శ్రీకాకుళం: The village that inspired a classic

TENALI: Vijayanagara king కృశ్ణదేవరాయ(Krishnadevaraya) was believed to have got the inspiration to write his classic ఆముక్తమల్యద (Amuktamalyada) after taking rest in a kalyana mandapa in this little known village in Krishna district.

The classic play చింతామణి (Chintamani) was also believed to have had its lead character hailing from this village.

These are some of the interesting aspects, which came to light with the efforts of an award-winning retired teacher, Ponukumati Venkata Subbaiah, who had embarked on a gigantic task of chronicling the history of Srikakulam village of Ghantasala mandal in Krishna district from all possible sources.

The village is just four km from Gajulanka village in Guntur district and is considered the first place for pilgrimage in the Krishna delta region.

Mr. Subbaiah had referred to various sources like books and inscriptions concerning the village.

Temple history

The book begins from the history of the Vishnu temple. There were evidences of the early Andhras settling in the village and the building the temple in the village started in 4th century A.D.

The Satavahanas' early capital was Srikakulam and there are evidences to prove that this was the first capital of the Andhras, claims the author in this book. During his military exploits to Kalinga, Krishnadevaraya was believed to have performed ekadasa vratham and took rest in the kalyana mandapam in the village.

It was during that time that he got a dream in which Kakulaswamy appeared in his dream and instructed him to write the Amuktamalyada and dedicate it to Lord Venkateshwara.

Even today, the locals call the kalyana mandapa as ఆముక్తమల్యద మండప (Amuktamalyada mandapa) and believe that taking a nap there would enable one to have darshan of Kakulaswamy.

The shrine was also described in Bramhanda Puranam and Skanda Puranam. There were evidences of `devadasi' system that existed during the times in the region.

The book would be released in a special function to be held by the Sarada Sahiti Samskruta Samithi at Tenali on Sunday.

Courtesy: The Hindu