Second inscription surfaces at Kondaveedu fort's ruined Siva temple
A fresh inscription has been traced at Kondaveedu fort in Palnadu district, on the right-side doorway pillar of a ruined Siva temple, and has been sent to the ASI for deciphering.
A second inscription has come to light at the Kondaveedu fort in Palnadu district, with preliminary examination suggesting it continues a record found earlier on the same hilltop.
The discovery was made on the right-side doorway pillar in front of the sanctum of a ruined Siva temple on the hill, also known locally as Adam Shafi Bodu. The pillar had been partly hidden by another stone, which the team shifted before cleaning the surface and photographing the lettering.
The Kondaveedu Fort Development Committee convener, Kalli Siva Reddy, was part of the group that reached Rudrapada Sikharam, one of the highest peaks at Kondaveedu, on Monday. Locals Ganta Koteswara Rao, Goraka Kannareddy and Kondeboyina China Venkateswarlu accompanied him. The peak is associated with a footprint of Siva believed to be two and a half feet in length and depth and nine inches wide.
The new inscription has been sent to Archaeological Survey of India Director (Epigraphy) K. Muniratnam Reddy for an accurate reading. In June, the committee had identified an inscription on the left-side doorway pillar of the same shrine, and that text too was forwarded to him for deciphering.
The reading of the earlier inscription indicated a grant of four putlu of wetland, with specified boundaries, to teachers or gurus associated with Tapanacharyulu, the land being given for permanent enjoyment.
Rudrapada Sikharam has two Siva temples, one ruined and the other still standing. The ruined shrine retains only its sanctum, along with two doorway pillars. On architectural grounds, the Siva shrine is believed to date to the 14th or 15th century.
The Kondaveeti Kaifiyat, a local chronicle, describes Kondaveedu as a group of 42 hills. Rudrapada Sikharam is surrounded by Bollumora Venkateswara Swamy Bodu, the local name for the Venkateswara temple, Gurralabodu and Vankabodu. The chronicle also records donations by the Reddy ruler Pedakomati Vema Reddy to temples in the area.
The development committee has previously brought four inscriptions to light at Kondaveedu, including one from the reign of Pedakomati Vema Reddy.