Somasila temple also known as Sri Lalitha Someswara Swamy temple is a Hindu temple located at the banks of Krishna River, Somasila village, Nagarkurnool District of Telangana State, India.
Somasila temple is an ancient temple it was built in the 7th century. The temple’s presiding deity is Lord Shiva. Mahashivaratri and Karthika Pournami are celebrated here in a grand manner every year.
The state government of Telangana has shifted the temple from the old Somasila village to a higher altitude to protect it from being submerged in Krishna water during the construction of the Srisailam Dam.
Somasila village is visited by many tourists all over the year as it is home to 15 temples. All these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are consecrated with several Shivalingas.
Meaning and importance of Shiv linga
Shivling, also spelled shiva linga, is the state of eternity, the symbolic idol of Lord Shiva. The word shiv linga means two words that are ‘Leen’ and ‘Gati’. ‘Leen’ means ‘dissolve’ and ‘Gati’ means ‘grow’. It means a man should dissolve (Leen) in Shiva and then he should grow (Gati).
The shiv linga symbolizes the energy of the creator, Shiva. It is mentioned in our ancient scripts that at the end of all creation, all the different aspects of God are believed to find a resting place in the shiv linga. The shiv linga is also a representation of the infinite Cosmic Column of fire.
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Some other specialties of Somasila Temple
Moreover, the surroundings of Somasila are also known for their scenic beauty. Mahashivaratri and Karthika Pournami are the main festivals celebrated here every year. Pushkara Snanam which is celebrated here once in 12 years – a dip in the Krishna River is considered auspicious on this occasion.
Boating facilities are also available at Somasila in the backwaters of Srisailam Dam. Tourists can get a chance to view the scenery around them from the open deck while traveling in the boat. Kolhapur is another town at a distance of 9 km from Somasila. It is also famous for several temples and can be visited together.
Somasila is 9 km from Kollapur, 105 km from Mahabubnagar, and 186 km from Hyderabad.
