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This
is an ancient Aalaya with an exalted legend. The Sthalapurana
embodies the account that Sri Rama installed the Sivalinga here,
when he traveled back to Ayodhya after Ravana samhara. When he came
to this region, darkness descended, and then he decided to install a
Sivalinga here feeling that the Brahmahatya sin was following him
like shadow. Forthwith, he sent Hanuman to bring Linga from Kasi.
The rest of the story resembles that which took place at Rameswaram.
As this place confers mukti, it is called Muktirameswaram. According
to another legend, there was one woman by name Sramani doing penance
at the time of Sri Rama's descent on this land. She was rid of her
curse with a mere look of Srirama in a single kshana at it. So this
holy place was called kshana Mukteeswaraalayam. Lord Siva gave
darsan to Srirama and blessed him, and later coalesced into the
linga. The temple houses all the adorable deities, installed in
minishrines suitable to their stature and eminence.
This
linga bears the finger prints of Sri Rama on the top.This lies on
the bank of Penna river near Proddutur forming an integral part of
the town of Cuddappah district of Andhra Pradesh.
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