Do you know Telangana temples where disputes used to be settled between warring parties?

Hyderabad: Settling disputes in temples is not uncommon even today. From time immemorial, people looked up to Gods for help in resolving disputes by taking vows inside temples. Not just common people, but even politicians today challenge others facing allegations to come clear in a temple!

There are many temples across the country including one near Hyderabad which was once famous for settling disputes.

The 12th-century Someshwara Swamy temple in Kolanupaka village of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district was used for settling disputes among people apart from fulfilling one wishes.

Nyaya Linga (Justice Linga)

Those having disputes would come to the Nyaya Lingam in the Pramana Mandapam, located in front of the Sri Chandikamba Sametha Someshwara Swamy temple, to settle the disputes.

Located about 100 km from Hyderabad after the famed Yadagirigutta on the Warangal highway, the Someshwara Swamy temple with its rich history attracts devotees from all over Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and other states even today.

Kolanupaka or Kollipaka is also famous as Jain pilgrim center housing a 2,000-year-old Jain Mahavira temple, whose construction is rich in intricate carvings. Thousands of Jains across the country and the globe visit the temple.

Temple built by Kakatiyas

Someshwara Swamy temple was built around the 12th century by the Kakatiya kings. The main deity of the temple is Swayambhu Linga known as Someshwara Lingam. Also present here is Lord Shiva in human form, unlike the common Linga form in other temples. The other presiding deity in the temple is Goddess Sakthi Matha Chandikamba.

There is also a huge Saharsalinga inside one of the temple sanctums called Veyi Lingala Gudi (Thousand Lingas temple). The Mahadwaram (main entrance) of the temple is built in the Kakatiya style. There are many beautiful sculptures of various Gods and Goddesses.

A Linga named Nyayalinga is also situated here. Sri Jagadhguru Renukacharya Lingothbhava Moorthy can also be seen at the back of Someshwara Swamy inside the sanctum sanctorum. It is said that disputes used to be settled here.

The temple architecture hosts typical Kakatiya-era mandapa pillars that show square blocks with circular discs in many parts. In front of the temple, there is a four-pillared Nandi mandapa with a Kakatiyan Nandi sitting inside.

The temple complex also houses an archaeological Museum in the front pillared corridor area and this museum gallery holds many sculptures dating back to the 10th and 14th century that were found in the region

Kolanupaka was once known as Kollipaka according to the inscriptions of the 10th-13th century A D. This region was ruled successively by Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas of Kalyani, and Kakatiyas of Warangal.

Birthplace of Renukacharya

Literary evidence shows that it was one of the great centers of the Shaiva religion and the birthplace of Renukacharya, one of the great Veerashaiva saints.

Kolanupaka has a large number of remains of temples and sculptures. Three temples stand prominent among these remains---the Jain Temple, Siranarayana, and Someshwara Temple.

Sri Chandikamba Sametha Someshwaraswami temple, as is called by locals, is part of ancient Trilinga Desam comprising famous Shiva temples the others being the Sri Kolanupaka Swayambhu Someshwar Swamy lingam, Srisaila Mallikarjuna Swamy lingam in Kurnool district and the Draksharamam (Bheemanath) lingam in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Among the main attractions of this temple are the Shiva Linga, Nandi, and Dhwaja Sthabham, all arranged at equal distances and in a straight line.

Veerashaiva Lingayats and other Shiva devotees from Telangana state, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and other states visit the temple in large numbers and celebrate Renukacharya Jayanti annually.

Since the temple was in ruins, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao asked the Endowments Department and other departments to develop Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadagirigutta and Someshwara Swamy temple in Kolanupaka.

The government sanctioned Rs 2 crore and the renovation of the temple has already begun. “Renovation work has begun, but we need more funds for its restoration. It is a painstaking task. It’s a very ancient temple and rich in history. It will be restored to its past glory,” G Kishan Rao, Vice Chairman and CEO of Yadadri Temple Development Authority (YTDA) told NewsMeter.

Says Jagdev Hiremath, president, Rashtra Veerashaiva Dharma Prachara Sangham. “Kolanupaka was the second capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas during the 11th century. It’s a great Shiva pilgrimage center. We are trying our best with the help of the government to renovate the temple. We celebrate Renukacharya Jayanti with gusto annually,”

Department of Archaeology and Museums has identified about 100 sculptures and inscriptions belonging to Hinduism and Jainism around Kolanupaka.

Interestingly, Kolanupaka also houses mutts of over 18 castes/communities including Pedda Matam, Gaundla Matam, Kurva Matam, Medari Matam, Golla Matam, Padmashali Matam, Komati Matam, Kapula Matam, Madiga Matam, Mala Matam, Ganiga Matam, Meru Matam, Sangari Matam, Sakali Matam, Nakasha Matam, Vadrangi Matam, Mamaya Matam, and Dwala Matam among others.

Among the famed sculptures of Hindus and Jains at Kolanupaka include the manasthambha (victory pillar) of Tribhuvanamalla with an inscription mentioning the date 1076-1127 AD, and a Kodanda Rama statue of the 12th Century Vijayanagara period.

The temple has Ganapathi and Nataraja idols and Mahavir in the yoga posture of the Chalukya period in the 12th century.

Since it is located near to Hyderabad, its worth visiting though it doesn’t have proper facilities for overnight stay