Thread
Forgotten Jain past of anantapur
district,(AP)

The history of jainism in Andhra is one of the forgotten chapters of religious & cultural history of Andhra.

There are numerous places of Jain pilgrimage & sites all over anantapur district which are of immense importance

Even now Jaina images & Jain basadis are found in places where neither Jain is seen nor a jainism heard.

The jaina images in sitting posture r still being adored by the villagers of anantapur district,not as Jina but as sanyasidevullu for begetting children and geting rain.

KONAKONDLA:one of the most important centre of jainism in andhra

Birth place of great kundkundacharya , the place developed as a stronghold of jainism as early as 1st century BCE .

At present most of the Jain antiquities are situated in the hillock called "rasasiddhula Gutta"

RAYADURGAM: situated 95 km from anantapur is an ancient Jain site

There are four caves on the hill with carving of tirthankara & siddhas.

This was once a important site of the yapaniya sect , there is also an old inscription mentions about yapaniya sect.

AMARAPURAM: once a renowned abode of the Jain faith .

An epigraph of 13th century mentions about huge Brahma-jinalaya dedicated to lord parshvanatha
Today we can see the temple in ruined stage .

Amarapuram also contains number if nishidhi memorials.

Penukonda:another important Jain centre , according to bhattaraka tradition, penukonda is reckoned as one of the 4 vidyasthanas along with Delhi, kolhapur & Jina kanchi.

Today only two Jain temples namely of lord ajitnatha & parshvanatha remains.

Penukonda was also the great seat of a Jain mutt.
The inscriptional reference mention that the Jain mutt was established around the same period (12th century )when the parshvanatha temple was constructed

Also the "shruta bhandara" (library)& many manuscripts where preserved here

KAMBADUR:There are several ancient Jain temples in village.
Though the temples are in dilapidated condition , it still exhibits its original features .

The vimana of the temple is outstanding , the superstructure has antarala , garbhagraha & mukhamandapa

The other two temples in kambadur is "akkammavari-gudi" & "mallikharjuna" ,the later temple possessed a inscription along with the other records which state that mallikharjuna was originally a Jain shrine later was appropriated by saivites

The temple belong to 9th century

RATNAGIRI: like in karnataka in Andhra too jains built mathas attached to the basadis.
Here one can find one matha attached to shantinatha Basadi .

It's been an important Jain centre & shantinatha Basadi has gone several restoration from time to time .

Similarly Jain vestiges found in Hemavati , tudpatri , tograkunta , agaki & few other places in anantapur a district

Therefore anantapur district is replate with the rich jainhistory & archeological evidence like other districts of Andhra & Telangana, which should b safeguarded

Source :
-Jain vestiges in Andhra : S gopala Krishna murthy.

-Jain monuments of Andhra : Dr G. jawaharlal

- Jainism in South India : P.B. Desai

- Early history of the Andhra country : Gopalachari K.

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