Telangana360

The 18 Communities of Medieval Telangana Ashtadasa-praja · Ashtadasa-varna · Ashtadasa-samaya The "18 communities" were a collective socio-political and fiscal body in medieval Telangana villages that made joint decisions regarding local taxation and religious endowments. While many inscriptions mention them as a unified group, the most comprehensive breakdown of these specific communities is found in the Kandukuru inscription (A.D. 1316) and is supplemented by records from Nagulapadu (1303) , Matedu (1310) , Mellacheruvu (1312) , and Tekmal (1308) . Inscriptions like those at Nagulapadu and Mellacheruvu demonstrate that these communities acted as a unified political and fiscal body , obtaining the king's permission to divert a portion of their professional taxes (such as the mada-badi or siddhaya ) to endow local temples for spiritual merit. ✦ The 18 Communities Based on the detailed tax schedules and service roles recorded in the...

🪙 The many coins of medieval Telangana A journey from Punch-Marked coins to the Osmania Sicca Based on Epigraphia Telanganica & Telangana History (9th–20th Century) 📜 Executive Summary: 2,600 Years of Money The monetary history of Telangana is a journey from metal weight to sovereign trust . It began with simple silver punch-marked coins, evolved into a sophisticated multi-metal system under the Satavahanas and Kakatiyas—anchored by the remarkable Gunja seed weight standard —and culminated in the modern Rupee introduced by Sher Shah Suri and refined by the Nizams. Ancient (700 BCE–200 BCE) Punch-Marked Coins Silver Karshapana & Satavahana Silver, Copper, Bronze, Lead and Potin (Silver and Copper) coins. Early Medieval (300–1000 CE) Vishnukundina & Chalukya Dramma . Imperial (1000–1323 CE) Kakatiya Gold Mada...

📜 Measuring Telangana How Land, Grain, Weight & Money Were Measured Across Dynasties (Vishnukundin → Asaf Jahi) ⏳ Timeline Covered: Vishnukundin (4th–6th c.) → Western Chalukya (6th–8th c.) → Rashtrakuta (8th–10th c.) → Kalyana Chalukya (10th–12th c.) → Kakatiya (12th–14th c.) → Qutb Shahi (16th–17th c.) → Asaf Jahi (18th–20th c.) 🌱 The Tiny Seed That Weighed Gold: The Gunja (Abrus precatorius) Before coins were stamped, before scales were standardized — there was the Gunja seed (also called Rati ). What is it? A bright red seed with a black dot, harvested from a native climber in Telangana's scrub forests. Its remarkable property: every seed weighs almost exactly the same — about 0.11 grams . How was it used? For over 1,500 years, jewelers and kings used Gunja seeds as natural weights. If a gold coin weighed 40 Gunja seeds, everyone knew how heavy it should be — no scales needed. The Foundation of Everything: ...

⚱️ Temples, Tanks & Poets The Vibrant Culture of Medieval Telangana Reconstructed from inscriptions • 9th–13th century CE The culture of medieval Telangana, as reconstructed from the inscriptions in the sources, was characterized by a sophisticated synthesis of religious pluralism, advanced engineering, and a vibrant literary tradition that spanned across linguistic boundaries. Cultural life revolved around the temple and the tank , which served as the primary centers for social, economic, and religious activity. 🕉️ Religious Pluralism & Transformation The sources document a diverse religious landscape where Jainism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism coexisted, often within the same administrative divisions . ✦ Jain heritage Locations like Bodhan (Paudanapura) and Kolanupaka were major Jain centers . Inscriptions record the death of teachers through samadhi and the cons...

🌊 All Telangana Rivers & Streams As recorded in Epigraphia Telanganica The four volumes of Epigraphia Telanganica reveal a rich hydrography of medieval Telangana. Rivers and streams were not mere geographical features — they defined political boundaries, enabled irrigation ( nadi-matrika ), became sacred pilgrimage sites ( tirthas ), and anchored royal inscriptions. Below is a comprehensive list drawn from copper plates and stone records. 1. Major River Systems Godavari (Gautami) – Called Gautami in inscriptions. Religious centers like Mantrakuta (Manthani) and Kalesvaram flourished on its banks. It marked the northern boundary of the Kakatiya kingdom and the Vishnukundin territory. Settlements such as Kundavaram and Vilasa were founded here. Krishna (Krishnaveni / Perdore) – Also known as Perdore (“Big River”). Sacred sites: Somasila, Alampur, Mattapalli. Records mention free ferries for pilgrims at crossings like Jatararevu, arranged by high-rank...