Archaeologists discovered two square pillars in Enikepalli hamlet of Moinabad mandal in Rangareddy district that are carved with Jain Tirthankara sculptures and inscriptions.
The area was examined by renowned archaeologist E Sivanagireddy based on information provided by young archaeologist and heritage activist P Srinath Reddy. Following the examination, he said that the two pillars, one made of granite and the other of black basalt, were ornamented with Keerthimukhas on top and had carvings of the four Jain Tirthankaras Adinatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, and Vardhamana Mahavira sitting in meditation on the four sides.

On both pillars, there were inscriptions written in telugu and Kannada. Since they were embedded in the brick walls of the sluice in the village tank, it was impossible to read them. The visible portion of an inscription refers to a Jain Basadi (monastery) close to Chilkur, which was a significant Jain centre during the Rastrakuta and Vemulawada Chalukyan periods (9th–10th centuries CE). The details of the inscription will only become clear once the pillars have been taken out of the sluice and have had stamps placed on them, he added.

Sivanagireddy said that the Jain Tirthankara stones may have been added to the sluice around a century ago after being transported from a nearby crumbling Jain temple. He pleaded with the locals to preserve the Jain sculptural pillars and inscriptions for future generations by removing them from the sluice and placing them on pedestals with adequate labelling and historical information.
For more interesting updates wa click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel

Find out more:

Telangana

G GOWTHAM

26/06/2023 09:29 AM