The story begins with King Somendrudu belonging to Chandravansh or Chandra Vamsam dynasty coming to southern part of India and making Nandavaram as the capital city. Many years later, Vuttanga Bhujudu son of Somendrudu became king after him and had built around 301 temples during his rule and ordered each temple to be looked after by one of the Brahmin family in his kingdom.

The king had two beautiful wives named Charumati and Chaturamati. Chaturamati, the elder queen was blessed with a cute baby boy named Nandana. One night Vuttunga Bhujudu got a vision, in which the future told him that his son Nandana will become Nandana Samrat Chakravarthy in the future. At the age of 16, One day Billa Nayakudu, Mallikarjuna Swamy Bhaktudu and Sabara Swamy Maha Veerudu came to the king Vuttanga Bhujudu and complained that Tigers and cruel forest animals were killing their domestic animals and causing damage to their paddy crops. After listening to them, King Vuttanga Bhujudu along with his son and queen, decided to go to Srisailam and reduce animal cruelty.

One day afternoon, Nandana alone went into the Srisailam forest for hunting and saw a Muni also named Nandana doing severe Tapas below a tree near Pathala Ganga. Muni gave Lord Dattatreya Mantropadesam to Nandana and praised him as the Chakravarthy and also foretold a new state will be built on your name and suddenly disappeared in front of him. Later, Nandana realized that the Muni he saw was is none other than Srisaila Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Nandana was later married to Shashirekha, the daughter of Panchala king. After Vuttanga Bhujudu decided to go for Vanaprasta, Nandana taken over full kingdom and was crowned as new Emperor. He built Lord Dattatreya Swamy temple and appointed a Purohit to perform the daily rituals. One night Lord Dattatreya appeared in a dream to the new Emperor who expressed a lot of desire to visit the holy Ganges River every morning.

Dattatreya Swamy informed that his Padukas will become visible by the side of his statue tomorrow and asked him to keep it in his Pooja room and keep this matter as a secret. Lord Dattatreya told Nandana to wear the Padukalu and visit any place he wished in his mind in no time. With the help of Padukalu, Nandana used to wake up at 4 'O' Clock in the morning, reach Kasi, bath, in the holy Ganga and return to his Kingdom before dawn and offer worship to Devi at Nandavaram. This was his daily practice.

Shashirekha becoming suspicious of his absence every day in the morning, questioned the king Nandana. The king revealed everything in detail. She having made up her mind to test the king compelled him to take her also with him. The king reluctantly accepted.

The next day he took Shashirekha to top of the palace and put on Padukalu and instantly they arrived at the Dashameda bathing ghat. The king explained how Divya Padukalu helped him reach these destinations quickly. After finishing the baths there comes a monthly for the king's wife. As a result, the shoes lose their strength.

As he was unable to return to his kingdom as usual, the King became restless and worried. While walking along the banks of Ganga being unable to find a solution, he saw a group of Brahmins performing Chandi Homa and went near them. The Brahmins, having learnt the reasons for his restlessness promised to pass on to the king one fourth of what they had acquired as punya by offering Arghya to Lord Surya every day at the appropriate time which would purify Rani and enable them to return to their kingdom. They asked the king what he would give them in return for their help. The king promised to give Jahagirs to them for purposes of their performing Dharmic deeds whenever they approached him. Thus the king got the power from the Brahmins and returned to his kingdom.

Some years later, Kashi was hit by a huge famine and the Kashi Veda Pandits decided to go to Nandavaram and seek the help of Nandudu. Instead of all 500 families going to Nandavarm, only 13 heads of Gothrams are selected to go and pursue with Nandana and get all the help he has promised to them earlier in Kasi. Nandana lied he is unaware of his earlier promise.

Peddibhattu from Kasi listened to the King answer in great patience and said in front of the Mantri in Sabha that Nandana had made this promise in front of Sri Chowdeshwari Devi Mata and we request her to come here and disclose the actual truth. King thought in his heart that if Mata comes here, then Nandavaram will also become a new Divya Kshetram.

Then Nandana Mantri ordered the Veda Pandits to bring Chowdeshwari Devi Mata as witness to Nandavarm and he will arrange the required purnahuti and mangala vadayams to welcome her. Then, four Pandits belonging to different Gothra's went to Kasi and prayed Chamundeswari Mata.

1. Brahmashri Avadhanam Peddibhattu - Srivatsa Gothram

2. Tharka Shastram Madhava Bhattu - Vasistasa Gothram

3. Puranam Shridhara Bhattu - Bharadwaja Gothram

4. Varthakam kamalanabha pandithudu - Harithasa Gothram

The Brahmins performed Homas, Poojas and worshiped Sri Chowdeshwari and requested her to come down to Nandavaram as the lonely witness for the king's promise. Finally Sri Chowdeshwari Devi appeared in front of them and said that she will follow in Tejo Roopam. So, they all started their journey and reached Nandavaram by early morning. The Pandits looked back with curiosity and immediately Mata turned into a Vigraham at that place.

Devi informed that she will stay here at Nandavarm and ordered 500 Brahmin families to stay along with her as Nandavarika Brahmins. Later, Nandana has built a beautiful temple for Chowdeswari Devi Mata who stayed here in Nandavaram as Swarna Vigrarupam. Since then, daily Poojas are performed with great devotion at this temple.

- Composed by Saketh Sibyala from Internet sources