Located 21 kilometres southeast of Tirupati, the ancient Gudimallam Parasurameswara Swamy Temple dates back to the second century CE. Having witnessed the era of the Cholas and preserved rustic folk traditions for thousands of years, Gudimallam remains a hidden gem. Yet, despite lying so close to the world‑famous temple city of Tirupati—which draws millions of devotees—the shrine has often gone unnoticed, largely due to its remote and less accessible location.

Today, the temple is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is officially recognised as the “first Siva temple in India.” Its Siva Linga is remarkable for its unique iconography, depicting a near‑perfect representation of an erect male organ (Urdhvaretah). Carved from dark brown igneous rock, the Linga stands 1.60 meters tall and is distinguished by its strikingly glossy surface. When it was first installed, there was no formal temple structure; instead, this hypaethral (open‑to‑sky) shrine was seamlessly integrated into the surrounding settlement.