Historical significance:
The Bommalagutta hillock, also called Bommalamma Talli gutta (Vrishabhadri hill) was built in 945 AD. It was built during the Vemulwada Chalukya king Arikesari-II period. Bommalagutta is an ancient Jain pilgrimage that flourished in the mid-10th century AD.
Bommalagutta is situated near Kurikyal village, Gangadhara Mandal in Karimnagar District of Modern Telangana state, India. Bommalagutta is approximately about 18 km from Karimnagar District headquarters in North West direction. The rock inscription underneath the Goddess Chakreshwari proclaims the glory of Jainism and Adi Kavi Pampa.
Transportation:
There is no proper road transport to reach the 200-mt high Bommalagutta hillock. One has to climb up to reach the hillock. The tourists have to climb through the gaps of gigantic rocks, in order to have the darshan of the Jain deities, which are carved out in 945 A.D.
Inscriptions of Bommalagutta:
One can witness the caverns (large cave) inscribed with sculptures of Nirgantha Jinas and its subordinate goddess Chakreshwari. One can find 8 Jina figures in Kayotsarga posture on either side of Yakshi Chakreshwari. According to Jainism, Goddess Chakreshwari is considered as the subordinate deity of the first Savior Rishabha. Goddess Chakreshwari is depicted with eight arms containing different objects in the cavern.
The sculpture of the goddess Chakreshwari was not depicted with eight arms. But, the inscription underneath the Yakshi Image reveals the truth that the goddess has 8 arms. So, it’s a bit tedious task to find the goddess figure in the cavern.
The vehicle of the goddess Chakreshwari is Garuda. The two Kayotsarga Jina sculptures were carved just above the Yakshi Chakreshwari. Yakshi Chakreshwari is depicted with two whisk bearers on either side.
Adi Kavi
The Chalukya King of Vemulvada patronized Sanskrit, Kannada, and Telugu. Adi Kavi Pampa was court poet of Arikesari II. The Chalukya King of Vemulawada, Arikesari-II asked Pampa to write an epic to immortalize his fame. Within one year, Adi Kavi has come up with Kannada’s greatest epic ‘Vikramarjuna Vijaya aka ‘Pampa Bharatha.
The king, Arikesari-II was greatly pleased with the work of Pampa. So, the king honored Adi Kavi with the title ‘Kavithagunarnava’ and also gifts him with an Agrahara called Dharmapura.
Also Visit: Bheemuni Paadam Waterfalls, Mahabubabad Telangana
Adi Kavi family
Adi Kavi pampa’s ancestors belonged to the Kamme Brahman caste and used to devote Jainism. They hailed from Angiparru in Vengi Nadu. Adi Kavi’s father’s name was Bhimappayya found according to the inscription. Pampa composed Vikramarjuna Vijayam and Somdevasuri composed Yasatilaka Champu.
Pampa’s younger brother named Jinavallabha has installed the idols of Chakreshwari and other Jain deities. He installed the deities on a hill called Vrishabhadri, north of Dharmapura.
He built the Basadi named Tribhuvana Tilaka and also created a garden called Madanavilasa. At the bottom of the hill, he constructed a lake and named it ‘Kavithagunarnava’ as a tribute to his brother. Jinavallabha has inscribed all that he has done on a rock below the idol of Chakreshwari.
This inscription was written in three languages viz Kannada, Telugu, and Sanskrit. The Kannada portion contains the most valuable information about Pampa. The Telugu portion is known as the oldest Telugu Kanda Padya.
These inscriptions are considered some of the most important pieces of historical pieces of evidence. So, these are submitted to the Centre, for securing classic language status to Telugu.
The hill Vrishabhadri is now renamed Bommalamma Gutta. Some other hills that have historical significance like Dharmapura, Madanavilasa, and Tribhuvana Tilaka have vanished.
Also Visit: Alvanpalli Jain Temple, MahabubNagar Telangana
