cave. According to the story this idol was present in this cave before the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was constructed. But as the idol is damaged near the foot, it could not be worshipped.
Another feature of this temple is its Pushkarini, a small pond of water on the temple premises. Water flows into this Pushkarini from the bottom of hill through the mouth of a Nandi (bull). The water is fresh and sweet, as it comes from the hills. No one knows how the water reaches the pond all year round and this temple architecture in terms of its sculpture shows the skills of ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis.
