Poodoor - Kesavaswamy Aalayam

The historical name of this place was, Pundrapura and it was ruled by King Chandi-aketu. Gangapura Mahatmya extols its past grandeur, but the certainty of the period eludes grip. Another evidence attributes to its ruler Jaya lakshmipathi Rayadu, but here also the date is left to conjecture. In the ninth century it was under the hegemony of western Chalukyas and it was then a great Jain kshetra. A funny incident is related about the enemy, Adirajendra of Chalukyan Prince Someswar, who after razing the capital and leveling it to the ground level ploughed it with donkeys to sowing parantaka seeds. An act abominable! The next awful incident was, the invasion of it by Virasaivas, who converted the famous Jain Parswanatha mandir into Virabhadralayam. Some pieces of evidence testify to this ruthless act.

Later during the rule of Somanadri, he made many changes and built places of worship. Among them, the building of Kesavalayam merits first mention. On finding the beautiful icon of Kesavaswamy, while ploughing the land near the entrance of the present temple, he built a decent temple for Kesava, his Kuladaivam and endowed lands etc. for its maintenance. Agamic worship is offered in the temple and people are visiting in large number. Periodical festivals are celebrated with due devotional zeal. 

It lies 10 km off Gadwal of Andhra 13-adesh and enjoys all transport facilities.

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