Thousands Throng Shiva Temples In AP, Telangana

On the occasion of Maha Sivarathri today, all Shaivaite shrines in the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana reverberated with the chanting of "Aum Namah Sivaya" in praise of the three-eyed Lord.

Hundreds of devotees lined up in serpentine queues at the various Siva temples since the early hours for a darshan of the Lord, and performed abhisekhams, kalyanams and special pujas.

The popular Siva temples at Srisailam, Draksharamam, Srikalahasti, Kotappakonda, Palakollu, Amaravathi, Samarlakota and Bheemavaram in Andhra Pradesh and those at Vemulawada, Keesara, Alampur (the Bala Brahmeshwara temple), Komuravelli, Inavolu, Hanumakonda (the thousand-pillar temple) and Warangal (Ramappa temple) in Telangana among others were thronged by thousands of devotees.

The Srisailam shrine, one of the 12 Jyothirlingas, turned into a sea of devotees. After taking a bath in the Pathalaganga, devotees waited in serpentine queues to have a darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy. Closer home, hundreds of devotees thronged the temple of Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy at Keesara and performed abhisekhams.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao conveyed Maha Sivarathri greetings to the people of the State. He said that he had prayed the Almighty for the well-being of one and all in the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy greeted all the Telugu people on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri. "May the blessings of Lord Siva bring good health, happiness and immense prosperity to you and your family," Reddy said in a tweet.