Telugu inscription identifies Tukkuguda hillock as Venkatapati Konda

The Kotha Telangana Charitra Brindam has identified an 18th-century Telugu inscription at a Venkateswara temple in Tukkuguda. Dated February 4, 1762, the inscription names the hillock Venkatapati Konda and refers to the deity as (Ti)rupati Prasanna Venkatadri

Hyderabad: Members of the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brindam have identified a new inscription on the premises of the Venkateswara temple at Tukkuguda.

The team comprised president Sriramoju Haragopal, vice-presidents B V Bhadragirish and Vemuganti Muralikrishna, and executive committee members Boya Srinivas Reddy, Yadeswar Dandethkar and Kavali Chandrakant.

---

The temples at the site are one or two storeys high. One is dedicated to Venkateswara and the other to Shiva, with both located inside caves. The temples and sculptures date to the period after the 17th century.

The kalyanamandapam has four pillars modelled on the Rashtrakuta style. A satram and a ratham are located beside it. Further west, a half-relief sculpture of Vishnu can be seen on rock boulders, along with sculptures of Hanuman and Garudalvar.

Vaishnava dvarapalakas flank the temple doorway. Inside the sanctum, which faces north, are the idols of Venkateswara, Sridevi and Padmavati. As a direct view is not possible, devotees are provided darshan through a mirror placed opposite the idols.

Deeper inside the cave on the other side are a Shivalinga, Nandi and sculptures of Vinayaka. Outside the temple is a half-relief sculpture of Virabhadra.

Opposite the Virabhadra sculpture is a Telugu inscription dating to the 18th century. It names the hillock ‘Venkatapati Konda’ and refers to the temple deity as ‘(Ti)rupati Prasanna Venkatadri’.

According to the team, the inscription was installed on Vikruti-nama Samvatsara, Magha Shuddha Dashami, corresponding to February 4, 1762, as per the ephemeris.