C R Gowri Shanker
Famed ancient Hindu insignia “Swastika” has deep roots in Telangana State too apart from the country.
Recent exploration of rock caves and rock art in Telangana found “Swastika” drawings in different parts of the State, throwing new light on emergence of “Swastika” in the world.
Swastik or Swastika is a revered symbol of Hindus meaning “Subham” (success, fortune) besides Jains, Buddhists and other communities across the world, but became equally infamous sign in the world thanks to Nazi Hitler!
Swastika, which is derived from Sanskrit, has now become a part of Hindu culture and religion.
Dr Satyanarayana Dyavanapalli, Researcher and Curator of Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum, Hyderabad who is undertaking exploration of rock sites asserts Swastika symbols found in Telangana rock caves are much older than the normally believed the world over.
“It is so far believed Swastika was painted for the first time at Mezine in Ukraine between 10,000 and 13,000 years ago. But recent efforts of the Ministry of Human Resource Development called Sandhi revealed the symbol was adopted by the Americas from India,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
He added, “Contextually, the motif of swastika is found in several rock art sites in Telangana State.”
Swastika in Red Ochre was found in Pargaraigundu of Kanchanapalle village of Medak district, Gandhari Khilla, a monolithic rock located 5 kms from Mancherial, Chittaraiah Gundu in Amaragiri village limits near Kollapur in Jogulamba-Gadwal district, Aksharaala Loddi in Palvancha of Bhadradri district.
“Going by the preliminary studies and collaborative evidence of kind of tools, implements pre historic people used, it is clear that these Swastika symbol paintings are much older say 20,000 years and more than those found in Mezine in Ukraine and other parts of the world,” he explained.
Dr Sathyanarayana said it’s not a big task to ascertain correct age of the symbols if it’s undertaken by CCMB. “I cannot personally afford to spend Rs 2 lakh to get the DNA of these Swastika paintings. I wish the government takes action since it has huge historical value,” he said.
P R Sarkar, a noted Sanskrit scholar, said the deeper meaning of word Swastika was “permanent victory”. It has positive and negative meaning. Right hand swastika in Hinduism is a symbol of God Vishnu and the Sun, while the left hand Swastika is a symbol of Kali and Magic!
He also stated that earliest Swastika ever found was in Mezine, Ukraine carved on an ivory figurine, which dates back to 12,000 years. It was also used in Neolithic culture in southern Europe, now Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia etc.
“Telangana region is not mentioned as an important zone in the South India for pre historic paintings. Dr V V Krishna Sastry, a former director of the archaeology department, identified several rock art sites in old districts of Karimnagar, Ranga Reddy, Medak and Mahabubnagar,” he added.
Rock paintings of Swastika
Telangana ‘rocks’ with Art
About 70 rock art sites ranging from the upper Paleolithic age, beginning about 40,000 years ago, to the Megalithic (about 4,200 years ago), have been found in the state and near the city, making the region another trove of ancient rock art.
Hyderabad: About 70 rock art sites ranging from the upper Paleolithic age, beginning about 40,000 years ago, to the Megalithic (about 4,200 years ago), have been found in the state and near the city, making the region another trove of ancient rock art.
Several rock paintings were recently unearthed in the hills of Daasarlapalli in Mulug mandal of Siddipet district, about 40 km from Hyderabad on the Rajiv Rahadari by Dr D. Satyanarayana, curator, Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum here.
He found 10 caves with rock paintings at Daa-sarlapalli which were in satisfactory condition. Most paintings were red ochre in colour. He found 10 prehistoric rock art sites in a cluster in a 4-sq km area in Yadaram of Medchal district.
“Looks like the cave man first whitewashed the place, crushed ochre pigment stone into powder, mixed it with water resulting in acidification and red,” he said.
“I found paintings of things the people saw, around like ox, cow, calves, birds, bow and arrow, horned buck, wild sheep, cheetah, nilgai, buffalo, elephant, deer, antelope, porcupine, monitor lizard, fish, tiger, lion, funeral rites, sexual activity, geometric designs, swastika and the likes. Most rock paintings are from the Neolithic (3000 to 1000 BCE) and Megalithic (1000 BCE to 300 AD) ages and some after 300 AD,” he said.
Koya tribals of North Telangana practice the white painting tradition “Chluiku” even today in their homes. All rock paintings found in the surroundings of Daasar-lapalli except one cave are painted on whitewashed surfaces.
Dr Satyanarayana has explored 23 sites till date in Rachakonda, Aksha-raala Doddi, Ramagiri Khilla, Dongalagutta, Mannemkonda, Amaragiri Kota, Kothha Chitthaarayya, Paatha Chitthaarayya, Laalgadi Malakpet, Narsugutta, Daasarlapalli, Devatala Doddi, Pedda Aadiraala, Koulas, Bhuvanagiri, De-varkonda, Jaafargadh, Gonthemma Kollu, and Pandavula gutta in Medchal, Bhuvanagiri, Ranga Reddy and Mahbubnagar districts.
Dr Satyanarayana wants the government to conduct village-wise surveys, as was done earlier for inscriptions, to document rock art sites, declare them as heritage and protect them.
The curator is upset over the destruction of three rock painting sites due to granite quarries at the Suchir India venture near Turkapalli Cheruvu, Lotti Kattina (Chitthaaru) Gundu and Dhanam Gundu near Maisamma Gandi, Daasarlapalli.
Kollagela Gundu
Kollagela Gundu
Devathula Doddi
Devathula Doddi
Narsugutta
Narsugutta
swastika is OM written in ancient Brahmi script. It is found in yajurved 40.17
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