Inscriptions throw light on Kakatiya period

​AP Lingotam (Nalgonda): Inscriptions offer a fascinating insight into the ancient culture and mores of that period. AP (Akkenepalle) Lingotam, a tiny village 90 kms east of Hyderabad, under Narketpally mandal has a lot to offer such insights.

Half-a-kilometre outside the village, there are some remains of prehistoric life, sculptures of Bala Subramanyam, Bhairava, Panavattam, Veeragallu, Vinayaka and an inscription of Kakatiya era. But for the lone unroofed temple of Lord Hanuman, the place wears a deserted look. They lie in neglect suggesting the sordid state of historical monuments.

Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam (KTCB) member Ragi Murali who stumbled upon the inscription, believed to be made in 1246, searched the neighbourhood extensively. Further he found tools of early stone-age – hand-axe, pot shreds, rock grooves (used to polish/sharpen stone axes) etc. This he found on the surface without having to dig in the place.

According to local lore, the earliest habitation was on the western side of the present village. The locals say that there were two temples - Ramalayam and Shivalayam - on the northern side of their village but now they don’t exist. 

Megalithic burials (Rakasi gullu in local parlance) which used to exist were also removed for cultivation, the locals said. Speaking to The Hans India, the KTCB member and historian S Ramoju Haragopal said: “The 39-line Lingotam inscription written in Telugu-Sanskrit, which has Nandi etched on it, was a land donation. The donation was made by Maha Pradhana, Rayasthapanacharya Chengaldeva Nayaka on behalf of his son Ganapaiah for the maintenance of the deities - Ganapeshwara and Rajyapalli Neeladevara - for the wellbeing of the then Kakati Ganapathi Deva Chakravarthy.”

The names of donees Rajaiah and Manchajaiah, believed to be of Shaivite, he added. Even today this land is called as ‘Bapandla Madulu’ (land of Brahmins). Hara Gopal says that there are instances of heirs constructing temples and donating land in memory of their elders, but here Chengaldeva donated land on behalf of his deceased son Ganapaiah. It was in vogue in those days that Shaivites used to place Nandi idols on graves and in front of temples.

“We have found a similar inscription some time ago at Appajipet village, 10 kms from Lingotam, he said, referring to the usage of titles - Rayasthapanacharya and Swamydroharaganda – in Kakatiya period written in PV Parabrahma Shastry’s book Kakateeyulu.” History takes us to our roots and how can it be neglected, he said, referring to the dire need of a deeper study on inscriptions and remains of yesteryears.