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Vemulavada
was the capital of Chalukyas, and being religious to the core, they
'built several Aalayas both in and out of the capital. In Vemulavada
itself there are more than a dozen of highly reputed Aalayas, for
all gods and goddesses, like Aalayas for Rajarajeswari, Nageswar,
Bhimeswar, Kedareswar, Venugopal, Nrisimha, Seethala, Kanakadurga,
Mahalakshmi etc. The pride of place is given to Rajarajeswaraalayam
and it was a great centre of Saivism in the past. And present too.
This
Aalayam is fairly a big one, and famous for its architectural
sculpture due to abundant royal patronage it enjoyed. On account of
the existence of a holy tank called Dharmagundam, it gained great
reputation. According to legend, Narendra, the grand son of Arjuna
killed a hermit by mistake during his hunting expedition. The sin of
Brahmahatya tortured him sorely. He could not rid of it, despite
visiting thirtha kshetras and performing several ritualistic worship
as enjoined by sastras. But, once by chance, he visited this Aalaya
and drank a handful of water thrice.
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