Rare Jain throne with inscription found at ancient Jain site in Telangana’s Alladurgam

A rare Jainapada Simhasana (throne with footprints) and a Nagari inscription have been discovered in Alladurgam, Telangana, confirming the presence of ancient Jain Basadis in the region. The find adds to the growing documentation of Jain heritage in Medak district.

Hyderabad: A rare Jainapada Simhasana (throne with footprints) with an inscription has been identified at a Jain Basadi in Alladurgam by Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam members Sriramoju Haragopal, Matam Vinod Kumar, and Siripuram Vinod Kumar.

In Medak district’s Alladurgam, two inscriptions on the pillars of the Betaluni temple’s mantapa mention two Jain Basadis – Baddiga Jinalaya and Keertivilasa Shantijinalaya. Traces of Jain Basadis are found at three locations, Ellamma temple, Hanuman temple, and Betaluni temple.

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At the entrance of the Hanuman temple, sculptures of Rishabhanatha and Mahavira in three meditative postures are present, the Brundam said in a press release.

The temple’s doorframe appears to have been carved up to the northern Shiva section and features lotus petals, a Jina sculpture as the lalatabimba (central motif), and Gajalakshmi, two monkeys on elephants, and Vishnu and Aditya with attendants in the upper tier of the torana (arch).

According to the Archaeological Department’s Alladurgam monograph, this Gajalakshmi panel was found during excavations and appears to have been installed on this temple’s doorframe. The Gajalakshmi and Jina sculpture resemble the doorframe of Bairampalli Angadiveeranna temple. Inside the temple’s mantapa, pillars in the Rashtrakuta style, similar to those in Nandikandi’s Chitrakantasthambha, are visible with sculptures.

To the right of the Hanuman idol in the temple, there is a white stone throne with footprints and a round stone slab inscribed with a three-line inscription in Nagari script. The front of the throne has a lion-faced spout for draining abhisheka water.

This is a Jainapada Simhasana, a previously undocumented sculpture, said Sriramoju Haragopal.