An ancient ‘gopuram’ in the vicinity of the famed Chandragiri fort symbolising the architectural grandeur of the Vijayanagara era is in a state of neglect, indicative of both civic indifference and official apathy.
The 100-ft tall structure is made of granite stone up to the roof, with brick and lime mortar forming part of the super structure. The tower has developed a six inch-wide vertical crack, the plastering has peeled off and the stucco sculpture is in a bad shape, not to mention the wild growth of shrubs in the vicinity of the ‘uncared for’ structure. The Gopuram is located near Reddivaripalle village in Chandragiri mandal, dotted with such dilapidated structures of the Vijayanagara era, many of them built when the dynasty ruled the region with Chandragiri as its capital.
This Reddyvaripalle was known as Siddhankuttai in the erstwhile Valanadu district. The link has been established by noted archaeologist E. Sivanagi Reddy, Chief Executive Officer of ‘The Culture Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati’. The village finds a mention in an inscription engraved on the outer wall in the first precincts (Prakara) of Tirumala temple, which dates back to 1433 AD during the reign of Sri Veera Pratapa Devaraya II (Praudha Devaraya).
According to Gopi Krishna, a senior research scholar on the TTD temples, the inscription records an agreement among Sri Venkateswara temple treasury, the temple authorities and the Mahajanas of the village. It grants 50% of revenue of Siddhankuttai village in Kottala Sthalam within Vaikuntha Valanadu district to the 24 Mahajanas of the Srinivasapuram Agraharam for performing Veda Parayanam in Srivari temple, on condition of having two persons among them each day in the presence of the deity of ‘Tiruvenkatamudaiyan’ (the Tamil name for Lord Venkateswara).
“Based on this inscription, we have identified Siddhankuttai as Reddivaripalli,” Dr. Sivanagi Reddy told The Hindu. Under the scheme ‘Preserve heritage for posterity’, he recently visited the site along with heritage activist B.V. Ramana and ‘Sthapathi’ Dr.P. Subramani. Interestingly, the ‘Kottala Sthalam’ mentioned in the inscription is the current day Kotala, the nearest railway station on the Tirupati-Pakala route, located 3 km from the ruins.
Appeal to ASI
Expressing fear that the crack on the ‘Sikhara’ could widen and collapse any moment, Dr. Reddy appeals to the Department of Archaeology and Museums and the ASI to safeguard it, besides requesting the villagers to understand the significance of the heritage monument.
