SRI HANUMADGIRI PADMAKSHI TMEPLE has
very great history. Goddess padmakshi is the holy god of KAKATIYAS. The
information that when goddess padmakshi came into existence was not perfectly
known. But from the book named SIDDESHWARA CHARITRAM written by KASE SARVAPPA
we can notice that PADMAKSHI goddess exists long back 2nd to 4th century.
FROM SIDDESWARA CHARITRAM:
According to the siddeshwara
charitram, After the lord siddeshwara descended to the earth out of bengnity
towards the siddhas, some years elapsed. In the country to north of srisailam
in the land lying between godavari and krishna rivers in the
dandaka forest there lies the HIDIMBI ASHRAMAM. To north of this lies HANUMAKONDA (hanumadri) hill, the gods and siddhas make it
their favourite resort. Lord siddeshwara took his abode on this. In his
foreground to the EAST stands BHADRESHWARI(present bhadrakali temple). To his
south is Lord Gopala, in the posture lying on serpent-Anata Sayana. which is
not traceable now. To his WEST is situated goddess PADMAKSHI(present padmakshi
temple), seated in padmasana posture. She is surrounded by deities in terrible
Incarnations.To north lies diety Nishada Rudreshwari and god gargala.There are
many vastis round the fort of gods of durga and of brahmins. Such famous hill
is Hanumakonda.
Here a king of hunter class named
YERUKA DEVA RAJU established his rule who hails from srisailam came here by
roaming and being enchanted by the beauty of this place established his rule.
He worshipped god Siddeshwara.He had three sons Anuma, Konda and Gargala and
ruled for 186 years. Then after Kakatiyas came into existence by the grace of
goddes padmakshi and built a fort of EKASHILANAGARA (modern warangal).
FROM A LEGEND
According to the legend, that one
MADHAVA VARMA who was considered to be the founder of kakatiya line
visited the then famous PADMAKSHI Temple and that he was presented with a sword
and sheild by goddess herself. The sword was blessed to give house victory for
thousand years. There is of course a controversy in
identification of this madhava varma
and his times. The historians differ in placing him between 323 AD and 505 AD
which means that goddess padmakshi temple exists even before that period.
The said madhava varma had his only
son padmasena after the goddess of padmakshi considering his only son as boon of
goddess. In fact no other ruler before Padmasena is having similar name. This
fact would again confirm the existence of padmaskhi temple during 4th century
AD. Till date no other temple of Padmakshi is discovered in and around
this region.
Foundation of kakatiyas:
There is a fact that above said king
padmsena worshipped lord siddeshwara and padmakshi with kushmandas(pumpkins)
Desirous of be getting a son. And by the gods grace a son was born who was
named as Vennama Raju. This must have given Rise to the story of that kakatiyas
are born out of pumpkin creeper. Later the kings after venama raju defeated
many other kings and established their rule. PADMAKSHI goddess is often
referred as KHUSHMANDA by kaktiyas.
How MADHAVA VARMA was Blessed
by PADMAKSHI goddess:
The account of kakatiyas begin with
genealogy of LUNAR race of king as found in puranas. Moon was progenitor of
this race. Pandavas of Mahabarata fame, king janmejaya of sarpayaga etc also
belong to same dyanasty. King SOMA of same dynasty wished to be away from
rivalries, so he crossed river godavari conquered many lands and established a
kingdom. His son king Nanda built a city named nandagiri. He went to
srisailam to worship god Mallikarjuna and there he entered a cave where a Yogi
gave him a sword and shield.
After Several Generations rolled on
King Somadevaraju was born who was known for his prowess in war. He granted
lands to brahmins on both sides of godavari. His cows grazed on pastures along
godavari from Mantrkuta ( present manthani in telangana) to Badrachalam. His
herdsmen made conflicts with officers of king BALLAHA which grew large and
Ballaha waged a war against SOMADEVARAJU and unfortunately Somadevaraju was
defeated and died in this war. At that time his wife SIRIYALA DEVI was
pregnant. She escaped to Hanumakonda into the country of YERUKA DEVA RAJU who
declined for her petition but brahmins of his were more chivalrous. Their
Leader was wise MADHAVA SARMA who is the PUJARI of that then PADMAKSHI temple
offered siriyala devi a refuge and treated her like his daughter. But Ballaha
being aware that came to madhava sarma and enquired about his daughter. All
brahmins supported madhava sarma saying siriyala devi was his daughter but
Ballaha being unsatisfied asked to eat food cooked by her which cannot be done
by brahmins as siriyala devi was a KSHATRIYA lady. But one wise brahmin said
that as Somadeva raju learnt VEDAS. So one who sutdies Vedas is Surely a
Brahmin. Saying that all brahmins eat food cooked by siriyala devi and BALLAHA
leaves.
Later Siryala Devi gives birth to a
male child named MADHAVA VARMA showing her dignity towards madhava sarma. This
madava varma once forgot his slate in PADMAKSHI temple and in the while goddess
PADMAKSHI came there, madhava varma and took his things and leaving seeing that
goddess padmakshi felt delighted and offered him a wish. Then madava
varma asked power to defeat Ballaha. So padmakshi gave him a shield and sword
with which he is undefeated for 1000 years.
Then after he defeats Ballaha and
establishes his rule. After him 15 kings including PRATAPA RUDRA, PROLA-1,
PROLA-II, ruled and used to visit this Padmakshi temple by a Secret way
(swarnga margam).
JAIN INCARNATIONS:
The Famous king of kakatiyas BETHA-1
adopted jainism.Then after the minster of king PROLA-1 named BETHENE PREGGADA
who was a jain and his wife MAILAMAMBA has done many great things in support of
JAINISM. She Rennoovated Padmakshi temple and made JAIN carvings all over the
temple for support of JAINISM.
