Where Shiva, Vishnu bhakts clashed

Hyderabad: Shaivism was prominent during the 12th century in Kuppanagar in Zaheerabad mandal of Medak district where several Shiva idols have been unearthed by local villagers while digging for sand.

Idols of Lord Shiva, lingams, Veerabhadraswamy and other artefacts dating back to 900 years ago were found in this village, near the famous Kethaki Sangameshwara Swamy temple in Jarasangam.

Local women and other villagers have constructed a temple of Goddess Bhavani after they found an idol, a lingam was installed at a local Hanuman temple while another Shiva temple was built recently.

Officials of the archaeology and museums department had conducted an epigraphy survey, but since the idols and artefacts were found to be dating back to12th century AD not much older, it was not pursed further.

“We conducted an epigraphy survey. It’s a historical site,” said Dr K. Padmanabha, deputy director of the department. Department director N.R. Visalatchy was informed about it. Kuppanagar sarpanch Boini Shanker said Shaivaite idols were fou-nd at regular intervals when locals dug for sand near the temple.

“It’s a regular phenomenon. We found idols of Lord Shiva, Veerabhadra-swami, lingams and Bhavani Mata at the site. Locals have constructed a Bhavani temple and the other idols were installed. The government should set up a museum of the artefacts for posterity,” Mr Shanker told DC.

Mr G. Venkatratnam, assistant director, department of archaeology and museums, AP, who had served in the area and has been shifted to Kakinada after bifurcation, said that Kuppanagar and other parts of Telangana were ruled by Kalyani Chalukhya and other Chalukhyan kings during the 12th Century.
“Shaivism and Jainism flourished during that era. While women promoted Jainism, men backed Shaivism.

I visited nearly 2,000 to 3,000 villages in Telangana during my stint there. Chalukya kings promoted Shaivism while Vaishnavism was promoted by Ramanujacharulu in the 12th century,” he said.
Shaivaites and Vaishnavaites clashed regularly during that period. “They recorded events on rocks, including murders of prominent people. Hence you find several inscriptions,” he said.