Koti Linga Temple on Keesara Gutta – the name literally translates to “The temple of a crore lingams situated on the hillock of Lord Hanuman.”
The village is in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh and is located about 18 km from ECIL X roads on the outskirts of Hyderabad (and about 45 km from Begumpet airport). The temple is a mere 1.5 hour -2 hour drive from the city. When we were traveling, it was raining and the drive was very pleasant.
Legend has it that when Lord Rama wanted to atone for the sin of killing a great devotee of Lord Shiva like Ravana, he asked Lord Hanuman to bring a shiva linga carved from the rocks of mount Kailas itself. But since Hanuman could not bring the lingam back in time for the auspicious moment of the propitiation,
One of the several lingams that can be seen scattered on the hillock of Keesaragutta.
Lord Rama made one out the sands and performed the pooja. Frustrated, Lord Hanuman hurled the lingam he had brought from Kailas with all his might and it fragmented into ten million (a crore) smaller lingams that scattered on this hillock. These can be seen even today on the hillock.
The sacred Shiva linga which was said to have been installed and worshipped by Lord Hanuman himself.
One of the lingam is reputed to have been installed and worshipped by lord Hanuman himself and even today some powerful vibrations hit you when you enter the shrine.
Koti Linga therefore means a crore (ten million) lingams and Keesara is a colloquial version of Lord Hanuman’s name Kesari. Gutta means hillock. Hence the name of the temple is derived.
You can reach the temple by traveling on regular APSRTC buses or just hire a cab to take you there. On a normal day, the trip to and from the temple will take about 5 hours. On a festival day, it takes considerably longer at the temple.
A word of caution – you are sure to be greeted by large battalions of monkeys while there. These simians do not hesitate to grab items from your hands. Though they are never known to be aggressive, please be careful with your children and what you display to the monkeys!
The huge idol of Lord Hanuman, which faces the main temple on the hillock.
