Sacred Complex of Srisailam and Saivism in South India

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This Volume constitutes the proceedings of academic deliberations and presented papers of the National Seminar on Sacred Complex of Srisailam and Saivism in South India .The papers in this volume discuss various dimensions of Saivism in South India. They are arranged chronologically and geographically.

All the papers are well researched ones and add to our understanding of the Socio-Cultural aspects of Srisailam and Saivism in South India. I hope this Volume will be of more interest to both serious scholars of Indian Cultural and Religious History, Saivism, inter disciplinary studies and students alike and also a general reader.

Prof. Pedarapu Chenna Reddy (Born in 1959) got his Post Graduate Degree in History from S. K. University, Ananta-puramu in 1984. He was awarded M. Phil in 1986, Ph. D. in History in 1988 from S. V. University, Tirupati in 1988. He took Master of Tourism Management Degree from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2007. His book Guilds in Medieval Andhra Desha was widely acclaimed by the academicians and students alike. Dr. Reddy has to his credit more than 28 Books and 80 research papers on various aspects of archaeology, ancient, medieval and modern History published in National and International Journals. He is life member in more than 51 various historical and cultural organizations. He is member of Board of studies in many Universities and Government Organizations. He was elected as the Vice President, South Indian History Congress, during 2001-2003, 2006-2008 and 2015-2017. He is an active Social worker and educationist. He is the Founder Secretary and was instrumental in establishing in Government Degree College, Dr. Ambedkar Open University Study Centre and Founder Director of 21st Century Gurukulam in the Srisailam Tribal Area for the poor, dalit and tribal people. He served as Secretary, College Planning and Development Council, Govt. Degree College, Srisailam. He served as Joint Secretary, Andhra Pradesh History Congress and South Indian History Congress. He received several felicitations and awards such as Global Telugus Glory Award (1995), Dr. Y S Raj asekhar Reddy Memorial Award (2010); Rayalaseema Ratna Award (2011); Rajivgandhi Siromani National Award (2012), State University Best Teacher Award (2013) etc: He has edited a series of felicitation volumes in honor of distinguished Indologists, Archaeologists, Anthropologists, Historians, Art Historians and Folklorists of India and Abroad. He has guided 24 M.Phil and 12 Ph.D. scholars till date. He was holding the post of Director, Dept. of Archaeology & Museums, and Govt. of Andhra Pradesh since 2008-2012. He was appointed as a Competent Authority for implementation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 for Andhra Pradesh. He was Dean, Academic Affairs, Head and Board of studies Chairman, Dept of Tourism and Culture, Director, Internal Quality Assurance Cell, Coordinator, Bachupally Campus, P.S. Telugu University. Hyderabad.

Andhra Desha had a certain land marks and on the religious front these land marks, which are found in historical records, have three large Saiva centres at Srisailam, Kaleswaram, and Draksharamam.The Andhra Desha was popularly known, therefore, as Trilinga Desha after these three Saiva sacred centers.

That saivism was predominant religion in Andhra is sufficiently indicated by several sacred centres of Siva, such as Umamaheswaram , Alampur, Siddavatam, Tripurantakam, Sangameswaram, Mahanandi, Pushpagiri, Kalahasti, Gudimallam, Kalahasthi, Lepakshi, Tadipatri, Palakollu, Samarlakota, Vemulavada, Bhimavaram, Mukhalingam etc, Of all these Srisailam is located in the Nallamalai hills Where presiding deities are Bramaramba Devi and Mallikarjuna Swamy. Mallikarjuna Swamy is believed as Swayambhu and second among the Dwadasa Jyotirlingas, While Bramaramba Devi is described as one of the AstadasaSaktis in India. Because of this, Srisailam is a popular and sacred complex in Telugu States. It is the fitness of things that the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University established School of History, Culture and Archaeology at Srisailam in 1987 with the main objective of conducting research into Telugu speaking people History and Culture.

It was quite appropriate that Prof. P.Chenna Reddy, the then Dean and one of the founder members of the school, organizes a conference on Fresh Light on the History of Sacred Complex of Srisailam with kind cooperation of Srisailam Devasthanam and with the financial assistance of University grants Commission. This book is outcome of the deliberations at the Seminar.

I deem it a privilege to write a Foreword to Sacred Complex of Srisailam and Saivism in South India a collection of papers presented in the Seminar by many scholars in India. I am sure this Volume, planned by the enthusiastic scholars will contribute substantially to a better understanding of several hitherto unexplored aspects saivism of India's past. I convey my warm wishes and Congratulations to Prof. P. Chenna Reddy convener of the seminar for choosing this contextually relevant topic as theme of the seminar and wish this initiative a great success for bringing out this volume. I learnt that the seminar was a well organized one and academic deliberations were very fruitful. More than 33 papers were presented and discussed in the seminar. Iam happy, Yet surprised, to know that this volume is the fourth proceedings volume, of the total of 22 seminars conducted by School of History, Culture and Archaeology. I wish that the remaining ones will also see the light of the day soon. Given the variety of issues and aspects the papers in this volume deal with, I am sure this book will be of great interest and help to students and scholars of History, Culture, Religion and Archaeology.

Once again I congratulate Prof. P.Chenna Reddy, Editor of this Volume, Dean, School of History, Culture and Archaeology, P S Telugu University, Vice President, South Indian History Congress, Member, Executive Council, Dravidian University, Senate Member, Mahatma Gandhi University and Former Director of A P State Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh who took a lot of toil in bringing out the Volume on record time.