Mangalagiri
Encyclopedia
Mangalagiri is a town
, and a mandal
of Guntur District
of Andhra Pradesh
, India
. Mangalagiri is a part of Vijayawada
urban agglomeration. It is situated on the Guntur-Vijayawada road, 8 miles (12.9 km) to the south-east of Vijayawada
and 13 miles (20.9 km) to the north-east of Guntur City.
inscription, recording grants of villages. It is dated AD 1520 and mentions the capture of Kondavidu by Timmarasu, general of Krishna Deva Raya, in 1515 from the Gajapati rulers of Kalinga
(ancient Orissa
). Another stone near the temple of Garudalvar has inscriptions on four sides recording grants in the reign of Sadasiva Raya
of Vijayanagara Empire
AD 1538. The lofty gopuram in the temple at the foot of the hill was erected by Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
in 1807-1809,and in terms of sculpture and architecture this temple stands to be an ultimate testimant for the ancient vishwakarma sthapathis in planning and sculpting these temples.
Mangalagiri was under the control of Golkonda Nawabs for a long period. It was plundered by in 1780 by Hyder Ali but could not be conquered. In 1816, a gang of Pindaris again looted the place. It slowly recovered from these two attacks during the time of Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
who ruled the place from Amaravati. There is a big koneru (tank) in the center of the place which went to dry in 1882. As many as 9,840 guns and 44 bullets which might have been related to pindaris have been found here after the pindaris looted this place.
The picturesque hill was visited by the great Sri Krishna Deva Raya.
, Mangalagiri had a population of 61,981. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Mangalagiri has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 59%. In Mangalagiri, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
There is an interesting legend to show how the mountain came into existence. The mountain itself is in the form of an elephant. Pariyatra, an ancient king, had a son - Hrasva Srungi. He visited all holy and sacred places to regain normal bodily stature and finally visited this holy place of Mangalagiri and stayed for three years performing penance. All the Devathas (Gods) advised him to stay at Mangalagiri and continue to do penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. The father of Hrasva Srungi came with his retinue to bring his son back to his kingdom. But Hrasva Srungi took the shape of an elephant to become the abode of Lord Vishnu who is locally known as Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy.
The temple of Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy is situated on the hill. On the right side of the steps (provided to reach the temple), there is a stone inscription by Sri Krishna deva Raya of Vijayanagar, and a little further up, the foot prints of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
can be seen. Midway up the steps, there is a temple of Lord Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy; there is only the face with the mouth opened wide. A dhwajasthambham was erected in front of the temple in 1955. Behind the temple, there is the temple of Sri Lakshmi; to the west, there is a tunnel which is believed to lead to the Undavalli caves
on the banks of the Krishna River
.
The stone inscription of the kings of Vijayanagar relate besides to the conquest of Raya over Kondaplli etc., that Siddiraju Thimmarajayya Devara granted a total of 200 kunchams (10 kunchams make one acre) of land in 28 villages of which Mangalagiri was one and gift of 40 kunchams by China Thirumalayya to Ramanujakutam.
Mangalagiri is located on National Highway No.5 that connects Kolkata
and Chennai
. One can reach Mangalagiri trough on road by a bus either from Vijayawada or Guntur or Tenali. It has also a railway station by the same name in Guntur
-Vijayawada
section of Guntur division
under the South Central Railway
. Other modes of transport like a taxi services and auto rickshaws can also be used.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, and a mandal
Subdivisions of India
The Administrative divisions of India are Indian subnational administrative units; they compose a nested hierarchy of country subdivisions. Indian states and territories frequently use different local titles for the same level of subdivision The Administrative divisions of India are Indian...
of Guntur District
Guntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Mangalagiri is a part of Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
urban agglomeration. It is situated on the Guntur-Vijayawada road, 8 miles (12.9 km) to the south-east of Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
and 13 miles (20.9 km) to the north-east of Guntur City.
History
Mangalagiri means 'The holy hill'. Near the foot of the stone flight of steps is a stone pillar with a TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
inscription, recording grants of villages. It is dated AD 1520 and mentions the capture of Kondavidu by Timmarasu, general of Krishna Deva Raya, in 1515 from the Gajapati rulers of Kalinga
Kalinga
Kalinga is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north...
(ancient Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
). Another stone near the temple of Garudalvar has inscriptions on four sides recording grants in the reign of Sadasiva Raya
Sadasiva Raya
Tuluva Sadasiva Raya was a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, a powerful South Indian empire based in the Deccan in 16th century India.When the Vijayannagara ruler, Achyuta Raya who was half brother of Krishnadeva Raya died in AD 1541, his son, Venkatadri, succeeded him...
of Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
AD 1538. The lofty gopuram in the temple at the foot of the hill was erected by Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu was the last king of the Vasireddy Clan that ruled parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh from 1413 until the advent of the British. He was popularly known as the first king who revolted against British in India. The original seat of power was Chintapalli in present-day...
in 1807-1809,and in terms of sculpture and architecture this temple stands to be an ultimate testimant for the ancient vishwakarma sthapathis in planning and sculpting these temples.
Mangalagiri was under the control of Golkonda Nawabs for a long period. It was plundered by in 1780 by Hyder Ali but could not be conquered. In 1816, a gang of Pindaris again looted the place. It slowly recovered from these two attacks during the time of Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu was the last king of the Vasireddy Clan that ruled parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh from 1413 until the advent of the British. He was popularly known as the first king who revolted against British in India. The original seat of power was Chintapalli in present-day...
who ruled the place from Amaravati. There is a big koneru (tank) in the center of the place which went to dry in 1882. As many as 9,840 guns and 44 bullets which might have been related to pindaris have been found here after the pindaris looted this place.
The picturesque hill was visited by the great Sri Krishna Deva Raya.
Geography
Mangalagiri is located at 16.43°N 80.55°E. It has an average elevation of 9 metres (29 ft).Demographics
As of the 2001 India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Mangalagiri had a population of 61,981. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Mangalagiri has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 59%. In Mangalagiri, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Sacred places
This place is one of the eight important Mahakshetrams (sacred places) in India. The eight places where Lord Vishnu manifested himself are (1) Sri Rangam (2) Srimushnam (3) Naimisam (4) Pushkaram (5) Salagamdri (6) Thothadri (7) Narayanasramam (8) Venkatadri. According to sayings, Thotadri is the present Mangalagiri.There is an interesting legend to show how the mountain came into existence. The mountain itself is in the form of an elephant. Pariyatra, an ancient king, had a son - Hrasva Srungi. He visited all holy and sacred places to regain normal bodily stature and finally visited this holy place of Mangalagiri and stayed for three years performing penance. All the Devathas (Gods) advised him to stay at Mangalagiri and continue to do penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. The father of Hrasva Srungi came with his retinue to bring his son back to his kingdom. But Hrasva Srungi took the shape of an elephant to become the abode of Lord Vishnu who is locally known as Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy.
The temple of Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy is situated on the hill. On the right side of the steps (provided to reach the temple), there is a stone inscription by Sri Krishna deva Raya of Vijayanagar, and a little further up, the foot prints of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
can be seen. Midway up the steps, there is a temple of Lord Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy; there is only the face with the mouth opened wide. A dhwajasthambham was erected in front of the temple in 1955. Behind the temple, there is the temple of Sri Lakshmi; to the west, there is a tunnel which is believed to lead to the Undavalli caves
Undavalli caves
The Undavalli Caves , an example of Indian rock-cut architecture and a finest testimonial of ancient vishwakarma sthapathis, are located in the village of Undavalli in Tadepalli Mandal in Guntur District, near the southern bank of Krishna river, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.The caves are...
on the banks of the Krishna River
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
.
The stone inscription of the kings of Vijayanagar relate besides to the conquest of Raya over Kondaplli etc., that Siddiraju Thimmarajayya Devara granted a total of 200 kunchams (10 kunchams make one acre) of land in 28 villages of which Mangalagiri was one and gift of 40 kunchams by China Thirumalayya to Ramanujakutam.
Villages under Mangalagiri Mandal
- Atmakuru
- Bethapudi
- Chinakakani
- Chinavadlapudi
- Kaja
- Krishnayapalem
- Kuragallu
- Mandadam
- Navuluru
- Neerukonda
- Nidamarru
- Nuthakki
- Pedavadlapudi
- Ramachandrapuram
- Yerrabalem
Transport
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
and Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. One can reach Mangalagiri trough on road by a bus either from Vijayawada or Guntur or Tenali. It has also a railway station by the same name in Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
-Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
section of Guntur division
Guntur division
Guntur Railway Division is one of the six divisions of South Central Railway , a zone of the Indian Railways. SCR has its head quarters at Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh and serves almost the whole of the state of Andhra Pradesh, a large part of Maharashtra along with small portions of Madhya...
under the South Central Railway
South Central Railway
The South Central Railway is one of the 16 railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Secunderabad and has the following divisions:# Secunderabad# Hyderabad# Guntakal # Vijayawada# Guntur# Nanded...
. Other modes of transport like a taxi services and auto rickshaws can also be used.
Schools in and around
- C.K High School (the first High School in Mangalagiri)
- C.K Junior College (the first Junior College in Managalgiri)
- V.T.J.M & I.V.T.R Degree College (the First Degree College in Mangalagiri)
- New Kennedy High School
- Nagarjuna High School, Pedavadlapudi.
- Nirmala English Medium High School, Atmakur
- Aravinda Model School
- Sri Saraswathi Vidyalaya English Medium School
- Vani Tutorial College
- Chaitanya High School
- Gowtham School
- Aravinda High school , Kunchanapalli
- Prabhala Lakshminaraya Memorial Degree College, Opp. ANU Men's Hostel, Nagarjunagar-522510
- KAMM Jr. College, Opp. ANU Men's Hostel
- Prabhala PG College for Women, opposite Acharya Nagarjuna University Men's Hostel
- Nagarjuna public school