An inscription on stone, deep in the Nallamala forests spanning Mahabubnagar and Kurnool districts, near a Chenchu habitation called Medimankal appears to have established some new insights about the famous Kakatiya queen Rudrama Devi.
First, it appears to confirm the death period of the warrior queen, who ruled a vast empire - from Hanamkonda to parts of Guntur, Krishna and up to Tripuranthakam the present day Prakasam district for almost 50 years after she took over the reins from her father Ganapathi Deva.
“It also confirms that her grandson Prataparudra Deva succeeded her to the Kakatiya throne claiming the title Maharaja and not just a prince as considered thus far,” says historian D. Satyanarayana, who found it a few weeks ago.
Until the recent past, it was believed by historians that Rudrama Devi ruled the Telugu States until her death in 1296 A.D. But, this inscription proves that her grandson Prataparudra Deva succeeded the throne in February of the year 1290.
“It has also unfolded the existence of an ancient temple for Lord Mallinaatha Mahalinga with a ‘Svayambhu’ (idol that evolved on its own) and an attached ‘Matham’ near Medima Lankalu village that is now called Medimankal,” said Dr. Satyanarayana.
“I found the inscription deep in the Nallamala forests of Mahabubnagar district near Medimankal after a 10 km walk from Bourapuram in the Tiger Reserve. The spot is about 15 km away from Mannanur on the highway to Srisailam, about 135 km away from the State capital,” he recalled, adding that the Department of Archaeology has to take over and preserve it.
“Under the rule of the valiant warrior queen, the Kakatiya kingdom is accepted as the first truly Telugu empire, characterised by what we know as Telangana cuisine and fine arts distinct to the region. There is a mention of the glory of the Kakatiyas in Vinukonda Vallabharaya’s book ‘Kridabhiramam’ about how the Kakatiya rule took the people of the region and its culture to the pinnacle of heights,” said Chairman, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation, Pervaram Ramulu, an avid culture enthusiast.
“We are sending our Assistant Director to the spot and inspect the location and the inscription initially. Once we analyse the contents, we will decide what to do with the stone, whether to shift it to the State or District Museum. We have also checked our records and we find that it has not been published so far. However, it has to be read and verified by the Epigraphist of the department,” said Director of Archaelogy (Telangana), N.R. Visalatchy.
