Actor Manchu Vishnu visits Kannappa’s birth place

This visit is part of the promotions for his upcoming pan-Indian film Kannappa, which is set to release worldwide on April 25.

Hyderabad: Actor Manchu Vishnu visited Utukur Village in Rajampet Mandal, Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. He visited Kannappa’s house and the Utukur Shiva Temple, where he offered special prayers.

This visit is part of the promotions for his upcoming pan-Indian film Kannappa, which is set to release worldwide on April 25. Vishnu plays the lead role as Kannappa. The film is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh.

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The star-studded cast includes Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, Kajal Aggarwal as Goddess Parvathi, Prabhas as Rudra, Mohanlal as Kirata, Mohan Babu as Mahadeva Shastri, Madhubala (Madhoo) as Pannaga, Sarathkumar as Nathanathudu and Brahmanandam as Pilaka. Preity Mukhundhan plays the female lead opposite Vishnu.

Who Was Kannappa?

Kannappa, also known as Thinnadu, was a hunter who became a saint. His devotion to Lord Shiva was unique.

One day, while hunting, he found a Shiva lingam in the forest. Without knowing rituals, he offered water from his mouth and meat from his hunts, believing it to be the best he had.

One day, he saw that the lingam’s eye was bleeding. To stop it, he plucked out his own eye and placed it on the lingam. When the second eye started bleeding, he prepared to sacrifice his other eye. To ensure he placed it correctly, he marked the spot with his foot.

Seeing his deep devotion, Lord Shiva appeared, stopped him, and restored his eyesight. Shiva then blessed Kannappa with salvation.

The Vayu Lingam he worshipped is what we currently worship at the Srikalahasteeswara Temple which is located in the town of Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh.