Padmakshi Temple is one of the oldest temples in the Hanamakonda area of Telangana State. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Padmakshi (form of Goddess Lakshmi), and also features Jain imagery.
History
The site originally had a Shaivite cave temple and the artificial caves, located to the west of the present-day temple, were probably carved before the 5th century CE, as they are almost identical to the early Brahmanical caves. A Jain shrine was established in 1117 CE, during the rule of the Kakatiya chief and Shaivite King Prola II, who was a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas.
He was the father of Rudra-deva, the first sovereign ruler of the Kakatiya family. The 1117 CE Padmakshi Temple inscription records the construction of a Jaina shrine named Kadalalaya-basadi, and a gift of land to this shrine. The Kakatiya rulers converted from Jainism to Veerasaivism. Probably sometime after the 1156 CE, the Brahmanical shrine (Padmakshi Vigraha) replaced the Jain shrine, possibly due to the influence of the Veerashaivas. The temple was built during the reign of Kakatiya King Ganapathi Deva, who was a great patron of the arts and architecture.
The Jains attempted to regain control of the site in the 19th century, but a commission set up by the Nizam of Hyderabad concluded that the site originally hosted a Hindu shrine ( Shaivaite cave temple) . In 1869 CE, the Nizam granted land for the maintenance of the temple. The temple is one of the leading centres for Jainism in the surrounding areas, and it is called Basadi (place of worship for Jains).
Murthis in the temple
An impressive feature of the temple is the four faces of the Annakonda pillar, which is a quadrangular column made of black granite stone at the temple’s entrance. It is said that the present Padmakshi deity is a Jain yakshini of Parshwanatha called Amrakushmandini (Ambika). The Padmakshi deity along with yaksha Dharnendra (attendant deity of Parshwanatha) and with a huge image of Parshwanatha in the middle of both are the main deities in Padmakshi temple.
According to the Jain tradition, Parshwanatha, the 23rd Thirthankara lived about 250 years earlier to Mahaveera, i.e, 8th Century BCE (Mahaveera belongs to 6th Century BCE). The images, all carved from live rock, have been retouched and painted. The Goddess Padmakshi is decorated as a little girl in the morning, as a young girl in the afternoon and as an older woman in the evening. The temple also has Bhagwan Shiva, Goddess Durga, and Krishna statues.
The temple is on the hill Padmakshi Gutta. A large Lake surrounds the temple; at the foot of the temple, there is Bhagwan Narasimha Swamy Temple.
Festivals
Telangana Festival Bathukamma is celebrated very grandly at this temple during Navratri (September-October). Thousands of women arrive to celebrate this Bathukamma festival and immerse flowers in the pond at the foot of Padmakshi hillock. Diwali and Bonalu (year another Telangana festival celebrated in during July- August worshipping Goddess Mahakali) are the other main festivals celebrated in this temple.
From the top of the hillock the pilgrims can see the panoramic view of the town which is beautiful. This temple is not only ancient but is also a blend of Hindu and Jain religions, a unique one and therefore attracts not only the followers of the respective faiths but also those who are keen to study the history of our religious places.
How to Reach the Temple
By Air:
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (160 KMs) is the nearest airport to reach the temple.
By Rail:
The two nearest railway stations are Warangal (6KMs) and Kazipet Junction (8.5 KMs)
By Road:
The temple is well connected by road and the nearby towns are Hanamkonda (3KMs), Warangal (6.5 KMs), and Hyderabad (150 KMs).
Reference:
- https://hanumakonda.telangana.gov.in/places-of-interest/.
- http://www.padmakshi.org/about
- https://telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/warangal-urban/padmakshi-temple.html.
.
