Narayanagiri village’s historical secrets leave historian spellbound

Warangal: Traces of Buddhist, Jain, Shaivite and Vaishnavite religions, along with artefacts from pre-historic times, were identified by R. Rathnakar Reddy in Narayanagiri village of Dharmasagar mandal in Hanumakonda district.

Among the historical finds was a large sculpture of Mahakali, along with a Karanda Makutam (throne), found near the Narasimha Swamy Gutta near Chittem Rallagadda. As the sculpture was of a partially-clad deity, Reddy said it was sculpted before the Kakatiya era. It was found partially buried in the ground.

Reddy said that Padaga Rai (stone) was sculpted into a temple at Narasimha Swamy Gutta, which also has several statues of Alwar (celestial disciples) and a large Shivalingam carved on the temple premises. An intriguing part of the architecture is that a pond-like structure, on the upper side of the hill, cannot be accessed by the public.

The Narayanagiri village is famous for producing warriors, and a temple with idols of around 20 idols of theirs was also identified.

Reddy said that there were also three Boudha Stupas in the valley, towards the downslope of Yellagutta, but that many were facing demolition threats due to lack of public awareness. The bricks used in the construction of the stupas were found scattered at several places in the village.

In the vicinity of the stupas is also a Bodagutta, amid the dense forests. A naturally formed cave with the sculpture of the Vardhaman Tirthankara is located here. Two lions were also engraved with the statue, which, Reddy said, indicates that followers of Jainism meditated here. An emblem of Jainism was also found in the village, which is referred to as Lingambodu by locals.

Elaborating on Shaivite sculptures, Reddy said that a large rock with a series of sculptures of 18 Goddesses was found. The presence of Sapta Mathrukalu, Shivalingam, Nandi, Mahishasura Mardhini and Naga Devatha indicated the presence of Shaivites, he said.

He also said that grooves found on the hills surrounding the villages were indications of the Stone Age.

Among the finds were several mud-made structures at Mallanna Gutta, which, according to Reddy, shine brightly when hit by sunlight.

The historian called on the officials of the archaeology department to visit the Narayanagiri village to observe the Longambodu Shasanam and decode it. He said that the village is host to several important historical structures and that the government must turn the village into a tourist spot.