The temple is located on a small hillock. The presiding deity of this Keesaragutta temple is Lord Shiva.Legend says that Lord Sri Rama is the one who installed the Shivalingam at Keesara to expiate for the sin of killing the demon king Ravana, who was a Brahmin. To atone for His sin, Lord Sri Rama selected the hillock of Keesara and asked Lord Hanuman to bring a Shivalingam from Varanasi to install it in the hill of Keesara. Since Lord Hanuman was delayed in arriving with the Shivalingam at the appropriate time, Lord Shiva was said to have appeared before Lord Sri Rama and presented a Shivalingam by Himself for the installation. And hence the Shivalingam at this temple is called as Swayambhu (self-manifested) .After the installation of Shivalingam presented by Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman returned from Varanasi with 101 Shivlinga's for selection. And He felt distressed by seeing the installation.In anger , Lord Hanuman threw the 101 shivlinga's which he brought from Varanasi, all around the hillock.Even today there are various Shivalinga's found scattered around the temple.
Monkey's in the temple surrounding's
