Sri Someswara Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is situated in Palakurthi, a beautiful hill village in Jangaon District, Telangana.The temple stands on the sacred Someswara Gutta (hill) surrounded by lush greenery and serene rocky terrain.
The temple is believed to be over 900 years old, dating back to the Kakatiya dynasty. It was originally built during the reign of King Prola II and later expanded by Rani Rudramadevi and King Prataparudra. What makes this temple truly unique is that it enshrines both Lord Shiva as Someswara Swamy and Lord Vishnu as Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on the same hill — symbolizing harmony between Shaivism and Vaishnavism. The Someswara shrine is an ancient natural cave temple, while the Lakshmi Narasimha shrine is a structural temple partly carved into the rock face.
The temple has two main sanctums:
Sri Someswara Swamy – A self-manifested (Swayambhu) Shiva Linga inside a natural rock cave, facing east.
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy – A stone idol of Lord Narasimha seated with Goddess Lakshmi on his lap, facing west.
This east–west alignment signifies the cosmic balance between the energies of creation and preservation. Smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Vinayaka, Subrahmanya Swamy, Goddess Parvathi, and the Navagrahas are also found within the temple complex. Devotees worship both deities for peace, protection, health, and prosperity.
The Someswara cave temple is carved into the rocky slopes of Someswara Gutta. The sanctum lies deep inside a natural rock chamber where Sage Someshwara is said to have meditated. The Shivalinga rises directly from the bedrock, and the cool stone floor adds to the cave’s divine stillness. The low-ceilinged chamber opens into a small rock-cut mandapam supported by simple pillars. The walls display carvings of Nandi, Ganesha, and serpents, characteristic of Kakatiya-era craftsmanship.
The Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, located on the western side of the hill, is built partly against the rock face, blending cave and surface architecture. Both temples are connected by stone pathways and stairways. A small perennial spring called Someswara Theertham emerges near the cave entrance — its water never dries up and is believed to have healing powers. The entire hill is filled with natural rock formations and a peaceful vibration that enhances meditation and prayer.
Historical records and inscriptions link the temple to the Kakatiya rulers who encouraged both Shaiva and Vaishnava worship. The temple was first commissioned during Prola II’s reign (11th century CE) and later received generous donations from Rani Rudramadevi and Prataparudra Deva. It also flourished under local chiefs who maintained the shrines and performed regular rituals.
Palakurthi is also known as the birthplace of Saint-Poet Palkuriki Somanatha, a 12th-century philosopher and author of Basava Purana and Panditaradhya Charitra. He was a great devotee of Lord Someswara and is said to have meditated inside the same cave. His samadhi (memorial) lies near the temple hill, making Palakurthi an important center for devotees and scholars alike.
According to local legend, Sage Someshwara chose this very cave for his penance to Lord Shiva. For many years he meditated inside the dark, narrow chamber, surviving only on water dripping from the cave roof. When his devotion reached its peak, Lord Shiva appeared within the cave as a pillar of light and then manifested as a Swayambhu Linga from the rocky floor — thus forming the present cave shrine.
Later, when demons began disturbing the sages who lived in the surrounding forests, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lakshmi Narasimha on the western slope of the same hill to destroy them. Because both manifestations occurred on one sacred rock hill, the place became known as Someswara Narasimha Kshetram — the holy site where Shiva and Vishnu dwell together.
The alignment of the two shrines — Shiva’s cave facing east and Narasimha’s shrine facing west — signifies the eternal balance between the inward stillness of meditation (Shiva) and the outward power of protection (Narasimha).
The natural spring that flows near the cave, Someswara Theertham, is said to have originated from the point where Lord Shiva’s trident struck the rock to bless the sage. The water is believed to have sacred healing powers. Locals say that even today, no snake or wild creature harms any devotee who stays overnight on the hill.
Worshipping both Someswara Swamy and Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy here is believed to grant complete protection — removing past sins, calming planetary afflictions, and blessing devotees with health and prosperity.
