Khajaguda in modern-day Hyderabad, glowing with IT companies and skyscrapers, was once a small village filled with dense agricultural fields. This history dates back to the era of the Nizams and Razakars.

Even during those difficult times, all the farmers of that village united, protecting about 300 acres of land and farming together in harmony.

About 120 years ago, a miracle happened while they were ploughing the field. The plough struck something, and Swayambhu (self-manifested) stone idols emerged from the earth — the divine idols of Goddess Ammavaru and Lord Mallanna Swamy.

When the villagers were unsure what to do, the Lord Himself possessed a devotee named Anthayya and commanded: “I have manifested in your field. Build a temple and worship Me right here.”

Following the Lord’s divine instruction, the farmers built a small temple. Since then, Lord Mallanna has been worshipped as Khandoba in the Maharashtrian tradition.

In 2017, the Lord appeared in dreams and instructed the descendants to rebuild the temple. A magnificent 108 kg Marakatha Lingam (Emerald Lingam) was brought from Jaipur and consecrated. The sanctum was built with pure white marble.

Today, this Sri Ketaki Bhramaramba Sametha Marakatha Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple stands as a grand spiritual center in the heart of Hyderabad’s IT corridor, with a rare Emerald Sri Chakra and an 8-foot anthill believed to be the abode of Lord Nagendra Swamy.