Gudimetla preserves its heritage

Villagers of Gudimetla take the initiative to safe guard the heritage of the village. Gudimetla of Nandigama mandal in Krishna district is on the left bank of Krishna River. The village was a picturesque and historic place studded with hillocks, temples, post sculptures and inscriptions which attracted many historians and tourists said the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA) CEO Dr Sivanagi Reddy here on Monday.

Reddy said that on receiving information for BudhaVijara heritage activist Sudhakar Medasani on a buried sculpture, rushed to Gudimetla and exposed it with the help of the villagers. He said that the sculpture represents the seven mothers (SaptaMatrikas) a favourite Kakatiya theme. It is a rare sculpture in which Veerabadra and Vinayaka flanking on either side of Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi.

All the gods and goddesses are shown with respective weapons and vehicles. The images are carved in seated posture , bear heavy ornamentation, a typical Kakatiyan feature. He also identified sculptures of Mahishamardhini, Nagini, Ganesa,Surya and Bhairava.

He said that on visiting the village he had a chance to locate a good number of inscriptions and sculptures inside the reins of the temples as part of the scheme ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’ launched by CCVA.

He further said that the village was the capital city for a minor political dynasty called the Chagi Chiefs who were subordinates to the Chalukyas of Kalyana and Kakatiyas in 12 the and 13 the Centuries AD.

And there were two inscriptions issued by ChagiPotaraju dated to 1164 AD and 1168 AD, two inscriptions of KakatiRudramadevi dated to 1268 AD, and Prataparudradeva dated to 1295 AD and 1314 AD and one inscription belonging to the Gajapaties of Orissa and Persian inscriptions of the Qutbshahis of Golconda, he said.