Sunday, November 15, 2015

Rani Rudrama Devi Monument

Rani Rudrama Devi, Kakatiya queen who ruled with warangal as her capital is one of the first Telugu women ruler in South India.  Her death details has not been to known to historians for centuries. An stone inscription with details of her death have been found in a village Chandupatla that belong to Nakrekal mandal of Nalgonda district.  I have visited the place on 14 Nov. 2015 Saturday noon time.  Started in my car at 8am in the morning and reached the place just around 12:15pm noon.  We have choosen the route via Chilakuri pet, Narasarao pet, Nakarekal of Guntur District, Piduguralla, Dachepalli, Gamalapadu, Wazirabad, Damaracharla,    Miryalaguda, Tipparthi, Nakrekal of Nalgonda District(near Suryapet). After Miryalaguda there is a toll pay just before Tipparthi (two way toll Rs.80/-).  First toll was after Piduguralla (Rs.70/- bothways).  After Tipparthi there is a Y junction and the road to North East goes to Nakrekal.  4 kms before reaching the Nakrekal there was a brige over one Vaagu.  After crossing the brige over the Vaagu, within 100 meters on to the right side of main road there is a road going towards East side.  In 200 meters or so, there is a monument of the inscription that has been built by the locals (Sri Vivekananda Yuvajana Samakhya) and a new temple of Shiva.  This has been unveiled on 31 July 2009 by the Vivekananda Yuvajana Samakhya.\\

















There are ruins of two old stone temples, one adjacent to the Rudramadevi monument . The second one stone ruins of temple is to the other side of the tar road.  The inscription revealed that Rani Rudrama Devi died on 27 Nov. 1289, and the same day one of  her Senani Mallikarjuna Nayakudu died.  The inscription was erected by son of Mallikarjuna Nayakudu, one of the soldier of the Rudrama Army.  They fought with the rebelling Kayasta Ambadeva and in the fight both Rani Rudrama Devi and Army Chief Mallikarjuna Nayakudu lost their lives.  Son of Mallikarjuna Nayakudu unveiled  the stone   inscription to that effect. 

Near to the junction of this side road to the Nakrekal main road 100 meter away on to the right side a statue of Rani Rudrama on the horse weilding a sword has been erected by the new Telangana Government  and has been covered with white plastic papers.  It may be unveiled soon.  

Historical connection gives us a nostalgic feeling. Before and after the war the tradition has been that Rani Rudrama offers prayers to Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha  in the temples located at Pillalamarri village of Suryapet mandal and Chaya Someswara Swamy temple of Panagal in Nalgonda.  

Earlier, I had visited the Chaaya Someswara Swamy temple of Nalgonda(1000 years old).  Shivalinga of Chaaya Someswara swamy is always in Chaya or shade irrespective of the direction of the SUN whole day.  It is a mystery and a wonder how the architect of the temple or Shilpacharyas have achieved this.  Where from the rays are falling all around the shiva linga from the roof is not obvious. We donot know whether the mysterious phenomenon has been studied  using modern scientific techniques.  Devotees believe that this is the greatness of God of the temple and truely so.  

I have not visited the Pillalamarri temples, but located in wikimapia an anicient temple with a photo that belongs to the Kakatiya period of 11 th century and a very good blog about three temples at Pillalamarri village 
http://highwayonlyway.com/tag/pillalamarri-temples/

The temples at Pillalamarri village are :

( 1)Sri Erakeswaralayam outside of the village 
(2) Sri Nameswaralayam in the middle of the village 
(3) Sri Chennakesava Alalyam.
Temples 2 & 3 are in the same campus in the middle of the village .

.  Pillalamarri and Panagal villages are 30 kms apart.  Rani Rudrama Devi first performed prayers at Pillamarri temple and while going to Panagal temple along with Senapathi Shri Mallikarjuna Nayakudu (native of Chandupatla village),  rebel Samantha Raju Kayasta Ambadeva might have taken them by surprise and deceipt to  kill the two. By 1289, historical facts shows that age of Rani Rudrama Devi should have nearly 80 years or so.   Ambadeva after declaring himself as the king might have tried to hide the facts related to the death of Rani Rudrama Devi for his own benefit to subdue the anger of  the people of the region.
  

1 comment:

  1. Very good and great effort.
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