Gudimallam

Among all the temples which surround Tirupati, the least known Gudimallam is also one of the most fascinating. Gudimallam, located just 30 km from the temple town, is one of the most ancient Shiva temples in India. The lingam here is believed to the longest continuously worshipped lingam in the world and is said to be over 2200 years old.
The temple is picturesquely located on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River, and the deity here is unique, a 1.35 M, seven-sided monolithic lingam. The front plane has the figure of Parasurama standing on the crouching figure of a Yaksha. It rests on a base of seven concentric rings, or peethams, only two of which are visible above the surface. The lingam is believed to be a manifestation of the trinity―Brahma at the bottom, Vishnu in the middle, and Shiva on top, and the story behind it is just as interesting.

It is said that Parasurama, having killed his mother at the behest of his father, wanted to atone for his sin. A sage advised him to perform penance on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River, and he chose this sacred spot for the purpose. Each day, a lone flower would bloom in the river, which the sage would offer to the lord. Once Lord Brahma decided to test him, and arrived in the form of a dwarf, offering his help, to which Parasurama agreed. The dwarf aided him with his prayers but tried to find a way to test the sage. At last he hit upon an idea and plucked and threw off the single flower in the river before the sage could use it for his prayers. For the first few days, the sage thought that the flower had simply failed to bloom, but then he suspected his aide, lay in wait for him, and caught him in the act of plucking the flower. His anger aroused, he chased the dwarf, brandishing the axe. Brahma, realising that the joke had gone too far, called out to Shiva, who appeared and pacified Parasurama. He told him that his penance had borne fruit the minute Brahma had plucked the first flower from the river, and that he need not carry his guilt any longer. Further, he blessed them by merging them with the lingam, Brahma crouching down as the dwarf and Vishnu as Parasurama on his shoulders, holding his axe and a ram’s head. Such is the story of this unique temple!
There is an atmosphere of spirituality which pervades this temple, even in the absence of priests or devotees. After the crowd at Tirumala, a visit to this temple can be an uplifting spiritual experience!

Additional information: Gudimallam is located on a diversion from the Tiruchanur Road, at a distance of about 31 km from Tirupati and 18 km from Renigunta. Buses are available from Tirupati Bus Stand, but there are only a few buses travelling on this route. You can hire an auto for a round trip from the bus stand.