KURNOOL, INDIA, April 3, 2008: The surfacing of Sangameswara temple, an ancient shrine located in the Srisailam reservoir bed off Muchumarri in Kurnool district, is likely to be delayed this year. The untimely rain in the last fortnight increased the reservoir level to 861.20 ft accounting for storage of 153 tmcft. The temple starts surfacing at 858 ft and devotees could have darshan when the level recedes to 834 ft.
Telakapalli Raghurama Sarma, priest of the temple, is hopeful of conducting Kalyanotsavam in the first week of June when the water level recedes beyond 834 ft. He said around 20,000 devotees will gather on June 2 to witness Kalyanotsavam. The rituals are planned on five Mondays. The 8th century temple, which submerged in 1981 after construction of Srisailam dam, surfaced only in 2003 for the first time. Mahasivaratri was celebrated at the temple in 2003, 2004 and 2005 when 100,000 pilgrims gathered at the venue.
Sangameswara temple has great significance because of its antiquity and location. Bhavanasi, seventh tributary of Krishna, joins the river here. Also, the river flows northwards (Uttaravahini) here which is considered auspicious.