The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Wanted: a history museum in Chanda (T)

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Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Wanted: a history museum in Chanda (T)

S. Harpal Singh

Jain city of the 4th-5th century cries for attention to protect idols and statues

CHANDA (T) (ADILABAD DT.): Chanda (T) village in Adilabad mandal cries for a history museum for preserving what are left of the large number of sculpted idols and statues and other items from the now vanished ancient Jain temple. As historian Blair Worden maintains “What should they know of the present who only the present know,” it is also necessary to reconstruct the cultural history of this part of Adilabad.

Chanda (T), about 3 kms from Adilabad town, was a very large Jain city of the 4th and 5th century that was eventually ruled by the Kakatiyas.

It is believed that the temple at its centre, now called the doddi, was spread over a radius of 2 furlongs. This temple was used by Jain munis and others to spend the chaturmas or the four months of rainy season.

The temple was destroyed by Malik Kafur, the army General of Alauddin Khilji around the end of the 12th century while on a conquest march Warangal, the Kakatiya capital. The Jain temple, that presented itself as an undefended target was dismantled to a great extent. Even now, the exquisitely carved stone pillars can be found everywhere including inside the foundations being dug for houses under the Indiramma scheme and the perimetres of farm lands.

Crying for attention: Several beautifully sculpted idols and statues from the destroyed ancient Jain temple in Chanda (T) in Adilabad mandal can be found strewn around the village, some at unlikely places like the fencing of farms (right).

Many residents of the village who could manage to cart away the pieces with apparent antique value like stone Nandis and pillars proudly display those inside their premises.

Collective effort

A collective effort to preserve some idols and statues of gods and goddesses is also visible, though much of the treasure has already been lost.

“I have seen many pieces disappearing after the advent of the Cement Corporation of India factory in the early 1980s,” recalls Guruji Ravinder Sharma of Kala Ashram who had been visiting the different sites since the early 1960s. He says the Laxminarayana temple at Jainad, about 7 kms away was originally linked to the Jain temple at Chandrapuri, as Chanda (T) village was known earlier.

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