Mahanandi Temple History, Timings & Accommodation

Mahanandi is located to the east of the Nallamala Hills and Forest; the main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, known as Mahanandeeswara Swamy. The temple is located near Nandyal in the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. Within 15 kilometres, there are nine Nandi Shrines known as Nava Nandulu; Mahanandi is the oldest and most important of the nine shrines. The Mahanandi temple is open from 4:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and visitors can have Mahanandi darshan during those hours.

Shivanandi, Vinayakanandi, Somanandi, Prathamanandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi (also known as Vishnunandi), and Naganandi are the other eight shrines. The Mahanandi temple was built 1500 years ago and has been repaired and rebuilt several times.

The temple was built by Chalukya Kings, and its architecture reflects the Chalukyas’ strong presence. Mahanandeeswara Swamy, in the form of Swayambu Shiva Lingam, is the temple’s presiding deity.

Mahanandi Temple’s History

According to legend, black cow milk from Gopavaram village was used for Abhishekam on a daily basis. The cowherd takes the cows to the forest to feed them. Every day, one of the cows enters the bush, oozes the milk, and returns home with an empty udder.

The cowherd was curious, so he followed the cow and hid behind a bush. The cow would usually stand on the grass-covered ant hole, and a lad would come out and drink the milk. The cowherd noticed that and began talking here and there.

The King’s spies heard it and informed him. The King was happy and wanted to see the same thing, so he slowly followed the cow. The cow was terrified and ran away hurriedly, and its huff sunk the hole, and the child vanished.

The King returned home surprised and had a dream the next day in which Lord Shiva appeared and told him that he only drank the milk and instructed him to build a temple. The next day, when King went to the hole, he discovered Rock Pallus instead of a hole. He was taken aback when he discovered the cow’s hoof on the Shiva Lingam.

The King built the temple, dug a pond in the opposite direction, and named it Rudra Gunda. He dug two ponds on the temple’s northern and eastern sides, which he named Brahma Gunda and Vishnu Gunda; the ponds hold total water in all seasons and supply water to 2000 acres of fertile land.

Mahanandi Temple Hours

Days	Timings
Monday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Tuesday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Wednesday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Thursday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Friday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Saturday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Sunday	4:30 AM to 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Darshan / Poojas / Seva Timings

S.no	Seva & Poojas	Timings	Ticket Prices
1	Suprabhatam Seva	4:30 AM to 5:00 AM	Rs.100 per person
2	Sthanika Abhishekam, Binde Seva	5:00 AM to 5:30 AM	Rs.100 per person
3	Astavidha Maha Mangala Harathi	5:30 AM to 6:30 AM	Rs.100 per person
4	Darshan	6:30 AM to 8:00 AM 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM	Rs 20 to Rs 351 per person
5	Nijaroopa Darshan	8:00 am to 9:00 am 11:00 am to 12:00 pm 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm	Rs.50
6	Nithya Kalyanam	11:00 AM onward	Rs.1116
7	Maha Nivedana	12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
8	Break Time (No Darshan)	1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
9	Astavidha Maha Mangala Harathi	5:30 PM to 6:30 PM	Rs.100
10	Ekantha Seva	9:00 PM to 9:30 PM	Rs.50

Mahanandi Darshan for Other Pooja Timings

The following special poojas are offered to Mahanandeeswara Swamy:

4.45 a.m. Mangala Vadhyamulu
5.30 a.m. Swamy Vari Sthanika Abhishekam
6 a.m. Mahamangala Harathi
Abhishekam Swamy Vari – 6.30 AM to 12.30 PM
Laghunyasa Abhishekam – 6.30 AM to 12.30 PM and 6.00 PM to 8.30 PM
Mahanyasa Purvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam – 6.30 AM to 12.30 PM and 6.00 PM to 8.30 PM