ALAMPUR JOGULAMBA

Alampur is a town in Telangana state of India which has historical and spiritual importance. Alampur which was previously in the Mahbubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, became part of the Gadwal district of Telangana, post the Bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is on the bank of the River Tungabhadra. It is primarily a Shaivite piligrim centre with Shaktism also worshipped. Historically, Alampur was under the rule of Shatavahana Ishvakus of Nagarjunakonda, Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara Empire and Qutb Shahis of Golconda. The Chalukyas (a large part) and Rastrakutas left a wealth of architectural beauty in the temples.

JOGULAMBA TEMPLE

Jogulamba Temple is a Shakti Peeta of Sati Devi.

Sati Devi was Lord Shiva's wife. She once goes to a yagna conducted by her father Daksha Prajapati, uninvited, and against the wishes of Shiva. Shiva unwillingly sends her, at her insistence. At the Yagna, Daksha insults Sati and hurls abuses against Shiva in front of all the other Gods. Unable to bear the insults towards her beloved husband, Sati jumps into the ceremonial fire and commits suicide. An enraged Shiva sends Veerabhadra, who emerges from his fury, to go and destroy Daksha. Veerabhadra destroys the yagna and decapitates Daksha. As nature would suffer if a yagna was halted midway, Lord Vishnu and Brahma come to pacify Shiva and to request him to come to the Yagna sthal. Shiva goes there and gives permission for the Yagna to continue. A Ram's head is fixed in place of Daksha's head and life is given back to him. The grief stricken Shiva carries the half burnt body of Sati and wanders around. To make Shiva come out of his grief and since he was not willing to let go of Sati Devi's corpse, Lord Vishnu cuts the body with his Chakra. These body parts, which fell at different parts of the Earth are worshipped as Shakti Peeta's, or sacred abodes of Mother Goddess. The 51 parts are scattered mostly over India, a few on places of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. 

Of these 18 are known as Maha Shakti Peetas, of which Jogulamba is the 5th Peeta. It is said that her upper jaw with a tooth fell at Alampur Shakti Peeta. She is in an Ugra Roopa (fearsome appearance) here. Her hair is piled high and a lizard, owl, scorpian and human skull are in her hair. It is said that worshipping Jogulamba removes ill effects.

The temple of Jogulamba was destroyed by the Bahamani Sultans in 1390 CE. Broken idol was safeguarded in the Bala Brahmeshwara Temple. The temple of Jogulamba was rebuilt after 615 years in 2005. The temple is surrounded by water so as to keep the temple cool, as the wrath of Mother Goddess heats up the place.