Shaiva, Jain temples in Kolanupaka reflect rich ancient Indian culture

C R Gowri Shanker

It’s one of the most ancient temples with rich cultural heritage and architectural beauty, but lay in neglect.

Kolanupaka or Kollipaka in Aler mandal of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district in Telangana State houses the famed Sri Chandishwari sametha Someswara Swamy temple, an avatar of Lord Shiva and other temples and the famous Jain Mahavira temple.

Someshwara swamy temple houses swayambhu Shiva lingam, which is cracked and it is believed it gave birth to Adi Jagadguru Renukacharya, the guru of Veerashaiva Lingayats.

Plans are afoot to develop Kolanpaka, which is also a major Jain pilgrim centre as part of Yadagirigutta Temple Development Plan.

Government has plans to restore temples, construct a new an archaeology museum on the temple premises apart from taking up several other development works.

Kolanupaka is located 80 kms from Hyderabad and 22 kms from famed Yadagirigutta (now Yadadri), a abode of Lord Narasimha Swamy. The place reflects the rich cultural heritage of the country and then rulers.

Kolanpaka houses 2000-year old Jain temple of Mahavira, with a 1.5 meter high statue of Mahavira.

Kolanupaka was the second capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas during the 11th century. During this period, the village was a great religious centre of Jains, and ranks among the other great Jain centres of South India.

The memorial stones have been well preserved here for more than 1000 years. 

Kolanupaka site museum is a major attraction of this place. The museum contains statues and other objects of relevance for both Hinduism and Jainism. 

It is one of the magnificent museums in India, where one can explore ancient culture and heritage.

The Site Museum, Kolanupaka is situated in the temple complex of Someswara Swamy temple, Kolanupaka, close to the great Jain temple.

Some of the important sculptures here are that of Mahavira, Matsyavallabha, Chamundi, Nandi, ranging from 6th to 16th Century AD.

Department of Archaeology and Museums established a sculptural gallery here which exhibits artefacts gathered from the various historical monuments in Kolanupaka.

Artefacts from both the Chalukya and Kakatiya styles are displayed here in the museum. 

The museum has more than 100 images and is considered to be a great site where research scholars in the field of sculpture and calligraphy can explore Chalukya and Kakatiya periods in-depth.

Department of Archaeology and Museums Director Ms N R Visalatchy has prepared proposals seeking Rs 6 crore for restoring the two 11th-Century AD temples.

Besides Someshwara Swamy temple, its pushkarani, chakali and mangali mantapas and Veera Narayana temple, a new archaeology museum would be constructed on the premises of the Someshwara Swamy temple to house 162 sculptures, inscriptions and other antiquities lying on the temple premises. 

Assistant Director P Nagaraju identified about 100 sculptures and inscriptions belonging to both the Hindu and Jain religions around Kolanupaka, which will also be shifted to the proposed museum.

The Jain temple and Someshwara Swamy temple attracts hundreds of pilgrims from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other places annually.

In the 15 temples and other places in Someshwara Temple complex, there are several other temples and idols.

It houses temples of Sri Renuka Charya, Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy, Sri Chandeshwari Matha, Sri Kundamamba matha, Sri Kotilingeswara Swamy, Sri Kala Bhairavi Swamy, Sri Anjaneya Swamy, Sri Rudranidra Swamy, Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, Sri Kumaraswamy, Ekadasharudrula temple, archaeological museum, pilgrims’ rest house and Sri Someshwara Renuka Yatri Nivas.

Besides the temples, the Kolanupaka houses mathas of 18 communities including Veerashaivas, Vyshyas, Medari, Chakali, Mangali, Padmashali, Kurma, Yadav, Gandla, Kapu and Peruka.

Its time that such a rich heritage site should get a face lift and preserved for posterity.

Some of the famed sculptures located here include:

Manasthambha (Victory Pillar) of Tribhuvanamalla with an inscription, 1076-1127 A.D.

Ganapathi Statue of Chalukya Period,12th Century A.D.

Nataraja Statue of Chalukya period, 12th Century A.D.

Virangal Statue (Couple) (Elopement) of Kalyani Chalukya period, 12th Century A.D.

Mahishasuramardani of Kalyani Chalukya period, 12th Century A.D.

Kosthapanjara with Uma Maheswara of Kalyani Chalukya Period, 12th Century A.D.

Chamundi of Kakatiya period, 13th Century A.D.

Govinda Statue of Kakatiya Period, 13th Century A.D.

Kodanda Rama Statue of Vijayanagar period, 12th Century A.D.

Nandi Statue of Kakatiya Period 13th Century A.D.

Mahavir in Yoga posture statue of Chalukya Period, 13th Century A.D.

Vajrapani statue of Kakatiya period, 13th Century A.D.

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    Sri Someshwara Swamy with Swayambhu Lingam

   A view of temple from outside

    Lord Ganesha

    Shiva Lingam

                   A part of the temple

    Mahakali

   Lord Mahavira   

    Lord Hanuman flanked by Lord Ganesha and Mahakali

    Koshta Panjara

    View of museum                                                      

   C R Gowri Shanker with Madapu Veeramallesh and Jagdev Hiremath striving to develop temple