Idols, temple items unearthed from house site in Andhra village

After copper pots and idols were unearthed from a house at the historical Anantagiri village in Nalgonda district, experts from the State Department of Archaeology and Museums plan to excavate the 200-yard site on Thursday. It is believed that the artefacts probably belong to the rule of the 13th century Kakatiya Dynasty.

Land owner Damuri Badraiah displaying unearthed idols of Venugopala Swamy
and Satyabhama at Anantagiri in Nalgonda district on Monday
[Credit: Singam Venkataramana/The Hindu]

Senior Caretaker Y. Bhanu Murthy, Assistant Director Ramulu Nayak, Technical Assistant P. Nagarju and others visited the site on Sunday.

Mr. Murthy told The Hindu that the nine copper pots, two idols and other puja material – the Harathi Plate and Satagopam – belong to the Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple. The two idols had been identified as Venugopala Swamy and Satyabhama, Mr. Murthy said, adding that various designs and marks on the artefacts conclusively point to their links to the Kakatiya period.

The idols, he said, were those of the processional deities of the temple, not those of the presiding ones. They would normally be covered in copper pots after the completion the temple procession.

Nalgonda Collector T. Chiranjeevulu examines the ancient pots
[Credit: Singam Venkataramana/The Hindu]

Located just eight kilometres away from Kodad municipality, the Anantagiri village is one of historical prominence. The fort on the hillock here was constructed during the period of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty and is a protected monument. The village also has another Shaivite temple, constructed during the reign of the Kakatiya dynasty.

The visiting team found that the soil at the site, which belongs to local farmer Damuri Bhadraiah, is composed of patti matti (ash-mixed clay), a sign that there was once human settlement. Officials have instructed those people mining in the area, to cease work.

On March 27, Mr. Ramulu Nayak said they would begin excavation at site for a couple of days and then decide if they should continue or not.

Source: The Hindu [March 25, 2014]