Inscriptions of Andhra Pradesh Kurnool District (Set of 2 Volumes)

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Many of the lithick records copied by the surveyors either by the British rulers or the scholars' like Mr. A. Butterwork, Conell Meckenzie and other Scholars i.e., Dr. N. Venkataramanaiah, Dr. P.V. Parabramha Sasthri and tried to record interpret by publishing available material with them. However, certain information and material was not available and disappeared owning to various factors of vandalism, negligence, propagation, preservation and interest. Keeping in view, this irreparable and recurring loss of the most valuable historical source material, the Department of Archaeology and Museums in 1961, proposed the scheme of conducting village wise survey for epigraphs in all the Districts of Andhra Pradesh and salvage atleast the available lithic and copperplate records in the form of published work. So far, the department has already conducted epigraphical survey and published 6 Districts i.e., Inscriptions of Warangal, Karimnagar, Kadapa, Nalgonda, Medak and Mahabubnagar. Now an attempt has been made to publish inscriptions of Kurnool District is the Seventh of the series by the personnel of the Epigraphy section and a comprehensive details has been given. We feel it is a reference book to know the history of the district with a detailed information i.e. location, data and interpretation. We feel this may encourage the future generation to study and know the historical background of the district, through the epigraphical records and it may be useful as a source material. However, we have not given source material of the copper plates of this District to enhance more information. We promise to take-up this work in continuation for publishing another supplementary volume.

I will be ever grateful to Smt. Chandana Khan IAS, Director (I/C) Archaeology & Museums to whom, goes the credit of initiating and publishing this work. My thanks are to J. Vijay Kumar, Deputy Director (Tech). P. Brahmachary, Assistant Director (Tech), Dr. S.Jareena Begam, T.A. (Epy), V. Leela Subrahmanyam T.A. (Epy) and colleagues who surveyed the district and the estampage takers who have copied the inscriptions. My thanks are also due to Sri Narsimha Rao, of the Photography section. Further acknowledge with much indebtendness the immense help rendered by B. Parasuramudu, Keeper of Estampages, K. Ramulu, Estampage Taker. I expressed my thanks to Mrs. D. Ambika, Computer operator for preparing text.

My thanks are also due to Sri D. Pattabhi Reddy, Asst. Director (Publications) and printers Tricolour Graphics.

The Present book namely "The Inscriptions of Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool District" (Two Volumes) is the 7th in series published by the epigraphy branch of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, under the scheme of Survey of the Districts.

Kurnool District is a prominent and unique in the history of the epigraphy in India, Since the earliest inscriptions were found at Erragudi in Brahmi script and Prakrit language at the instance of the Ashoka Mourya the great (304-232 BC) for the propagation of Buddhism in South India.

According to 13th stone inscription of Erragudi the Ashoka the great, 8 years after his coronation, conquered Kalinga, in which one lakh soldiers were killed and some of them were taken as refuges. This incident changed his mind and he embraced Buddhism, and propagated the Dharma in his kingdom and taken the task of carving of the inscriptions throughout India.

Followed by the Mouryas, Satavahanas, Ikshavakus, Chalukyas of Badami, Rastrakutas, Renati Cholas, Yadavas, Kalachuris, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Reddy kings and finally the Vijayanagara kings through their inscriptions available presently in different localities in the District, mentioned the constructions of temples, gifts and donations for anga ranga bhogas.

I appreciate and congratulate Sri G. Venkata Ratnam, Deputy Director (Epigraphy) FAC of the Department to bring out these Two Volumes i.e. "Inscriptions of Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool District" and studied critically and given a gist of each inscription.

I hope these two volumes will definitely help and cater the needs of the scholars and historians engaged in historical research. More publications of this type will be published in future.

Topography: Kurnool District lies between latitude of 14°54' and 16° 18', Longitude of 76° 58° and 79° 34'. towards North of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.

The beginning of the history of the Kurnool, dates back perhaps to the age of the Nanda's, who preceded the Mauryas, as the paramount sovereigns of India. According to the Puranas, Maha Padmananda was a great conqueror, a second to Parasurama, who exterminate the entire kshatriya Race and brought the country under the shadow of his umbrella, ruled for nearly a century until, he was over thrown by Chandra Gupta Maurya in the last quarter of 4 century B.C. as referred in the Hathi-Gumpha inscriptions. We understand that Kalinga was included in the Nanda empire reference to Nanda rule over kuntala in some late inscriptions of 10th and 11th century A.D., and the name Nandade (nau-nanda-dhera) on the Godavari are adduced evidence of the rule of Nanda's extended to southern bank of river Godavari. The legend avers that the emperors called Nandan Chakravarthi's are also current in Kurnool District. Besides, Nandavaram which still bears his name, mention may be made of Nandyala of which he is said to have been the founder and of Mahanandi, where a temple called Mahanandeshwara was built, evidently named after him. The Town Nandikottukure (Nandikotkur) may be also added. Until some stronger evidences said forth here is brought forward, it cannot be seriously maintained the rule of the Nanda's empire extended as far as the Kurnool district, the History of the Kurnool District begins practically, with the advent of the Mauryas. The existence of the Ashokan inscriptions at erragudi and Rajulamandagiri, both in Pattikonda taluk, shows the district formed part of the Mauryan Empire. The circumstances in which the Maurya's took position of this area are not known. It is interesting to note that 16 Asokan inscriptions are in Brahmi script and Prakarit language. The presence of several edicts in Kurnool district shows its importance in the history.

After the Mauryan Empire was disappeared, the Andhras appear to have reduced to subjugation, re-asserted their independence and made themselves masters of the whole of Deccan. The Andhra's inhabitants of North India migrated to South and settle down ultimately in the lower valley of the Krishna. Their antiquity goes to the age of Bramhanas (Aitereya bramhana - 500 B.C.).