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Time of India
28-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
ASI uses traditional methods for restoration of Srisailam, Durga temples
Hyderabad: In a major step towards preserving the sacred architectural legacy, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in collaboration with Uttaradevi Charitable Trust, Pune, has initiated the conservation of the Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam—one of the country's most revered Jyotirlinga shrines. The restoration work, grounded in traditional methods and original materials, spans 40,000 square feet and prioritises the sealing of rooftop leakages through the construction of traditional lime tanks. Rejecting the use of modern concrete, the ASI is instead employing time-honoured heritage techniques involving a mix of lime, jaggery, Arabic tree gum, jute, and Kadakia. "These materials have stood the test of time, ensuring structural resilience without compromising historical authenticity," said K Muniratnam Reddy, director of ASI's epigraphy wing. A multidisciplinary team—comprising experts from the ASI, IIT, Agama Sastra scholars, and engineers from Pune—was assembled to guide the process. Supported by the Andhra Pradesh govt and endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, the team recently convened at Srisailam to assess the structural stability of key load-bearing components such as pillars and beams. Their objective is to implement preservation methods that will safeguard the temple's integrity for the next 200–300 years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Muniratnam Reddy emphasised the critical importance of consulting heritage experts before undertaking any conservation or renovation of ancient temples and urged temple authorities across Andhra Pradesh to seek ASI guidance. Traditional restoration Uttaradevi Charitable Trust is also overseeing similar heritage-driven restoration efforts at the Simhachalam Appanna temple, where traditional lime-based surkhi concrete is being laid on the rooftops under ASI supervision. At the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada, Munirathnam Reddy took part in a review meeting to examine ongoing development activities. During the visit, he inspected water seepage issues on the hilltop shrine's roof and advised temple officials to adopt ancient conservation methods to ensure long-term structural preservation.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
ASI unearths 5 inscriptions, illuminating centuries of history
Hyderabad: The (ASI) has discovered five significant inscriptions across India and Sri Lanka, offering new insights into historical events, social customs, and religious practices spanning several centuries. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Among the most striking is a 16th century unearthed near the Sru Chandrasekhara temple in Guttala, Haveri district in Karnataka, which recorded the deaths of 6,307 people during a catastrophic drought in 1539 CE. According to K Muniratnam Reddy of the ASI's epigraphy division, the sculpted stone slab—dated Aug 18, 1539—documents the mass burial of the deceased, carried out by Marulaiah Odeya, son of Nanideva Odeya. Using baskets (jhalle), he transported the bodies in an act of devotion to the deity Basavesvara and to earn religious merit on behalf of the local ruler, Timmarasa Svami. Inscribed in Kannada, the record highlights the devastating human toll of the drought within a defined territorial unit (sime) and stands out as a rare quantified account of a historical climatic disaster. Rich cultural themes In Andhra Pradesh, a 13th century trilingual inscription discovered in Gudimetla village in Krishna district records a land grant and tax remission by Pridhvisetti, a merchant guild leader. The donation, made in honour of the deity Mulasthana Mallikarjjuna Mahadeva, was intended to support temple rituals and honour the Chagi chiefs, Ganapaya and Dorayarajulu. From Jharkhand, a 10th century inscription engraved on a Tara Devi image in Danto Khurd village in Hazaribagh district, reveals that a royal official, Pranabha, commissioned the sculpture in memory of his parents and teacher. Despite partial damage, the slab preserves the sacred dharani mantra 'ye dharma hetu,' signifying deep religious intent. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the Nallamala forest region of Prakasam district in AP, a 1518 CE Telugu inscription commemorates the construction of a well and sluice for temple lands at Sriparvata. It was commissioned by Velanga Parvatanayani and names Kemideva, the agent of Siddha Bhikshavritti Ayyamgaru, the head of a Virasaiva monastery in Srisailam. Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka's Wilpattu National Park, an eighth century Sanskrit inscription found at Pomparippuwa and carved in early Nagari script refers to a goddess and the term 'kirtti' (victory). Though damaged, the inscription affirms the site's status as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre during the early medieval period. Experts say these remarkable finds, documented by the ASI's epigraphy division, deepen understanding of the subcontinent's religious devotion, administrative traditions and social philanthropy.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rise and decline of Buddhism etched in T's Gundaram forest
1 2 Hyderabad: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered two inscriptions in the Gundaram Reserve Forest of Telangana that shed light on the flourishing and subsequent decline of Buddhism in the Deccan. Found on a rock, locally known as Sitammaloddi near Gattusingaram village in Peddapalli district, the inscriptions span a period of over 600 epigraphic team from ASI's Epigraphy Branch, led by director K Muniratnam Reddy, documented a total of 11 inscriptions in the area during a recent expedition. Among these, two inscriptions were of a particular interest that captured the contrasting phases of Buddhist presence in the first inscription, painted in Prakrit using Brāhmī script, dates to the 1st century BCE. It refers to a donation of caves in favour of Buddhism by a person from the Hāritiputra lineage, possibly linked to the Chuṭu dynasty. The donor is described as a friend of Kumāra Hakusiri, identified as a Sātavāhana prince . The inscription reads: "…putasa ku(ma)rasa Akusiri mitasa ivakhamitam", confirming the early Buddhist activity at the second inscription, engraved in Sanskrit and early Telugu-Kannada script, dates to the 6th century CE. It mentions the term "Hakugar̥u sagrabhaya", interpreted as an epithet of ascetics of the Kalamukha sect, which gained prominence during Buddhism's decline in the discovery was initiated by photographer Ravinder Reddy, after which the ASI team obtained forest permissions and carried out the documentation. The juxtaposition of these two inscriptions at a single location highlights the changing religious landscape of the Deccan across centuries.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
ASI begins scientific cleaning and conservation of copper plate inscriptions unearthed in Suryapet
Hyderabad: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun the process of scientific cleaning and conservation of a rare set of copper plate inscriptions discovered in a Muslim graveyard at Kodad village in Suryapet district. The nine plates, which were recently unearthed, are now confirmed to date back to the Chalukyas of Vengi , a dynasty that ruled large parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between the 7th and 12th centuries CE. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad On the instructions of the director of epigraphy at ASI K Muniratnam Reddy, the science branch in Hyderabad began chemical treatment of the plates to restore and preserve them. The ASI said that the epigraphic analysis will be completed soon. Preliminary observations suggest that the charters were issued under the authority of the Chalukya rulers, although specific details of the content remain undeciphered at this stage. According to K Muniratnam Reddy, once the cleaning is complete, the epigraphy branch of the ASI will take estampages — exact impressions — of the copper plates for further study. These impressions will then be deciphered, transcribed and analysed by experts to fully understand the inscriptions. Experts say the copper-plate inscriptions may contain valuable historical data relating to land grants, administration, social structure and possibly religious endowments from the Chalukya period. The discovery is expected to add new dimensions to the understanding of the Vengi branch of the Chalukyas and their influence in the region. The discovery is considered significant for the early medieval history of Telangana and may help refine existing timelines and genealogies of South Indian dynasties.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
ASI team decodes 11 Satavahana inscriptions in Gundala forest
Hyderabad: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team on Tuesday conducted an epigraphical survey in the Gundala reserve forest in Peddapalli district . With the support of the state forest department, the team imprinted (estampage) 11 inscriptions dating back to the Satavahana period, marking a significant step in understanding the ancient history of the region. Led by director of epigraphy K Muniratnam Reddy, the ASI team ventured into the Sitammalodi rock area near Gattusingaram village after obtaining permission from the forest department. According to Muniratnam Reddy, this was the second time that ASI's epigraphy branch had conducted a survey in the Gundala forests. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The inscriptions found on rocks and cave surfaces were dated palaeographically from 1st century BCE to the 6th century CE. Among these, two inscriptions attributed to Kumara Hakushri, a Satavahana prince and son of Naganika and Satakarni I, were identified for the first time at the site. The survey site, known for its prominent rock Sitammalodi, also contains important rock paintings from the Palaeolithic to historical periods. Rendered in red, white and yellow pigments, these paintings offer rare insights into artistic practices across time.
