The 11th Century Surgical Wizard of Telangana
The Saidapur Jaina Inscription (1034 CE)
Discovered on a three-sided pillar in Saidapur, Bhongir region (Nalgonda district, Telangana), this record from the reign of the Chalukya king Jagadekamalla I (Jayasimha II) provides the first epigraphic evidence specifically mentioning Sastra-Chikitsa (surgery) as a practiced branch of Ayurveda. Dated to June 4, 1034 AD, the inscription is unique in Indian epigraphy.
The inscription records grants of land and cash for the maintenance of Jaina temples: the Buddhasena Jinalaya in Mucchanapalli and the Vaidyaratnakara Jinalaya in Ikkuriki (the latter named after Aggalayya's own medical title). It also mentions contributions to the Jakabbeya and Rekabbeya basadis in Juvvipakavadi, which served as centres for preparing herbal, chemical-mineral, and herbal-mercurial medicines.
Master of Sastra (Surgery) and Sastra (Science)
Aggalayya was a specialist in both surgical methods (Sastra-vaidya) and the broader science of Ayurveda. The record explicitly states that he could cure diseases in their advanced stage (prakarsa) declared by other physicians as incurable. For this reason, his fame had spread to all regions.
King Jayasimha II, after learning of Aggalayya’s proficiency, conferred upon him the administrative rank of Mahasamanta and appointed him as Gavunda (headman) of the village Mucchanapalli. This demonstrates that persons of eminence in science were entrusted with high positions in the kingdom.
Jaina Faith and the Brahma Analogy
Aggalayya was a devout Jaina, always helpful to good people, devoted to teaching the art of surgery or Ayurveda to Jainas, and always ready to clear the doubts of other physicians. The inscription eulogizes him as verily the god Brahma himself or Brahma personified. This association is remarkable: Brahma is the deity par excellence for surgery mentioned in pro-Brahmanical Ayurvedic texts like the Sushruta Samhita. His incorporation into the Jaina tradition to glorify a surgeon shows the process of integration or appropriation of the Brahma cult into Jaina religious tradition, as the basic knowledge was taken from common texts like the Sushruta Samhita, which were universally used and not restricted to followers of the Brahmanical religion alone.
The Jaina Vaidya Sastra Tradition
Jaina philosopher and medical practitioner Samantabhadra founded a new school of medicine known as Samantabhadra sampradaya. This tradition was further developed by Pujyapada (5th–6th century CE), who authored texts like Nidanaratnavali, Vaidyakagrantha, Madanakamaratna, Ratnakaradyutasadha, Yogagrantha and Vaidyamrita. Ugraditya, another Jaina physician, composed Kalyanakaraka in two parts (20 and 5 chapters, 8000 verses), compiling previously known texts of Jaina Vaidya sastra, adding two new chapters named Rista and Hitahita.
Scholars of this school were against the use of animal substances and practiced complete non-violence. They abstained from animal substances for any cure and condemned non-vegetarian diet. Ugraditya gave a long discourse at the court of Amoghavarsa on the uselessness of flesh diet. He even did not prescribe honey (frequently used in Ayurveda), instead using jaggery to achieve the same results.
Administrative Framework and Places Mentioned
The royal decree was issued from the capital at Pottalakere (modern Patancheru, 26 km west of Hyderabad). The events fall within the Kollipaka-7000 province (headquarters Kollipaka, identified with modern Kulpak in Nalgonda district, a Jaina pilgrim centre). Aleru-40 is the numerical unit within that division (headquarters modern Aleru). Other villages: Ikkuriki (where Vaidyaratnakara Jinalaya was situated, modern Ikkuriki in Motakondur circle, Bhongir), Mucchanapalli, Juvvipakavadi, Tenkanamaddi, Buddhipaka, and Muppanapalli.
The inscription registers the gift of garden lands, house plots for residence, feeding the students and rishis, a flower garden, a residential place, certain measurement of black soil, and a water wheel donated to the Kajali(kasthana) attached to the two basadis. These functioned under the Vaidyaratnakara Jinalaya.
Royal Grants and Charitable Institutions
While king Someswara II (1068–1076 AD) was camping at Vankapura, mahasamanta and Vaidyasikhamani Aggalarasa made gifts of grandson lands for the maintenance of the feeding house (dhanasala). The gift was entrusted to Jaina preceptor Dharmasagara Siddhantadeva at the request of one Bahubali. Another record registers the gift of garden lands and house plots by Mahasamanta Aggalayya at the instance of his brother, placed in the custody of Dharmasagara Siddhantadeva of Sri Yapaniya samgha and Maduvagana. The donor himself was an ardent worshipper of Jaina Sasanadevi and Bahubali. Verses extol the heroic qualities of Aggalarasa and philanthropic qualities of his wife Vallikambe.
Centres for preparation of medicine (both herbal and chemical-mineral or herbal-mercurial) were attached to Jakabbe and Marakabbeya basadis, with lands separately granted in Buddhipaka along with Muppanapalli as devabhoga by the king.
Aggalayya Gutta: Jain Temple, Caves and Medical Heritage
Located in Hanamakonda, Padmakshi temple road, Hanumakonda district, Telangana, Aggalayya gutta was a Jaina ayurvedic medicine centre around the 11th century. The hillock is named after Aggalayya, who constructed a ‘Jinalaya’ that served as a research centre for teaching doctrines of religion, medicine, and surgery.
A sculpture of Aggalayya has also been found at Hanumankonda, the old capital city of the Kakatiyas. Like Buddhist monasteries had arogyasala for monks and extended services to the local people, Jaina medical practitioners also extended welfare services to society at large.
Uniqueness in Epigraphic Record
No epigraphic source of the period sheds light either on the proficiency or practice of surgery in Ayurvedic methods of treatment. Hitherto, several instances of general praise of the learning of Jaina teachers are found (grammar, lexicons, mathematics, erotics, astrology, law, music, rhetoric, philosophy, etc.), but no specific reference to Ayurvedic form of practice. For instance, a Saka 1024 record from Marol describes Jaina teacher Ananta viramuni’s knowledge of Vyakarana, Nighantu, Ganita, Vatsyayana, Jyothisha, Sakuna, Chhandas, Manu, Gandharva, Alamkara, Mahakavyanaka, Adhyamika, Arthasastra, Siddhanta and Pramanas. An 11th-century inscription from Sudi mentions Saiva teacher Somesvarapanditadeva’s mastery of Vaisesika, Nyaya, Samkhya, Sabdajnana and Mimamsa. Another from Mulgund mentions Jaina grammarians Narendrasena and Nyayasena proficient in Chandra, Katantra, Jainendra, Sabdanusasana of Saktayana, Paniniya, Aindra and Kaumara. Thus, the Saidapur inscription is the first recorded evidence that makes a reference to Ayurvedic sastra and sastra (surgery) as a branch of learning.
Unfortunately, this inscription sheds no light on Aggalayya's native place, his parentage, family, or the habitat of his ancestors. It is the first Jinakasana of king Jagadekamalla I found in these parts of the Chalukyan empire.
Chronological Range of Inscriptions (1034 AD – 1074 AD)
Aggalayya's active period is documented from 1034 AD (Saidapur inscription under Jagadekamalla I) to 1074 AD (records from Sangareddy district, Sirur / Singuru in Narayankhed Mandal). During the reign of Someswara II (1068-1076 AD), while the king was camping at Vankapura, Aggalarasa (Aggalayya) continued to make gifts for feeding houses and Jaina institutions.
Complete Summary of Historical Findings
- First epigraphic evidence of Sastra-Chikitsa (surgery) as a branch of Ayurveda – 1034 AD, Saidapur.
- Aggalayya was a specialist in surgery and cured diseases that other physicians called incurable (asakya byadhepi).
- He held titles: Vaidyaratnakara, Pranacharya, Naravaidya, Vaidyasikhamani, Mahasamanta.
- King Jagadekamalla I (Jayasimha II) was stunned by his surgical expertise and made him Mahasamanta and Gavunda.
- The inscription records the Buddhasena Jinalaya (Mucchanapalli) and Vaidyaratnakara Jinalaya (Ikkuriki) – the latter named after Aggalayya.
- Grants were made to Jakabbeya and Rekabbeya basadis in Juvvipakavadi, which were medical preparation centres.
- Aggalayya is equated with Brahma, showing integration of Brahmanical surgical deity into Jaina tradition.
- Jaina medical school (Samantabhadra sampradaya, Pujyapada, Ugraditya) rejected animal products and honey, using jaggery instead.
- Aggalayya was a devout Jaina (Yapaniya sangha, Maduvagana), worshipper of Jaina Sasanadevi and Bahubali.
- His wife Vallikambe was praised for philanthropic qualities.
- Administrative units: Pottalakere (Patancheru, capital), Kollipaka-7000 (Kulpak), Aleru-40, Ikkuriki, Mucchanapalli, Juvvipakavadi, Tenkanamaddi, Buddhipaka, Muppanapalli.
- A flower garden, residential place, black soil, and a water wheel were donated to the Kajalikasthana.
- Aggalayya gutta in Hanumakonda contains a 30-feet Shantinatha statue (second tallest Tirthankara statue in South India), 13-feet Parshvanatha, and Mahavira cave statue.
- The hillock was a Jaina ayurvedic medicine centre and research centre for surgery and religion.
- A sculpture of Aggalayya found at Hanumankonda, old Kakatiya capital.
- The site was developed under HRIDAY scheme by KUDA in 2017.
- No other inscription of this period mentions surgery; the Saidapur record is unique.
- The merit of saving a critical patient by surgery was shared between the physician and the king.
- Aggalayya was always ready to teach Jainas and clear doubts of other physicians.
Epigraphia Telanganica Volume 1: Pre-Kakatiya Telangana.
Majumdar, Susmita Basu. “AGGALYYA – A 11th CENTURY JAIN SURGEON.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 73, 2012, pp. 175–79. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44156204.
Saidapur Jaina Inscription of Jagadekamalla I, Saka 956 by Dr. G. Jawaharlal.
Field reports: Aggalayya gutta Jain Temple and Caves, Hanumakonda, Telangana. HRIDAY scheme, KUDA (Kakatiya Urban Development Authority) 2017.
Inscriptions from Yadadri Bhuvanagiri (Saidapur / Saidapuram) and Sangareddy (Sirur, Singuru, Narayankhed Mandal), 1034 AD to 1074 AD.