Bommalagutta

945 AD : The Bommalagutta hillock, also known as Bommalamma Talli gutta (Vrishabhadri hill) built in 945 AD during Vemulwada Chalukya king Arikesari-II period is an ancient Jain pilgrimage flourished about mid 10th century AD.

This place is situated near Kurikyal village,Gangadhara mandal in Karimnagar District of Modern Telangana state, India. 

This place is about 18 kms from Karimnagar District headquarter in North West direction. The rock inscription underneath the Goddess Chakreshwari proclames the glory of Jainism and Adi kavi Pampa.


There is no approach road to reach the 200-mt high hillock. One has to sweat it out to climb up as there are no steps, an experience which will certainly be nightmarish. Tourists need to creep through the gaps of gigantic rocks, in order to have darshan of the Jain deities, which are carved out in 945 A.D.

This place contains natural caverns with some sculptures of Nirgantha Jinas and its subordinate goddess Chakreshwari. There are about 8 Jina figures in Kayotsarga posture on either side of Yakshi Chakreshwari. Goddess Chakreshwari is depicted as subordinate deity of first Savior Rishabha. 

Goddess Chakreshwari is depicted with eight arms containing different objects. Identification of Yakshi at this place was very tedious work because Eight Arms Chakreshwari is generally not depicted with eight hands but inscription underneath the Yakshi Image reveal the truth. Goddess Chakreshwari is depicted here with her vehicle Garuda. Two Kayotsarga Jina sculptures were carved just above the Yakshi Chakreshwari.The Teerthankara duo is canopied by triple umbrellas over the head. Yakshi chakreshwari is flanked by two whisk bearers on either side.

The chalukyas of Vemulvada patronized Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu. Adi Kavi Pampa was court poet of Arikesari II. 

The Chalukya King of Vemulawada, Arikesari-II asks Pampa to write an epic to immortalize him. Pampa takes up the work with utmost earnestness. Within one year, he creates Kannada’s greatest epic ‘Vikramarjuna Vijaya aka ‘Pampa Bharatha. Arikesari-II is greatly pleased with the work of Pampa. He bestows him with an honorific ‘Kavithagunarnava’ and also gifts him with an agrahara called Dharmapura.

Adi kavi pampa’s ancestors belonged to Kamme Brahman caste and devout to Jainism. His father’s name was Bhimappayya according to the inscription. They were hailed from angiparru in Vengi Nadu. Pampa who also renowned as Adikavi composed Vikramarjuna Vijayam and Somdevasuri composed Yasatilaka champu. 

Pampa had a younger brother named Jinavallabha. He installs the idols of Chakreshwari and other Jain deities on a hill called Vrishabhadri, north of Dharmpura. He builds a Basadi named Tribhuvana Tilaka and also creates a garden called Madanavilasa. At the bottom of the hill he constructs a lake and names it ‘Kavithagunarnava’ as a tribute to his brother. Finally he inscribes all what he has done on a rock below the idol of Chakreshwari.

This inscription is of utmost importance to Kannada and Telugu languages. It is written in three languages viz Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit. The Kannada portion contains invaluable information about Pampa. The Telugu portion is the oldest Telugu Kanda Padya. They are one of the important historical evidences, submitted to the Centre, for securing classic language status to Telugu.

The hill Vrishabhadri is now called Bommalamma Gutta. Dharmapura, Madanavilasa and Tribhuvana Tilaka have vanished. Kavithagunarnava is unrecognizable. But the idols of Chakreswari, now being called Seethamma, and other Jain deities are still there. Below the idol of Chakreswari the rock inscription remains proudly proclaiming the glory of Pampa.

http://www.jainglory.com/research/bommalagutta

http://pvr59ksl.blogspot.com

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140926/nation-current-affairs/article/bommalagutta-cries-attention

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Karimnagar

Rivers

The mighty river Godavari, originating in the Western Ghats divides the district of Nizamabad and Karimnagar to the south and Adilabad to the north. The region, lying in between Lat. 18.00 and 19.45 and Long. 77.32 and 80.30, is surrounded by Bidar, Nanded, Rajura, Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra and Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh.

The river Maner is a tributary to the Godavari, originating near the village Kalkur, traverses through the Karimnagar district from the west to the east and as far as Kurlagunta in Mantheni taluk, then flow towards the north and falls into the Godavari in Mantheni taluk. It stretches to a length of about 130km. in the Karimnagar district and forms an important source of irrigation. Peddavagu and Chinnavagu are the other minor rivers in the Karimnagar District. 

Geology

The Karimnagar region forms part of the Indian Peninsular shield, which remained a stable land-mass since the formation of the earth-crust. The earliest rocks, known as Archaeans, are mostly igneous and highly metamorphosed. The area was later exposed to weathering, after which molten lava, erupting from the fissures, flowed in the west coast and spread over the western and as well the central parts of the Peninsula. The solidified lava flows are known as the traps. For the last 50 million years there was no significant change in the geological history of the region. 

The Archaeans 

The major part of the region is occupied by the Archaean group of rocks, such as the the peninsular granite complex, banded ferruginous quartzites, drakes of dolerite and lastly veins of pegmatite and quartz. The peninsular granite comprises the pink and grey varieties, the colour of which depends upon the feldspars contained in them. The granites are essentially composed of quartz, potash, feldspar (pink or grey), mica and hornblende minerals.

Numerous dykes of dolerite and veins of pegmatite and quartz traverse through the granites in different directions. The hornblendic granite gneiss of this region weathers in a remarkable manner. Enormous rounded and smoothed boulders stand one over the other and sometimes in the groups. The banded ferruginous quartzites and schists generally known as dharwars, are well displayed as outlying bands in the further east of Karimnagar and Warangal districts.  They consists of hornbeldes, talc, chloride and mica schists, quartzites ferruginous-quartzites.

The Deccan Traps

The deccan traps consists of massive or vascular flows of basalt which have given rise to flat-topped hills with plateau-like appearance.

The granite complex is marked by igneous sedimentary groups. The igneous metamorphosed rocks occur as sills and dykes. 

The minerals in the basalt are feldspars and pyroxenes which occur roughly in equal amounts. The intertrappean beds consist of marls, sandstones and cherts which are sometimes fossiliferous.

MINERAL RESOURCES 

Iron Ore 

There are many occurrences of magnetitic quartz rock in the Jagityal taluk of Karimnagar district. 3 Minor deposits also occur in the Karimnagar, Peddapalli and Manthani taluks. In the Armur taluk of Nizamabad district ferruginous quartzites and schists are noticed at many places- Ancient mining activity for iron is noticed at several places in the Armur taluk of Nizamabad district, the Peddapalli and Jagtyal taluks in Karimnagar district, the Jangoan taluk in Warangal district and Siddipet in the Medak district. It was perhaps the ores of Karimnagar and Nizamabad regions, which were supplied to the ancient iron smelter at Konasamudram, where from iron for the Damascus steel is said to have been exported. During their voyages this region was visited by the earlier Roman and Persian traders for the steel, as this Indian 'Wootz' was well-known throughout the Ancient East. 

Soap-stone 

Small workable pockets of soap-stone occur at Turakala Maddikunta at about 10 km. from Peddabankur and Paltham and Metpalli areas of the Jagtyal taluk. Limestone is abundant at Basantnagar near Ramagundam. 

Rainfall 

The average rainfall in the region is 1035 millimetres (40.70 in). The rainfall increases from the east towards the west and the south-west monsoon constitutes about 86 per cent of the annual rainfall. July is the rainiest month.

Temperature 

Rapid rise in temperature is noticed from February, while May is the hottest month with mean daily maximum temperature of 41.4 C. (106.5 F.) and the mean daily minimum of 27.5 C. The intense heat during the summer is very trying and the day temperature rises up to 46C. (114.8F.). Among the hilly regions of Manthani and Laxettipet the temperature is much higher and the valleys appear like hot pans. 

Forests 

The forests in the region can be classified into 2 types viz., (1) southern tropical mixed deciduous and (2) southern dry teak type.

Several other types like Babul forest, Hard Wickia forest, Dry Deciduous Scrub forest, and Secondary Dry Deciduous forest are also found scattered in this region. 

The Mahadevpuram forest area, noticed all along the bank of river Godavari can easily be classed as the best for the quality of trees with a dominant height of 18 to 24 m. and a girth measure of 1.5 m. The most important and the best teak (teetonagmmiis) producing areas of the state of Telangana fall in Karimnagar region. 

Fauna 

The fauna of Karimnagar region is both rich and varied, A large variety of wild life is found in the forests of this region, The ecological distribution is not only uniform but also very much variant and consistent with the quality and density of the forest. The game animals, such as deer and other horned varieties, are noticed in the Manthani area, Some of the species, such as the black buck, four-horned antelope, tiger and panther, were abundant in the past, but their number is alarmingly decreasing in the recent years, causing consternation among the ecologists and naturalists. The black buck and the great Indian bison were very abundant in the past, while the neelgai or blue bull, spotted deer, porcupine, rabbit, hare, chital, wild sheep, sambar are quite common now. Among the carnivora, the tiger and panther are noticed in the Tadicherla, Mahadevpur and Singaram blocks. 

Game Birds 

Among the important game birds in the region, mention may be made of the green pigeon, peacock, peafowl, water duck, partridges, sand-goose, wood-duck, snipe, red jungle fowl, kingfisher, bulbul, dove, crow, rayna, oriole, parakeet, woodpecker and the common pigeon, In winter season many birds of migration from North India and Himalayan regions visit this area.

The Proto And Early Historical Cultures Of A.P

by V.V.Krishna Sastry

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Malyala Chiefs

Founder : Danna Senani
Forts : Sankisapura (Dornakal, Khammam), Malyala, Kondaparthi, Vardhamanapuram (Mahabubnagar)

Durjaya

1076 AD - 1120 AD : Danna Senani
Capital : Sankisapura (Khammam)
Stated to be lord of the town Malyala.
General of Beta II (1076 - 1108) to Prola II (1116 - 1157) in Polavasa, Manthrakutamu and Kandur battles.

He has 2 sons Danna ruling from Sankisapura (Khammama) and Bachavarudhini who was ruling from Vardhamanapura (Mahabubnagar).

Sankisapura (Khammam) Branch

Sabba Senani son of Danna Senani
Capital : Sankisapura
Wife : Aachamma

1181 AD : Kata Senani Son of Sabba Senani
Capital : Sankisapura
General of Kakatiya Rudra Deva (1158 - 1195) took active part in capturing Dharanikota.

1181 AD : Defeated Rajendra Choda II (1161–1181) of Velanati Chodas.

Built Trikutesvaralyam

Potha Senani Son of Kata Senani
Capital : Sankisapuram
General of Prataparudra, Mahadeva & Ganapati Deva

1195 AD - 1203 AD : Chaunda Senani Son of Kata Senani

Lived in Kondaparthi near Orugallu as a general of army protecting the Fort.
Built Chaundeshwaralaya Temple.
Wife : Mailamma (Viriyala Family)
Married the only daughter of Viriyala Annaya and Aitama.
General of Prataparudra, Mahadeva & Ganapati Deva.

The Kakatiyas launched a military campaign into the Krishna delta region in 1201, with an army commanded by Malyala Chaunda.

Maillamma issued Katkur (Karimnagar) inscription in 1202 AD, which explains both Malyala and Viryala families.

Chaunda issued Kondaparti (Warangal) inscription in 1203 AD.

As a commander-in-chief of Kakatiya armies, gets the credit for Subjugating coastal Andhra, particularly defeating prithvisara, Velanati Chief.

Vardhamanapura (Mahabubnagar) Branch

Bachavarudhini son of Danna
Capital : Budapura
Wife : Bachamba

1245 AD - 1276 AD: Malyala Gunda Senani son of Bachavarudhini

Capital : Budapura, Vardhamanpura
Wife : Kuppambika (younger sister of Gona Ganna Reddy)
General of Ganapatideva, Rudramdevi

18th August, A.D. 1259. : Bothpur
The very beautiful celestial creeper of Kuppambika, born in the great milky ocean of the Gona dynasty, an eternal ornament to the forest of Malayala dynasty, (and one who was) honoured by the learned men (the gods), bears fruit along with him.

10th August, A.D. 1271 : Bothpur, Mahaboobnagar District. 

This inscription is on a stone pillar in the Masjid. Dated S. 1194. Amgirasa, Sravana su. 15, Wednesday, Lunar eclipse (A.D. 1217, a. 10). Records the construction of a tank after the name of his master Ganapatideva by Malayala Gunda and the gift of some Vrttis behind it to Brahmans who performed religious ceremonies. Among the donees several learned brahmins including a certain Tarani ganti Isvarabhattopadhayaulu are mentioned. He is probably identical with the poet Isvarasuri son of Mayuraraya the composer of the inscription who is said to have been proficient in Paninian grammar and Vichitra-kavita. The inscription was composed by Isvara Suri, son of Mayuraraya.

1272 AD : Bothpur

This inscription was composed by the famous Isvara-suri or Isvara-bhattopadhyaya, son of Mayuaraya who was well versed in citra-kavitva,Panini`s grammar and Yajur-veda including its pada order. There is a Padma-bandha in this inscription which refers to the scribe as Viraya-suri, and gives his father`s name as Acaya.

1276 AD : Budapuram, Vardamana Puram are the centres for Malyala Kings who were the Feudatories of Kakatiyas. These kings helped to Kakatiyas in many wars during the period of Ganapathi Deva, Rudramadevi and Prataparudra. Malyala Kappambhika, wife of Gunda Dandadeswara constructed a temple at Budapuram (Bhoothpur) in 1276 A.D.

Buddapuram (Present Bhoothpur) and Vardhamana Puram (Nandi Vaddeman,Near Bijinapalle) are the centers for Malyala Kings. These kings helped to Kakatiyas in many wars during the period of Ganapathi Deva, Rudrama Devi and Prataparudra. After Malyala Gundanna's death, His wife, Malyala Kappambhika constructed a temple known as Budddeshwaralayam at Bhoothpur.

Bachaya Boppana

Ganapthai Deva

Parvtaha Mallu

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Vemulawada Chalukyas

753 AD - 973 AD : This dynasty was a branch of the Chalukyas of Badami ruled Telanagan region as Rashtrakuta Vassals came to power defeating Badami Chalukyas
Founder : Vinayaditya Yudhamalla I
Capitals : Bodhan (Nizamabad / Podananadu region)
Gangadhara, Vemulawada (Karimnagar / Sabbinadu region).

One peculiarity with this family is that it traced its descent from the Sun, while many other Chaiukya families considered themselvet as of lunar descent.

Tradition associates Vemulawada with poet Bhima Kavi but the famous kannada poet Pampa lived here as the court poet of Arikesari II and dedicated his famous work Bharata or Vikramarjuna Vijaya to him.

Vemulawada Chalukyas history is defined by 3 inscriptions, Kollpara copper plates of Arikesari I, Vemulavada rock inscription of Arikesari II and the Parbhan copper plates of Arikesari III.

According to the kollipara inscription of Arikesari-I Satyasraya Ranavikrama was the founder of vemulawada chalukya dynasty

c.641 - c.660 AD : Satyasraya Ranavikrama
Ruled from Bodhan (Nizamabad) as Capital was in service of Pulikesi II.

c.660 - c.695 AD : Prithvipati

c.700 - c.725 AD : Maharaja

c.725 - c.750 AD : Rajaditya

c.750 - c.775 : Vinayaditya Yudhamalla I (Rajasraya)
Ruled from Bodhan (Nizamabad) as Capital.
Sub-ordinate ruler of Rashtrakutas.
Vinayaditya Yuddhamalla was the real founder and first celebrated king of Vemulawada Chalukya dynasty.

Yudhamalla and Rashtrakuta Dantudurga planned and carried out the overthrow of Kirtivarman II, the last Chalukya ruler of Badami in 753 AD.

Of Yudhamala I we get vert exaggerated eulogy from Kollipara plates issues by his son; he is compared to Rama in valour and described as visvarat (universal emperor); he is said to have subjugated the whole world with the aid of the boar-crest obtained by the royal family as a boon from Lord Narayan, and among the kings who bowed at his feet are counted those of Turushka, Yavana, Barbara, Kasmira, Kambhoja, Magada, Malava, Kalinga, Ganaga, Pallava, Panda, Kerala and others.

In refreshing contrast to it from later inscriptions and pampa that he ruled Sapadalaska country and his suzerainty was acknowleged by many feudatories. He made artificial tanks of brick and mortar in Podana, filled with oil for the daily bathing of 500 elephants. He captured the natutal fortress of Chitrakuta.

c.775 - c.800 AD : Arikesari I
Ruled from Vemulawada.

Arikesari-I changed the capital from Bodhan to Vemulawada
Captured and ruled Vengi together with Trikalinga by the strength of his arm. Pampa says that this happened in the reign of Nirupama / Dhruva.

During a civil war of Rashtrakutas, Dhruva(AD 780-93) attacked Vishnuvardhana IV (772 - 808) of Vengi to punish him for his part in aiding Govinda II (774 - 780). Arikesari aided Dhruva greatly and was duly rewarded. We may assume that parts of Telangana definitely changed hands as a result of Arikesari's campaign. It is quite probable that after this Vemulawada became seat of their power.

Kuruvagatta Inscription, Nagar-Kurnool
Language : Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada.
This short epigraph, consisting of a Sanskrit verse and a Kannada prose passage is inscribed in the archaic Telugu-Kannada characters about the beginning of the ninth century A.D. ; it is engraved on a stone in front of the image of Chaudamba, sculptured on a stone between two boulders on a hillock on the bank of the stream Minamba, opposite to the village of Kuruvagatta in the Nagar-Kurnool taluk of the Mahboobnagar district of the Hyderabad State. There is a ruined Siva shrine near the image of Chaudamba. The image as well as the inscription in front of it is probably connected with it. The inscription does not, however, mention either the Shiva temple or the image of Chaudamba. It simply records the exploits of prince V(B)iragriha, son of Vinayaditya of the Chalukya family and states that V(B)iragriha was a good friend of K(G)ovinda-Vallabha, son of Kalivallabha of the Rashtrakuta family. Kalivallabha is a well-known title of the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva (A.D. 780-793); and K(G)ovinda-Vallabha is obviously his son, Govinda III (A.D. 793-814).

c.800 - c.825 AD: Narasimha I

c.825 - c.850 AD: Yudhamalla II

c.850 - c.895 AD: Baddega I

Pampa says that Baddega was victorious in 42 battles and earned title solada-ganda (the soldier who knew no defeat).

He constructed a temple of Baddagesvara which is identified with the Bhimeswara temple at Vemulawada.
Baddega suffered defeat at least once at the hands of Gunuga Vijayadiya (849 - 892).
Both Pamapa and the Parbhani plates say that he captured Chalukya Bhima I (892 -921)in the war that took place near the water fort of Kunala(Kolleru) in the Vengi area, who ascended the throne of Vengi after the death of his uncle Gunaga Vijayaditya III in 892. Bhima effected his escape from captivity with the aid of Kusumayudha of Mudigonda Chalukyas.

Baddega's political influences was felt as Bastar where the ancient Chatrakuta mandala was situated.

Vemulawada, Karimnagar District.
This Telugu inscription is on a pedestal of a Jaina image kept in the Rajeshwara temple. The inscription records the construction of Subhadhama Jinalaya by the king Baddega of the Chalukya lineage and the lord of Sapadalaksha ‘one and a quarter lakh’ region for the favour of the scholar Somadeva, the head of Gauda-sangha. Yuddhamalla’s name is also indistinctlyseen. The donee is identical with the author of Yasastilaka champu, a Sanskrit work of the mediaeval period.

895 - 915 AD : Yudhamalla III

915 - 930 AD : Narasimha II
Wife : Lokambika/Jakavve (sister of Rashtrakuta Indra III)
The Vemulawada inscription attributes to him the single handed conquest of the Seven Malavas, a victory over the army of Gurjjara raja and says that he put the final seal on his frame by a victory over a group of kings on the hill of Kalapriya. Pamper furnishes the name of Gurjara king was Mahipala on whom Narasimha descended like a thunderbolt, compelling him to escape from his capital. Pampa also mentions a victory over the Latas as the first of his achievements, and adds that he had caused his horses to drink the water of the Ganges before he established his fame with his sword at Kalapriya
for his overlord Rashtrakuta Indra III (914 - 929).

930 - 958 AD : Arikesari II son of Narasimha II and Jakavve
Wife : Revakanirmadi (daughter of Rashtrakuta Indra III 914 - 929)

He was the son of Narasimha II by queen Jakavve, probably a sister of Rashtrakuta emperor Indra III. He married Revakanimmadi, a daughter of Indra III and another Rashtrakuta princess named Lokambika.

His reign considered as golden period for Nizamabad and Karimnagar.
Arikesari is famous as the patron of Pamapa, and for the apparently decisive he played in the political revolution in which samanthas of Govinda IV (930 - 933) dethroned him and transferred the Rashtrakuta empire to Amogavarsha III (933 - 939).

According to his Vemulawada inscription and the Vikramarjunavijayam he gave asylum in his court to Chalukya Bijja or Vijayaditya, who incurred the displeasure of Govinda IV, and defeated an army sent against him by that monarch. He also gave asylum to Baddegadeva (Amoghavarsha III - 933 AD - 939 AD), and when Govinda, who was enraged by this act, came against him, he overthrew him in battle and gave the throne to Baddegadeval (Amoghavarsha III).

Arikesari has 2 sons namely, Vagaraja and Bhadradeva / Baddega II from Revakanirmadi and Lokambika. 

c. 945 AD : Kurkyala inscription, Bommalammagutta, Gangadharam Mandal, Karimnagar
The inscription is undated. The palaeography, as stated already, points to the middle of the 10th century A.D., as the probable period to which it may be assigned. The mention of Arikesari. Pampa and of the poem Vikramarjunavijayam may help in fixing the date more precisely. Arikesari ruled as noticed above, from A.D. 930 to 958; Pampa was born in A.D. 902 and composed his Adipurana in S.863 (A.D. 941), As the Adipuranam is mentioned in the Vikramärjunavijayam, the latter must have been written subsequent to A.D. 941. The inscription is obviously later than the Vikramarjunavijayam. 945 A.D. may be a very good date for it.

Epigraphists think this the oldest evidence of the use of Telugu for literature, pushing back the history of poetic use of the language by a century. In Karimnagar district, near Kurikyala village, on a hillock known as Bommalagutta, is the 11-line rock inscription spread across 25 feet. The Telugu ‘Kanda padyas’ found in this inscription are the first documented Kandas, Hence this inscription is important for more than one reason.

The sing-song Telugu rhyme is the work of Jinavallabha, the younger brother of Pampa who was the court poet of Chalukya Arikesari III.

946 AD : Karimnagar
This inscription is on a stone laying in the local museum. The record begins with the mention of Juddhamalla, his son Narasimha, his son Arikesari and his son Baddega. His son was Arikesari, who bore the titles, Pambarankusa, Ammanagandhavarana, Arudhasarvajtia, Gunarnava and Tribhuvanamalla. He is said to have made a gift of fifty mattars of wetland in the village Aripanapalli to a brahmin named Dharapayya son of Appapayya and grandson of Vishnu bhatta of Kausika gotra and a resident of Nuthalapadu. The five introductory verses are noticeable in Pampa's Vikramarjuna Vijaya (I-15, 31, 41, 42 and 50).

c.958 - c.960 AD : Vagaraja
Ruled from Gangadhara as Capital
Patronized Somadevasuri, the author of Yasastilaka Champu who described the king as Pada-padmopajivi a worshipper of the feet of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III. indicating the declining power of Vemulawada Chalukyas.

c.960 - c.965 AD : Bhadradeva / Baddega II
Ruled from Vemulawada as Capital
The bommalagutta region flourished as a center of Jainism during his rule.

c.965 - c.973 AD : Arikesari III son of Baddega II
Ruled from Vemulawada as a Vassal of Krishna III (939 - 967) 

966 AD : The Parbhani plates Vemulawada Chalukya ruler Arikesari III, dated S. 888 (A.D. 996) registers the gift of Kuttum-vritti Vanikatupalu in the Repaka-12 in the Sabbi-Sayira (1000) district to the Jain leader Somadeva-suri for the maintenance of Shubha-dharma Jinalaya shrine, which had been built by his father Bhadradeva. 

14th February, A.D. 968 : Repaka, Karimnagar District.
This Telugu inscription is on a pillar lying in the field near the Middle School. Damaged. Introduces a [chief] named Srimat Vijaya who bears a string of titles and records his gift of lands to a Jinalaya built by him. The latter half refers to the genealogy of a family of disciples of the Jaina faith who were holding a fief comprising Atukuru-70 and Pammi-12. Some of the members of the family are Kama, Rama, Tukkaya, Revana, Punyarama, Kommayya and others. Similarly a certain line of Jaina ascetics is also given. In the end it is said that the temple was built by the king Arikesari.

The rule of this family is ended in 973 AD by Chalukyas of Kalyani Taila II.











Chalukyas of L(v)emulavada by N Venkataramanayya
The early history of the Deccan -- Ghulam Yazdani

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Karimnagar District History

The city was named after Syed Karimuddin, who is thought to be its founder. The district lies approximately between the latitudes 17° 50' and 19° 05'N and longitudes 78° 29' and 80° 22'E. 

Karimnagar district is bounded by Madhya Pradesh State in the east, Nizamabad district in the West, Warangal and Medak dist​ricts in the South and Adilabad district in the North directions.

Karimnagar area in old times is part of Sabbinadu. 

Sabbi-nadu is mentioned in the mediaeval inscriptions and early Telugu literary works. The Parbhani plates Vemulawada Chalukya ruler Arikesari III, dated S. 888 (A.D. 996) registers the gift of Kuttum-vritti Vanikatupalu in the Repaka-12 in the Sabbi-Sayira (1000) district. The Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI conferred on the Kakatiya chief Beta II Sabbi-Thousand as an appanage. An inscription of the time Kakati Rudra dated S. 1092 (A.D. 1170) mentions Nagarur in Sabbi-nadu. Madiki Singana, in the introduction to his Padmapurana-Uttarkhandam, states that his patron Muppa Mahipala was ruling from his capital Ramagiri-pattana over Sabbi-nadu, situated on the southern bank of the Gautami (Godavari) that Veligandla Kesana, the commander army, built temple for the god Vishnu in Ramagiri and set up a satra (free feeding house) and celebrated festivals of god Nrisimha in Dharmapuri. The places Repaka, Nagarur, Ramagiri Dharmapuri mentioned above are all found in the present Karimnagar district, parts, if not the whole, of which must have corresponded to the sabbi-Thousand district of ancient Telingana.

700 BC - 300 BC : Assaka/Asmaka/Ashmaka (The 16 Mahajanapadas)

300 BC - 185 BC : Mauryan Empire

230 BC – 220 AD : Satavahanas ( Were vassals of Mauryan Empire)​

Kotilingala in Karimnagar district was the first capital of the Satavahana Kingdom.

220 AD - 250 AD :Ikshvaku Tribe

250 AD - 500 AD : Vakataka Dynasty

500 AD - 543 AD : Vishnukundins

543 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas

753 AD - 982 AD : Rashtrakuta Dynasty
750 AD to 996 AD : Vemulavada Chalukyas (vassals to Rashtrakuta Dynasty) ruled Karimnagar and Nizamabad.

996 AD : The Parbhani plates Vemulawada Chalukya ruler Arikesari III, dated S. 888 (A.D. 996) registers the gift of Kuttum-vritti Vanikatupalu in the Repaka-12 in the Sabbi-Sayira (1000) district. 

Arikesari III was the last known ruler of the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty of present-day Telangana, India. He was a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III

968 AD to 982 AD: Kakatiyas ruled as vassals to Rashrakuta.
1076 AD - 1108 AD: Beta II (Tribhuvana Malla)

982 AD - 1158 AD : Western Chalukyas (Kalyani Chalukyas)

1011 AD - 1058 AD : maha samantha Padmanabhayya
Durki, Banswada
Beginning of the inscription lost. It mentions a certain maha samantha and maha prachanda Padmanabhayya. Grant portion damaged. Mentions Gavundas and Ganuga Sunka (levy on oil mill).

1011 AD : Padmanabhayya was in charge of Lombulike-Seventy at the time of the issue of this inscription and the one issued in Saka 933.Chilkur appears to have been the headquarters of this division since a subsequent inscription dated A.D 1096 of the time of Vikramaditya VI clearly states that this Chilkur was the capital (rajadhani) of the Lombulike-seventy

24th December A.D. 1052 : Narasingapuram, Karimnagar District.
The record belongs to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Ahavamalla Somesvara I who ruled from A D. 1042 to 1068.

The inscription registers the gift consisting of 40 gold gadyanas, remission of tax on perika in the grama of Marpugonda, one punasa of wetland along with 100 ratanas and 2 mattars of garden land as Nandanavana, and 15 mattars of Kisukadu situated to the north of the grama Suvipaka included within Atukuru-70 of Sabbi-1000 by Chamaraja, a Mahajana and the Lord of Suvupaka agrahara and his wife Sri Marakabbe, to the temple of the god Trailokya Narayana, built by them and named after their overlord Somesvara I Trailokyamalla. The gift was made by the assembly of the Mahajengs for the purpose, headed by Chamaraja and Revaraja. To this the residents of the four sthanas of Arangaluru. Vachhanuru and Suvipaka were made witnesses.

The record was engraved by Padmanabhayya and composed by Narayana.

982 AD - 1158 : Kakatiyas, ruled as vassals to Kalyani Chalukyas and started ruling over a small territory comprising the southern portion of modern-day Warangal district, and parts of neighboring Karimnagar district with Anumakonda (Hanumakonda) as capital.

1087 AD : Matturi Mallaya

1087 AD : Utturu, Karimnagar.

This inscription is in Telugu poetry containing an Utpalamala, a Champakamala and a Mattebha. It is dated after the expiry of 1008 Saka years corresponding to A.D. 1087. Other particulars regarding cyclic year and the day are not mentioned.

It records a gift of seven putlu (plural form of putti) of land to Gamgarasi Pandita by Malla of the Matturi family. He also grants one Khanduvu of land for the burning of a perpetual lamp (probably to God Mallesa) and two marturs of land for the oblations to Mallesa. The donor Malla has an epithet `Bharata vira pratapa' which may mean that he is as valorous as the heroes of Mahabharata. The last portion in prose records some lands to Samka deva and Uttareswara devara. The usual imprecatory verses beginning with svadattam etc.. at the end are missing.

1089 AD : Matturi Sabbinayaka

1089 AD : Utturu, Karimnagar.

This inscription in Telugu prose is dated Saka 1011 (A.D. 1089). It records a gift of some land and duba kunta, probably a small tank, to Kesava Bhatta on the occasion of a Solar eclipse by Matturi Sabbingyaka. The grant was made at Eleswaram. Sabbinayaka might have visited Eleswaram on pilgrimage at the time of the solar eclipse and performed this religious charity at that holy place.

This Sabbinayaka also might have had some relation with Mattūri Mallaya of the inscription from Punnavolu, Warangal District.

Polavasa chiefs were based immediately north of the Kakatiya territories. They ruled over most of Karimnagar district and the northern part of Warangal district from their capital at Polavasa, which is the modern-day Polas in Jagtial taluk. The Polavasa chiefs were subordinates of the Western Chalukyas, but revolted against their overlords during the early 12th century. However, they were eventually subdued by King Jagadekamalla II.

1158 AD - 1323 AD : Kakatiya Dynasty


1323 AD - 1325 AD : Tughlaq Dynasty


1325 AD – 1350 AD : Musunuri Nayaks


1350 AD – 1518 AD : Bahmani Sultanate

1509 AD – 1529 AD : Vijayanagara Empire (Tuluva dynasty) - Krishna Deva Raya Rule

1518 AD – 1687 AD : Qutbshahis / Golconda Sultanate

1687 AD - 1724 AD : Mughal Empire

1724 AD - 1948 AD : Asaf Jahis

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