Telangana360

Aggalayya Gutta: A Jain Heritage and Ayurvedic Center Aggalayya Gutta, located on Padmakshi Temple Road in Hanamakonda, Hanumakonda district, Telangana, India, is a site of significant historical and religious importance. It is recognized as a major Jain heritage site and was also a flourishing Ayurvedic medicine center during the 11th century. The hillock is being developed as a Jain Vanam under the HRIDAY scheme by the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA). Key Features and Jain Statuary The site is famous for its imposing Jain sculptures engraved on a massive boulder on the hillock. Tirthankar Shantinatha A striking 30-feet-tall statue of the 16th Jain Tirthankar, Shantinatha, is present. This statue is noted as the second tallest Tirthankara statue in South India, surpassed only by the Bahubali Tirthankara statue in Karnataka. Tirthankar Parshvanatha Also on the huge boulder stone is a 13-feet-tall statue of the 23rd Tirthankar, Parshvanatha. Mahavira A statue of the last Tir...

Name : Aggalayya (1034 AD - 1074 AD) Spouse : Vallikambe Born : c. 1000 AD  Died : c. 1080 AD Profession : Royal Physician (Ayurveda), Mahasamantha  Titles :  Vaidyaratnakara Pranacharya, M ahasamanta and Vaidyasikhamani  Religion : Jainism Inscriptions : Yadadri Bhuvanagiri ( Saidapur or Saidapuram) , Sangareddy (Sirur,  Singuru in  Narayankhed Mandal ) from 1034 AD to 1074 AD Aggalayya who is stated to have been specialist in Sastra (surgery) and Sastra (Science) and was capable of curing even the severe diseases that cannot be cured by other physicians. The records describe the proficiency of Aggalayya in Ayurveda with particular reference to his skill in Sastra-vaidya or treatment of diseases by surgical methods.   It is interesting to note that surgery in the system of Ayurveda was practised with efficiency in those days. Aggalayya is stated to be the royal physician. Aggalayya has not only been praised as an efficient physician or surgeon bu...

Gollatha Temple is a holy shrine for Jains located near Alvanpalli village, Jadcherla Mandal of Mahabubnagar District, Telangana State, India. Alvanpalli (Gollathagudi) village is located about 10 km from Jadcherlatown and nearly 30 km from the district headquarters of Mahabubnagar. It is well accessible by road.  According to the department of archaeology and museums, there are only two ancient structures in the country built of bricks. While one lies in total ruin at Gollatha Gullu in Alwanpally in Jadcherla, the other is the oldest Hindu temple built during the Gupta period located at Bhitargaon, Kanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. The Gollatha Gullu, near the is a unique temple and stands amid an empty space with a wall around it and a locked gate. Built entirely of bricks, this temple stands as a model for brick technology of the time, according to ancient texts. A familiar blue board lets us know that it is under the protection of the archaeology department, but it is obviousl...

Rock Cut Cave Temples of Adavi Somanapalli locally known as Nainag Gullu located in a forest and one needs to walk 4km from Thadicherla on the hillock of Adavi Somanapalli, Malhar Rao Mandal, located 22km away from Manthani in Bhupalapally district, Telangana State, India. Dates back to 5th - 6th century AD. To reach the caves, one has to trek through a jungle path from the Kataram–Manthani highway. These are a group of four rock-cut cave temples facing west on the banks of Manair river. Locally, these shivalayas are called Naina Gullu. Unfortunately, it is partially in ruins owing to the inferior quality of the rock stone and natural calamities. These rock-cut temples resemble the famous cave temples of Moghalrajpuram near Vijayawada constructed by the Vishnukundins. They were initially jain caves that were later converted into a Lord Shiva temple. The first two temples have an ‘Ardhamandapa’, the ornate gateway or open hall that leads into the ‘Garbhagriha’ or sanctum sanctorum. ...

Alvanpalli Jain Temple is located in Alvanpalli, (Gollathagudi) village, Jadcherla Mandal, Mahabub Nagar District, Telangana, India. It is a rare brick temple belonging to 7th – 8th Century A.D. It is the only brick temple of Jainism faith which retained architectural features and stucco decorations. The stucco figurines discovered in the excavations exhibit the continuation of the lime plastic Art of Amaravathi School. The temple has been a subject of study, due to its unique architectural elements, which is not that prominent in other Jain sites. The excavations nearby the settlement at Gollathagudiby the Archaeology team has brought to light many Jainism vestiges besides the remnants of a Hindu Temple, belonging to early medieval times. Jainism sculptures like Mahaveera, Parsvanatha and other objects found here, have been shifted to the District Museum, Pillalamarri, Mahabubnagar as well as the State Museum in Public Gardens, Hyderabad for preservation. The oldest Jain temple...

Deval Masjid located in Buswatarag Nagar, Bodhan, Nizamabad, as its name signifies  is a a Jain temple built during the 9th and 10th century by the Rashtrakuta king Indra III. It was later modified by the Kalyani Chalukya king Someswara. It was he, who named the temple as Indranarayana Swamy Temple. During the invasion by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq in the Deccan, this temple was converted into a mosque.  This is a star-shaped building which has undergone no alteration at the hands of conquerors except removal of star chamber and setting up of a pulpit. The roof has been embellished with domes which are a salient feature of Muslim architecture. Some inscriptions by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq can also be seen here. Confluence of cultures A new mosque is built adjacent to the old mosque, which is now used for prayers. Though it was great to see the place, the first look was rather disappointing as it was heavily littered and not well kept. Now that the new m...

Kulpakji or Kolanupaka Jain Temple is a old Jain Temple of Mahavira located in kolanupaka village (also called as Kulpak), Alair Mandal, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district in Telangana State, India. The 2nd century temple of Bhagwan Manikyaswamy, the first and foremost tirthankara out of the 24 tirthankaras of the Shwethamber Jain community, is also known as Rishabhdev or Adinath. The first Tirthankara in the Jain religion was Lord Rishabha, who is popularly known as Lord Adinath also. It is believed that original idol of Lord Adinath, locally known as Manikya Deva, made Kolanupaka its abode by itself. Besides the presiding deity or mulnayaka, Bhagwan Manikyaswamy, the architecturally beautiful ancient temple houses the precious jade idol of Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th and last tirthankara, Neminatha and other Tirthankara idols belonging to the Shwethambar sect of the Jains who maintain the temple. Jains believe that 15 visits to Kulpak Tirtha on full moon days and performing seva, tapa and j...

1080 - 1160 A.D : Polavasa Dynasty / Polasa chiefs / Lengonda Dynasty Capital : Polavasa (Current Polas, Jagitial District, Telangana State, India) Founder : Madhava Varma Language: Telugu Religion: Hinduism (Saivism and Vaishnavism), Jainism The Polavasa chiefs seem to have patronized Jainism besides Saivism The Polavasa chiefs were subordinates of the Western Chalukyas, but revolted against their overlords during the early 12th century. Descendants of Rashtrakutas and were based immediately north of the Kakatiya territories. The Polavasa Kingdom bordered river godavari and extended from Polavasa to Narsampet. Madhava varman upto 1080AD : Durgaraja 1080 - 1110 A.D : Medaraja - I Feudatory of  Vikramaditya VI (1076 - 1126 AD ) of Western Chalukyas of Kalyani Medaraja is referred to as Maninagapuradhiraja The 1082 CE Banajipet inscription states that Beta II gifted land and a house site to a Jaina temple established by Medarasa. Polavasa was a capital under the rule of Medaraja (108...