Shri Someshwara Temple - Kolanpaka

The straight road from beside the Aleru railway station has two diversions after 6KM.  The straight well laid road leads to Bachchannapet village, the left diversion leads to Shri Someshwara Temple which is about ½ KM from main road, and the right diversion leads to Jain Temple few yards away. 

The road to Someshwara temple is a kachcha road.  An arch is under construction now.

Here Lord Shiva is ‘Swayambhu Linga swaroopa.’ The victory of Shivaite Kings on Rashtrakutas and Kakatiya kings resulted in the strengthening of Shaivism.  Even the Kakatiya kings being Shivaites many Shiva temples were built and patronized.  As there are four temples, Sri Suvarna Someshwaralayam, Ganesha, Rajarajeshwari and Subramanyeshwara temples, it is also called “chathushkutaalayam”.  Here we also find “Sahasralinga” temple.  The ruling king then wanted to install one crore Shiva Linga in his kingdom.  As a thousand were less he got those sculpted on a single Linga, thus completing one crore count.  So this Sahasra Linga temple is also known as ‘Kotilingala’.  The other name for this temple is “pachchala Someshwaralayam”.

Aadi Jagdguru Renukaacharya, the founder of Veera Shaivism is ‘Swayambhu'.  He spread the doctrine of Veera Shaivism.  He established

1)      Someshwara Temple – Kolanpaka

2)      Shri Sidheshwara swamy temple - Ujjaini

3)      Bheemanathswamy temple - Kedaarnath

4)      Mallikarjuna swamy temple - Shrishailam

5)      Shri Vishveshwara swamy temple - Kaashi.

After this he appointed ‘Acharyas’ at all these places and had attained salvation at the Swayambu Linga. 

The forefront mandap has many sculptures of yesteryears and stones with scriptures on either side.  There is a four pillar mandap with nandi in front of Someshwara Temple. This temple in the peaceful environment bestows calmness to the mind and blessings of Almighty.  

Kolanpaka - Someshwara-Sahasralinga Temple Slideshow: Shivarani’s trip to Nalgonda (near Kondapur) was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

 

*The information about the Temple is mostly from the literature collected from the office and book on “Shri Someshwaram (Panagallu)”, written by Acharya Shri Surya Prakash.

 

Swethambara Jain Teerth - Kolanpaka

 Kolanpaka is a village in Aleru mandal of Nalgonda district in the Telangaana.  It is the only ancient Swethambar Jain Temple in India.  The temple is on the bank of Aleru tribute of Musi river (kolan=lake,pak=adorned).  It was also known as kolipaka, kolsupaka.  This is famous for its Shwetambara Manikyadev-Rishabhdev Jain temple and visited by Jains from all over India.

It is believed that the Idol is brought on to earth from heaven lakhs of years ago.

As per mythology, Bharatha Chakravarthi had made an idol of Rishabhdev Swamy from precious, pure stone - jade.  This is worshipped by all the people as Manikyadev.  The Vidyadharas who had seen this beautiful idol had taken it to their place and started worshipping it.  Once Narada Muni visited Vidyadharas and came to know about the Rishabhdev Swamy idol, and the worship of deity bringing happiness and prosperity to the people.  He carried the news to Lord Indra, the king of Gods.  The all powerful Indra secured the Idol and started worshipping it.  As eternal traveler Narada visited Lanka.  He told Mandodari about the precious deity of Manikyadev and resulting happiness and prosperity by worshipping it.  Mandodari wanted to have it.  Ravana worshipped Indra, who presented him the idol.  Mandodari worshipped it regularly. When the destruction of Ravana became imminent Manikyadev appeared to Mandodari in dream and instructed her to install his idol in the sea as Lanka and Ravana’s destruction is certain.  Mandodari followed the instructions.  For a long time the pure jade Idol of Manikyadev-Rishabhdev was in the sea and worshipped by gods there. 

Shankargana Raja was the ruler of Kannada in 7^th century.  An epidemic broke and people were suffering and dying from it.  Mata Padmavathi Devi has appeared in the dream of Shankargana and told him to bring Manikyadev-Rishabhdev Idol from the sea and worshipping it will end sufferings of his people.  Shankargana Raja worships Samudra deva, who appears to grant him precious stones and wealth. Raja refuses and requests for Manikyadev-Rishabhdev idol.  Samudra grants his wish and asks Raja to carry it on his back until he reaches the place of its installation, and never to doubt and look back to see the idol.  Raja agrees.  He carries it, when he reaches Kolanpaka; he feels very light and doubts the presence of idol.  So he looks back.  Then the idol had to be installed in that place only.  The Raja even grants twelve villages for the maintenance of the place of worship. 

Leaving the story of Gods, the important point here is that during the period 647 AD Shankargana was the ruler of Kannada and his son Buddha ruled till 670AD.  Later this kingdom was occupied by other kings.  Because of the epidemic the King wanted to bring Manikyadev-Rishabhdev idol from Manidveep.  After reaching Kolanpaka for some reason the idol was not moved and installed there and revenues from twelve villages granted for the temple maintenance.

  The presence of this temple in the era of Kakatiya rulers – 1110 AD is an established fact.  Jainism received patronage by early Kakatiya rulers.  Parshwanath and Dharmendra-Padmavathi temple in Hanamkonda was built by Mailamma, wife of a Minister under Kakatiya king.  Eastern Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and early Kakatiya Kings welcomed Jains and supported their teachings.   In 1160, confederation of feudal lords, defeated Chalukya king.  Bijjala Raja became the king.  His minister Basaveshwara was a Veerashaivite.  He would spend all the money from treasury to build Shiva Temples and protect Shivaites.  When the Raja restrained him, he killed the king.  The king’s sons drove him out and Basaveshwara committed suicide and gained respect as martyr by Shivaites. Then the Kakatiya king Mahadev was a weak ruler and remained a spectator of all these atrocities.  He was killed by Yadava king and his son Ganapathi was taken prisoner.  During that period the Veera Shivaites systematically destroyed Jain places and Temples and built Shiva Temples.  To protect Manikyadev idol was presented as having Moon in the hair, Sun on the chin and Shivalinga at the umbilicus, and his vehicle as Rishabh (bull).  As all these features, particularly the presence of Linga and Rishabh as vehicle, which is similar to that of Lord Shiva, the Manikyadev-Rishabhdev idol was spared by the Shivaites at Kolanpaka.  Ganapathi got released and took over his kingdom and also extended it.  Though a shivaite, being intelligent and able king he supported Jainism.  The scriptures indicate that during the rule of Pratapa Rudra, the last Kakatiya king, few villages were granted to take care of the maintenance of the Kolanpaka Jain temple.

 Swethambar Manikyadev-Rishabhdev temple is on the Warangal - Hyderabad high way.  It is 70KM from Hyderabad and Hanamkonda.  A road adjacent to Aleru railway station leads straight to Jain temple and Sri Someshwara Temple.  It is 6 KM from the main road. 

The temple is under renovation now.  There are two gigantic neem trees in the premises of temple and keep the surroundings cool even in hot summer.  The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is divided into three. Manikyadev in the centre with Mahavir on the right and Neminath on the left present in meditative posture inspires piety in the visitors.  There is spacious mandap, with high rising ceiling made of bricks of those times.  The ceiling is adorned with sculptures of women playing different musical instruments.  There is also the sculpture depicting Shankargana worshipping Samudra.  The floor has beautifully designed marble floral designs. 

Swethambara Jain Teerth Slideshow: Shivarani’s trip to Warangal was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

Immediately adjoining the main temple, on the left side is Rajarajeshwari Sri Padmavathi Mata and on the right is Seemandar swamy.  There are two other temples in the premises, the left is of four Gurudevas and right also has four Tirthankars.  All the doors are of thick wood with etchings depicting different characters from puranas. The premises is well maintained with gardens. 

Within the temple premises, there are rooms - few occupied by offices and many rooms for the visitors who had come from far away places.  Cell phones, cameras and leather bags are not allowed in.  People completely clothed in black are not allowed to enter the main temple.   Only Jains worship in the temple.  They too should wear the clothes given for pooja.

 Right in front of the temple is a garden which is left abandoned.   There is a Shiva temple here. 

The architecture of the temple is magnificent and the visit is feast to eyes and bliss to soul.

 

 * The information given about the mythology and history is obtained from a book on this place written by Mahopdhyay Vinaysagar in Hindi language – ‘Kolanpak Teerth’.

 

 

Traduce

There seems to be hidden agenda in continued discussions on sociologist’s comments – corruption and OBCs, SCs, STs.  The demand for arrest seems to be politically motivated.   All these people are conveniently forgetting the important part of the statement.  It is more than sixty years since independence.  Still there are states which never allowed BCs, SC-STs and minorities anywhere near to power.  Communists talk of equality and power to all.  But in the state which was ruled by communists for long time has not attempted to achieve their fundamental goal.  The failure of democracy to wipe the class and caste differences in the society is the root cause of all maladies now.  The men in high places, in the government, bureaucracy and media – print and visual, more than 80% are from forward caste.   Making news of ‘dalits – corruption’ gives them more satisfaction and righteous feeling than being critical about failure of socialistic republic in inclusive development.  
After all the explanation and context, instead of being vociferous about the arrest of Ashis Nandy, the political parties should fight and work for upliftment of downtrodden.

Caustic Remarks

It is really outrageous that a sociologist and author have linked corruption to the deprived classes in the society.  His admission, that in the last hundred years nobody from the OBC, SC and ST has come anywhere near to power in West Bengal, only exposes the hollowness of our democracy.  Communists are supposed to work for the upliftment of all classes of people.  The communists who ruled West Bengal for a long time had just been communal and never allowed anyone from lower socioeconomic strata to rise high in life.  Talking of communism they only worked for the benefit of people in the higher social hierarchy.

Though we call our country a democratic there is always a dynastic rule at all levels.  If a politician dies, immediately a member from the family contests and all the political parties in general support it.  People in higher positions, more than 80% in all fields, are from forward castes.  They, in their position, help people belonging to their class.  The lower classes are mostly appointed in lower positions in the governance.  Working under the righteous boss, subordinate rarely dares to become corrupt.  If there is corruption, then there is definitely sharing of the booty with higher authorities.  But, when investigated, only the lower cadre are exposed and punished.  There is a very big list of IAS officers(generally from forward caste) who are corrupt.  They are rarely investigated to a logical end or punished.  If ever there is corruption in the lower classes, in terms of rupees, it is in hundreds and in higher strata it will be hundreds of thousands.  Once, there was a comment from a politician, that a minister’s corruption amounting in few lakhs is insignificant.  The man from ‘bhadralok’ seems to be against the poor and downtrodden and never want them to be part of social and economic development.  Pseudo intellectuals like him should boycotted by all.    

Woman (Human) Rights

The angry and continued protests in Delhi is the outburst of the people of India against the complacent law and order system, against insensitive government, against the corrupt bureaucracy, against the degrading morality in the society and against  denigrating women in the society.  Men are forgetting that along with women the human race can move forward.  Man and woman are two sides of the coin of human life. Egoistic man does not want to recognize woman as equal human being with intelligence and discretion.  Man and woman are complimentary to one another in bringing up the human race.  The direct burden of carrying the human race being on the woman, selfish man, has framed rules to subjugate woman.  In all cultures and religions it is men who think what is best for women.  They codify a ‘Good Woman’ profile and any deviation from profile is regarded blasphemous.  As for man, he is the ‘Lord’ and need not strictly follow the moral code.  Man, to propagate his own genes, and establish his dominion started subjugating woman and treating her as his property. As the woman has to carry his genes – progeny, man wanted woman completely under his control.  This resulted in restricting woman to become birthing and nurturing machine, and sex slave. 

Whatever the progress man had made in this world is unable to come out of this deeply ingrained nature.  Woman in due course of human progress is able to stand and is fighting for her basic human rights, right to live with dignity and equality and special privileges in specific conditions.  Modern woman though financially independent, is still bound by centuries old traditions.  She has to give first priority to domestic duties and then only can take up other occupations for intellectual and financial growth.  Woman stepping out of four walls is becoming prey to the lusty men.  These men say that by coming out of four walls woman herself has invited sexual exploitation.  They forget that woman, irrespective of age and dressing is subjected to sexual harassment even when she is within the boundaries of four walls. 

Men should realize and accept in word and deed that woman is an individual.  Whatever she does, she has complete right on her body.  Whatever she wears or practices does not give any right to any man to touch or sexually assault her.  Any such act should be treated as human rights violation and punished severely.  If the law is strict and provides equal rights to all its subjects, it should treat any overt or covert derogatory gender discrimination as human rights violation and action should be taken immediately.

 

Live to Achieve

Political leaders are always safe.  Ambitious and greedy politicians use gullible people as pawn in achieving political mileage.  They do not mind causing social conflicts and turmoil and even deaths of innocent people.  The state and central government has time to discuss about various problems in the nation, deaths caused by various causes, but conveniently forget about the 900 deaths in the span of two years for cause of Telangaana.  The Indian government takes up the issue of FDI and gets it passed though the main opposition and its important coalition parties are against it.  The government simply refuses to recognize Telangaana issue as a serious socio-political-economic issue and calls it simple sentiment. It doesn’t want to fulfill its responsibility towards protecting the weaker region by passing a Bill, though the main opposition and many other parties are ready to support it.   How is it that the central government gets blinded by politico-financially strong lobby and allows the Telanganites to suffer military and police atrocities?  Doesn’t this government have any responsibility of protecting the oppressed in nation.  The Andhra government dealing the issue reminds me of East Pakistan that existed few decades ago.  The more the oppression, the more the revolt.

In view of the all party meeting on 28^th of December, people are already worried about the outcome.  Though it is expected nothing concrete comes out of it, still people hope that the problem should be solved.  The youth are particularly getting more depressed because of uncertainty of academic careers and loss of their quota of jobs to Andhraites.  This is resulting in taking extreme step in some desperate youngsters.  The greedy leaders, though aware of the persisting social turmoil in Telangaana, talk about suicides.  This is cruel psychological infliction on already stressed Telangaana youth.  I hope that good sense prevails in the leaders, and all in their own way, talk of living and fighting to achieve Telangaana state. 

To achieve something it is important to live and struggle.  Live and struggle.  Struggle to achieve the goal.  Life is to live.  Live to achieve.

JAI TELANGAANA.  JAYAHO TELANGAANA.

Bringing Up Children

The imprisonment of the Indian couple in Norway had brought forth the topic of brining up children by the parents, rights and responsibilities of parents and rights of children.  Children are innocent and do not understand the consequences of their acts. It becomes the responsibility of the parents to guide them.  This requires lot of patience.  Children sometimes unknowingly do acts that upset parents socially and emotionally.    Young parents, under stress sometimes punish kids severely, often injuring the child physically or mentally.  Severity of punishment causing physical or mental trauma is due to lack of awareness in the parent. 

To take up any skilled or intellectual job, appropriate education and training is mandatory.  Parenting is a serious intellectual and skilled job often taxing physical and mental abilities.  But, generally it is taken as natural phenomenon.  Other than human beings, this is quite natural and lasts only until the offspring learns to move on its own and learn to procure food for it.  Human parenting is more complicated in this ever changing world.  Parents always want their child to be the best in the society and wants to train, often overburdening the child’s abilities.  Inability to conform to parental requisition often leads to mental disturbances in the child.  Lacking intelligence and physical strength to protest the child suffers.  This suffering will have a bearing on the behavior and character of the person in future.  Family environment, love and affection showered by the parents, along with their type and extent of punishments will impact the child’s ability to adjust in life and society in future. 

In India it is considered that parents have all rights on the children, any time they have to abide by parents’ decision.  ‘Spare the rod, spoil the child’, is very much imbibed in the Indian psyche.  To control the child from doing undesirable things, often, physically traumatizing punishments are given.  They forget these often leave mental scars.  Usually in joint families elderly members intervene in such conditions.  In the nuclear families, ambitious young couples, sometimes, do not understand their limitations in treating the children in difficult situations.  People outside the family intervene only when things are gross.  Whatever may be the difficulty in bringing up the children, inflicting physical injury is seriously bad parenting.  In such condition, the family, parents and children need good counseling.

Education and maturity of the person and giving birth to child only when desired goes a long way in bringing up children.  Also, preconception and postnatal counseling preparing for parenting and to cope up with its stress will be helpful to young parents.

The Indian couple, being young and living away from native land, trying to adjust to different culture might have had immense stress.  To live with a child with mental compromises could have made them to take extreme steps so as to make the child disciplined and well adaptable as to his age and place. The extent of physical trauma, resulting mental agony and fear of parents in the kid is really pathetic.  This situation did rise because of the lack of understanding in the couple.  They did need some strong counseling.  The kid though scared still attached to parents.  Separation of kids from the parents is traumatizing to entire family.  This again will affect the children in their development.  By now the couple had learnt their lesson.  Separation of children from parents is becoming punishment to children also.  I hope the couple will be released earliest and take care of the children with lots of affection and understanding.

A child with all the experiences since birth will grow into a man/woman.  This will have a bearing on their parenting.  ‘A child is the father of a man’.