Padmakshi Temple

Last updated

Padmakshi Devasthanam
Padmakshi Temple.jpeg
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Hanamakonda
Deity Padmakshi (Lakshmi) or Padmavathi
Location
Location Hanamakonda
State Telangana
CountryIndia
India Telangana location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Location in India
Geographic coordinates 17°59′53″N79°34′01″E / 17.9979519°N 79.5669959°E / 17.9979519; 79.5669959
Architecture
Date established12th century
Specifications
Temple(s)1
Elevation299 m (981 ft)

Padmakshi Temple is one of the oldest temples in the Hanamakonda area of Telangana, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Padmakshi (Lakshmi), and also features Jain imagery.

Contents

The site originally had a Shaivite cave temple, and a Jain shrine was established in 1117 CE, during the rule of the Kakatiya chief Prola II, who was himself a Shaivite. Some time later, the Jain shrine was replaced by a Hindu temple. The Jains attempted to regain control of the site in the 19th century, but a commission set up the Nizam of Hyderabad concluded that the site originally hosted a Hindu shrine.

History

The site originally had a Shaivite cave temple. The artificial caves, located to the west of the present-day temple, were probably carved before the 5th century CE, as they are almost identical to the early Brahmanical caves. A Jain shrine was probably added during the rule of the Chalukyas of Vatapi or the Rashtrakutas. [1]

A 1117 CE inscription found at the temple records the construction of a Jain shrine named Kadalalaya-basadi , and a gift of land to this shrine. [2] The site probably already had Jain presence by this time. [1] Mailama, the wife of the Kakatiya minister Betana-pergada, commissioned the shrine. Medarasa of Ugravadi (Meda II), who held the office of Maha-mandaleshvara, donated the land. Betana was a minister of the Kakatiya chief Prola II, who was a Shaivite and a vassal of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. [2] Ugravadi appears to be the name of a historical region comprising the present-day Mulugu and Narasampet talukas. [3]

Probably sometime after the 1156 CE, the Brahmanical shrine replaced the Jain shrine, possibly due to the influence of the Veerashaivas. In the 19th century, the Jains appealed to the Nizam of Hyderabad to grant them the control of the site, arguing that it was originally a Jain shrine. The Nizam instituted a commission to investigate the Jain claim, and concluded that the earliest shrine at the site belonged to the Hindus. In 1869 CE, the Nizam granted land for the maintenance of the temple. [1]

Architecture

An impressive feature of the temple is the four faces of the Annakonda pillar, which is a quadrangular column made of black granite stone at the temple's entrance. [4]

The temple has rich sculpture of the Jain Tirthankaras and other Jain gods and goddesses. [5]

The present Padmakshi herself is a Jain yakshini of Parshwanatha called Amrakushmandini along with yaksha Dharnendra and with a huge naked image of Parahwanatha in the middle of both.[ citation needed ]

Once a year, Lakhs of women arrive to celebrate the famous Bathukamma festival and immerse flowers in the pond at the foot of the Padmakshi hillock. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telangana</span> State in southern India

Telangana is a state in India situated in the southern-central part of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It was the eleventh largest state and the twelfth most populated state in India as per the 2011 census. On 2 June 2014, the area was separated from the northwestern part of United Andhra Pradesh as the newly formed state of Telangana, with Hyderabad as its capital. Telugu, one of the classical languages of India, is the most widely spoken and the primary official language of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warangal</span> Major city in Telangana, India

Warangal is a city in the Indian state of Telangana and the district headquarters of Warangal district. It is the second largest city in Telangana with a population of 811,844 per 2011 Census of India, and spreading over an 406 km2 (157 sq mi). Warangal served as the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty which was established in 1163. The monuments left by the Kakatiyas include fortresses, lakes, temples and stone gateways which, in the present, helped the city to become a popular tourist attraction. The Kakatiya Kala Thoranam was included in the emblem of Telangana by the state government and Warangal is also touted as the cultural capital of Telangana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kakatiya dynasty</span> 12th–14th century Indian dynasty

The Kakatiya dynasty was a Telugu dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region in present-day India between 12th and 14th centuries. Their territory comprised much of the present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka, northern Tamil Nadu, and southern Odisha. Their capital was Orugallu, now known as Warangal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudrama Devi</span> Queen-Regnant of the Kakatiya Kingdom from 1262 to 1289

Rudrama Devi, also known by her regnal name Rudra-deva Maharaja, was a Kakatiya Queen who ruled substantial parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India. She was among the few and the most successful female rulers of Indian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramappa Temple</span> 13th century Kakatiya Hindu temple in Telangana

Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara temple, is a Kakatiya style Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, located in Palampet village, Mulugu district, Telangana, India. It is 15 km (9.3 mi) from Mulugu, 66 km (41 mi) from Warangal, 209 km (130 mi) from Hyderabad. An inscription in the temple says it was constructed in the year 1213 CE by Recharla Rudra Reddy—a general of Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva. Located in the vicinity of Ramappa Lake, the Ramappa Temple complex which consist of three temples was constructed between 1212 and 1234, designed and architect by Ramappa—after whom the temple complex is named. Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya empire, supposedly called the temple "the brightest star in the galaxy of temples". In July 2021, Ramappa Temple was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagadeva</span>

Jagadeva, also known as Jagaddeva or Jagdev Parmar, was an 11th-12th century prince from the Paramara dynasty of central India. He is known from an inscription discovered at Jainad and some folk legends. His political status is uncertain, although according to one theory, he may have been a vassal of the Western Chalukyas.

The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation is a state government agency which promotes tourism in Telangana, a state in the Southern region of India. The retired Director General of Police Pervaram Ramulu is the appointed First chairman of Telangana State Tourism. Tourist attractions in Telangana include historical places, monuments, forts, waterfalls, forests and temples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warangal district</span> District of Telangana in India

Warangal district, formerly Warangal Rural district, is a district in the Indian state of Telangana. The district shares boundaries with Mahabubabad, Jangaon, Hanamkonda, Mulugu and Bhupalpally districts.

Prola II was a Kakatiya chief who ruled the area around Anumakomda as a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas. He was the father of Rudra-deva, the first sovereign ruler of the Kakatiya family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bommalagutta</span> Jain temple in Telangana, India

Bommalagutta is a Jain centre situated near Kurikyala village of Karimnagar district in Telangana. This Jain center is situated 3 km from another famous Jain center Kulpakji.

Gunda III, also known as Gundyana or Gundana, was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. He served the Rashtrakuta king Krishna II, and died during Krishna's invasion of the Vengi Chalukya kingdom. He is the earliest known member of the Kakatiya family to have been in the Telugu-speaking region.

Erra or Eriya was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. As a Rashtrakuta vassal, he appears to have ruled the Kurravadi region, which was captured by the Rashtrakutas from the Chalukyas of Vengi.

Gunda IV alias Pindi-Gunda was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. As a Rashtrakuta general, he helped the Vengi Chalukya prince Danarnava ascend the throne after a succession dispute. In 973 CE, after the collapse of the Rashtrakuta empire and the murder of Danarnava, he attempted to carve out an independent principality at Kuravi. The Kalyani Chalukyas, who had usurped the power from the Rashtrakutas, probably defeated and killed him, supported by the Mudugonda Chalukyas, the former rulers of Kuravi.

Beta I, also known as Garudanka Beta or Garuda Beta, was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. His father Gunda IV was a Rashtrakuta vassal, and was killed in a conflict with the Kalyani Chalukyas who usurped the power from the Rashtrakutas. Beta accepted the suzerainty of the Kalyani Chalukyas, participated in their war against the Cholas, and obtained Anamkonda as fief.

Prola I was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. As a Kalyani Chalukya vassal, he participated in prince Vikramaditya VI's campaigns, and consolidated the Kakatiya control over the area around Anumakonda by subjugating local chiefs. He obtained the Anumakonda vishaya and its neighbouring lands as a hereditary fief from the Chalukya king.

Beta II alias Tribhuvana-malla was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. As a Kalyani Chalukya vassal, he obtained control of the Sabbi-1000 province centred around Vemulavada. He commissioned a Shaivite shrine, and also donated land for a Jaina temple.

Durga-raja was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. He is attested by only one record - the 1098 CE Kazipet dargah inscription, which was issued during the reign of his father Beta II. According to one theory, he probably ruled for a short period and rebelled against his Kalyani Chalukya overlord, before being subjugated by his brother Prola II who remained loyal to the Chalukyas.

Rudra-deva was a Kakatiya king, who ruled parts of the present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India. He was the first sovereign ruler of his dynasty.

Mahadeva was a ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty which ruled in the present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh regions of India. He died in battle during an invasion of the neighbouring Seuna (Yadava) kingdom. The Yadavas captured his son Ganapati, but later reinstated him on the Kakatiya throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganapati (Kakatiya dynasty)</span> Sakala-desha-pratishthapanacharya

Ganapati-deva was the longest reigning monarch of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. He brought most of the Telugu-speaking region in present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana under the Kakatiya influence by war or diplomacy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 D.B.V. Pratap (1981). "The Padmakshi Temple at Hanamkonda Andhra Pradesh (A Jain or Hindu temple?)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 42: 695–698. JSTOR   44141198.
  2. 1 2 P.V.P. Sastry (1978). N. Ramesan (ed.). The Kākatiyas of Warangal. Hyderabad: Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 74. OCLC   252341228.
  3. N. Venkataramanayya; P.V.P. Sastry (1957). "The Kākatīyas". In R.S. Sharma (ed.). A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206. Vol. 4 (Part 1) (1987 reprint ed.). Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. p. 202. ISBN   978-81-7007-121-1.
  4. "Padmakshi Temple | ::- Telangana Tourism -::". Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. Scape, Sunday (6 August 2017), Perfect confluence of spiritual and devotional fervor at Padmakshi temple, Telangana Today, archived from the original on 28 June 2018, retrieved 22 October 2017
  6. "Warangal Padmakshi temple to get a facelift". The Hindu. 13 June 2008. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 19 March 2018.