Sri Parasurameswara Swamy Temple at Gudimallam, in Yerpedu mandal of Tirupati district in Andhra Pradesh, houses the oldest surviving Shiva linga in the historical record. The linga is variously dated between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE, making it the earliest preserved figural linga at any Shiva site. The temple opens daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM with general darshan free. This article covers the linga’s age and form, the temple’s timings, festivals and how to reach Gudimallam.
Daily timings
- Daily hours: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- General darshan: free
- Abhishekam and special poojas: bookable at the temple counter
- Maha Shivaratri: all-night darshan, the principal festival day
The midday gap is brief and shifts seasonally; on most weekdays the sanctum stays open through the morning into early afternoon and reopens by 4:00 PM. On Mondays, Sivaratri and the four Krithikai days, darshan is continuous through the day.
The Gudimallam linga: form and dating
The principal feature of Gudimallam is the linga itself. The shaft is approximately 1.5 metres tall and 0.3 metres in diameter, carved from a polished dark stone, and set on a low quadrangular pedestal in the sanctum floor. Unlike most later lingas, which are anionic cylindrical forms, the Gudimallam linga carries a figural relief on its front face: a standing figure of Shiva holding a ram, an axe and a small water-vessel, with a yaksha figure beneath his feet. The figure has been read as an early iconographic representation of Shiva before the standard later forms had stabilised.
Scholarly dating of the linga has ranged widely. Sastri and later Indian archaeologists place it in the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE; some recent analyses (revisited in 2024 in a published study) argue for a 2nd century CE date. The lower bound makes it the oldest surviving linga in the historical record; even the conservative upper bound makes it one of the earliest. The temple structure around the linga is later than the linga itself, with the principal walls and gopuram dating to the Chola, Pallava and Vijayanagara periods.
The Parasurama story
The temple’s traditional account links the consecration of the linga to the sage Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Parasurama is said to have established the linga here after his cycle of warrior penance. The lord is therefore named Parasurameswara, “the lord of Parasurama”. The yaksha figure beneath Shiva’s feet on the linga is read in some interpretations as the consecrating sage at the lord’s feet, a typology consistent with early Andhra art.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March): the principal annual festival. All-night abhishekam and continuous darshan.
- Navaratri (September–October): nine-day festival with daily abhishekam and small procession.
- Ugadi (March–April): Telugu New Year, observed at the temple.
- Karthika Masam (October–November): Mondays in the month are observed with special lamp lighting.
- Sravana Masam Mondays (July–August): smaller weekly observance.
An opinion for an art-history visit
For what it’s worth, Gudimallam is one of the most rewarding short detours in the Tirupati-Tirumala pilgrimage circuit, particularly for visitors with any interest in the history of Indian sculpture. The linga is treated as a living shrine, not a museum piece, but it is also the single oldest object of its kind in continuous worship. The combination is unusual. The visit pairs naturally with the Sri Kalahasti temple (40 km north) and the TTD circuit at Tirumala-Tirupati. Pre-dawn departure from Tirupati city, a quick darshan at Gudimallam, breakfast at Yerpedu, and onward to Sri Kalahasti is a comfortable half-day itinerary.
Reaching Gudimallam
- Location: Yerpedu mandal, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh; the village is 4 km from Yerpedu town
- By road from Tirupati: 30 km, about 45 minutes via the Yerpedu road
- By road from Sri Kalahasti: 40 km, about 1 hour
- By rail: Renigunta Junction is the nearest major station (15 km); Yerpedu has a halt station
- By air: Tirupati Airport (35 km) and Chennai (130 km) are the closest
- Local transport: APSRTC buses run from Tirupati and Yerpedu; auto-rickshaws from Yerpedu town
Common questions
Can I see the linga relief up close?
The linga is inside the sanctum, behind a low railing. Darshan is at the standard inner-sanctum distance, and the figural relief on the front of the linga is visible but not at close inspection range. Photography inside the sanctum is restricted. The Archaeological Survey of India has published high-resolution images of the linga, which are the best reference for detailed study; the temple itself does not facilitate close examination.
Is there a fee for abhishekam?
Yes. Abhishekam, archana with the visitor’s name and gotra, and Rudrabhishek are offered at fees set by the temple administration. The standard rates are modest (₹100 to ₹500 range), with detailed Vedic recitations at higher rates. Walk-up booking at the temple counter is the usual route; the temple is not heavily crowded outside festival days.
Where to stay?
The village has no formal lodging. Most visitors stay in Tirupati city, with its full range of TTD guesthouses, private hotels and budget lodges. The Tirupati-Gudimallam day-trip is the standard option. Sri Kalahasti also has lodging within walking distance of its temple, useful for pilgrims combining the two sites.
One limitation worth noting
The dating of the Gudimallam linga is still actively debated among scholars; the figures cited in this article reflect the published range and not a settled consensus. The temple’s published timings cover the regular sanctum window; abhishekam slot times shift seasonally and on festival days. The temple administration is the authoritative source for current schedules; phone enquiries via the temple desk are the most reliable confirmation route for a planned visit.
For background, see Gudimallam Lingam on Wikipedia and the Andhra Pradesh tourism site at aptourism.gov.in.
