Ancient Telangana History Lecture Notes

తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర: పరిచయం - ప్రాచీన చరిత్ర

Lecture by: Koppu Naresh (Subject Expert, T-SAT)

Introduction: Significance of Telangana History

• Telangana is one of the most ancient regions in India (భారతదేశంలో అత్యంత పురాతనమైన ప్రాంతాల్లో ఒకటి).
• Common misconception: Telangana history starts only from the Satavahanas.
• Reality: Telangana's history is much older, predating the Satavahanas.
• Evidence suggests early human settlements (మొదట తెలుగు ప్రాంతాల్లో తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతంలోనే జీవించడం).

Pre-Satavahana Telangana: The Mahajanapada Period

• Telangana history significantly predates the Satavahanas (శాతవాహనుల కంటే ముందే మన చరిత్ర ప్రారంభం).
• Telangana flourished even during the 6th Century BCE, the era of the Shodasha Mahajanapadas (16 Great Republics/Kingdoms).
• The Assaka (or Asmaka) Mahajanapada was located in the present-day Telangana region.
• Its capital was Potana (పోతన), which is identified with modern Bodhan (బోధన్) in Nizamabad district.
• Bodhan was also known later as Paudhanyapuramu (పౌధన్యాపురము).

Rulers and Religions in Assaka/Bodhan

• According to Jain texts:
  • Rishabhanatha (considered emperor of Bharatavarsha) divided his kingdom among his sons.
  • His son Bahubali (బాహుబలి) ruled from Potana/Bodhan.
  • Bahubali is also known as Gomateshwara (గోమటేశ్వర).
  • Many Bahubali idols were found in the Bodhan forests, although smaller than the famous 57-ft statue at Sravanabelagola (erected by Chavundaraya, who was inspired by Bodhan idols).
• According to Buddhist texts:
  • The ruler of Assaka was Sujata (సుజాతుడు).
  • Sujata was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha.
  • The Buddhist monk Bavari lived on the banks of the Godavari river and sent his disciples to Buddha. Mentioned in Sutta Nipata.
• Both Buddhism and Jainism gained prominence in this region during the 6th Century BCE. Historical evidence from excavations confirms this.

Archaeological Evidence from Key Sites

• Excavations provide proof of early historical settlements. Key sites mentioned:
• Dhulikatta (ధూళికట్ట): Peddapalli district (Old Karimnagar).
• Phanigiri (ఫణిగిరి) & Gajulabanda (గాజులబండ): Suryapet district (Old Nalgonda).
• Kondapur (కొండాపూర్): Sangareddy district (Old Medak).
• Nelakondapalli (నేలకొండపల్లి): Khammam district.
• These sites indicate the presence of developed Buddhist centers (ప్రముఖ బౌద్ధ స్థలాలు).

Kotilingala (కోటి లింగాల)

• Located 38 km northeast of Jagtial, in Velgatoor Mandal, on the right bank of the Godavari river.
• Excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology from 1979 to 1987.
• Revealed many new aspects of early history.
• Pre-Satavahana mud fort (మట్టి కోట) found here.
• Evidence of local rulers before Satavahanas: Gobhada (గోబద), Kamvaya (కంవాయ), Narana (నరణ), Samagopa (సమగోప). Their coins were discovered in layers below Satavahana levels.
• Significance: Confirms local rule before Satavahana dominance.
• Dr. P.V. Parabrahma Sastry, Dr. N.S. Ramachandra Murthy, Dr. Deme Raja Reddy, Dr. Y. Jithendar Reddy researched these coins.
• Dr. Raja Reddy's theory: Simukha (శ్రీముఖుడు), the Satavahana founder, initially served under Samagopa, later became independent, started rule from Kotilingala, and then expanded north towards Paithan.
• Kotilingala is considered the first capital of the Satavahanas (శాతవాహన రాజ్య తొలి రాజధాని కోటిలింగాల).
• Origin of name: A Linga was installed on a bastion (బురుజు) of the fort and worshipped as Koteswara Swamy, leading to the name Kotilingala.
• Mentioned by Megasthenes in his Indica as one of the 30 walled cities of the Andhras.
• The mud fort (మట్టి గోడ) dimensions: 1000 meters length, 300 meters width, 10 meters height.
• Maharathi (మహారధి) and Mahatalavara (మహాతలవర) coins found at Kondapur, Hyderabad, and Kotilingala.
• Coins of Sivamahahasthin (శివమహాహస్తిన్) and Sivaskandhahasthin (శివస్కంధహస్తిన్) found at Veerapuram.

Origin of the Name "Telangana" (తెలంగాణ పద ఉత్పత్తి)

• Trilinga Desam (త్రిలింగ దేశం):
  • Mentioned in Skanda Purana.
  • Region between three major Shaivite shrines: Srisailam, Draksharamam, and Kaleshwaram.
  • This region was named Trilinga Desam.
• Early Literary References:
  • Early centuries CE - Primary literary works Markandeya Purana and Vayu Purana mention Tilinga (తిలింగ) and Telinga (తెలింగ). (Prakrit/Sanskrit terms).
  • Nannaya (11th Century) in Adi Parvam of Mahabharata mentions the Telinga (తెలింగ) region.
  • Hemadri (Yadava minister) in his work Vratakhandamu (వ్రతఖండం) described Kakatiya Rudradeva as Trilingadhipati (త్రిలింగాధిపతి) and Andhra Maharagna (ఆంధ్ర మహారాజ్ఞ).
  • Vidyanaatha (court poet of Prataparudra II) mentioned Trilinga Desam in his work Prataparudra Yashobhushanam.
• Evolution of the term:
  • Tilinga / Telinga -> Possibly evolved into Telugu.
  • The people were called Telingulu / Tailangulu (తెలుంగులు/తైలంగులు).
  • Telangana means "Land of the Telugu speaking people" (తెలుగు వారు ఉండే దేశం). It's an ancient word (ప్రాచీన పదం).
  • In inscriptions (శాసనాలు), the term Tilingamu (తిలింగము) is found.
  • Muslim historians used the term Tiling (తిలింగ్).
  • 12th Century Kurkyala Shasanam also mentions the word Telunga (తెలుంగ).
  • 14th Century Srirangam Tamra Shasanam (copper plate inscription) mentions the borders of Trilinga Desam.
  • After Kakatiya fall, Muslim historians popularized the term Telangana (తెలంగాణ). They brought it into circulation.
  • Abul Fazl (Mughal court poet) mentioned Telangana.
  • Prolaya Nayaka's Vilasa Tamra Shasanam has references to Telangana.
  • Srikrishnadevaraya's inscriptions (Chinnakanji, Tirumala) also mention Telangana forts during his campaigns.
  • Anurvali (commander of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq) invaded Telangana, then Coastal Andhra. In his inscriptions in Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) mosque, he used the term Telangana for the conquered region.
  • Medak district, Tellapur inscription (1417 CE) uses the term 'Telungana' (తెలుంగాణ).
  • Under Asaf Jahi rule, when Coastal Andhra went under British control, it was called Andhra.
  • The Telugu regions under Nizam's rule (నిజాం పాలనలోని తెలుగు ప్రాంతాలు) became firmly known as Telangana.

Telangana Historical Periods Overview

• Historians divide human history into two broad periods:
  1. Purva-Charitraka Yugam (పూర్వ-చారిత్రక యుగం): Prehistoric Age - Before the invention/use of script (లిపి నేర్చుకోక ముందున్న యుగం).
  2. Charitraka Yugam (చారిత్రక యుగం): Historic Age - After the invention/use of script (లిపి నేర్చుకున్న తర్వాత). Characterized by written records (లిఖిత ఆధారాలు).
• Telangana Prehistoric history is known through Archaeological research (పురావస్తు పరిశోధనల ద్వారా).
• Human habitation in Nalgonda (Nagarjunakonda, Yeleswaram) shows continuous settlement from the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) to the Historic period (పాతరాతి యుగ తొలిదశ నుంచి చారిత్రక యుగం వరకు అవిచ్ఛిన్నంగా కొనసాగింది).
• This civilization's continuity even after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization (సింధూ నాగరికత పతనం తర్వాత కూడా కొనసాగింది).

Key Archaeological Researchers in Telangana

• Archaeological research in India formally began around 1801.
• Robert Bruce Foote (Geologist): Pioneer researcher, discovered Brihat Shila Yuga Samadhulu (Megalithic burials) in Valigonda (Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Dist) in the mid-19th Century. Laid the foundation for prehistoric studies in Telangana.
• Meadows Taylor: Researched Brihat Shila Yuga (Megalithic) remains in Narkatpalli (Nalgonda Dist).
• William King & Wake Field: Researched in Khammam, Warangal districts.
• Doria Bell & Walker: Researched in Hasmathpet (Hyderabad Dist).
• Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf: Appointed by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan to study tribal issues. Authored "Tribal Hyderabad". Conducted research in Adilabad district, finding remains of the Prachina Shila Yugam (Paleolithic Age).
• F.R.V. Allchin & P. Srinivas: Excavated at Utnoor (ఉట్నూరు) / Uttanur (ఉత్తనూరు) (Jogulamba Gadwal Dist, Aija Mandal). Found Ash Mounds (బూడిద బాడులు) related to the Naveena Shila Yugam (Neolithic Age).
• Kagglis Brown: Conducted research in Bhadrachalam area (Bhadradri Kothagudem Dist). Found 35 types of ancient stone tools (ప్రాచీన శిలాయుగ పనిముట్లు) in a 50-yard area.
• V.V. Krishna Sastry: Excavated at Kolhapur (Nagarkurnool Dist).
• B.R. Subrahmanyam: Excavated at Nagarjunakonda and Yeleswaram. Uncovered remains from the Prehistoric Age.
• Hyderabad State Department of Archaeology (founded 1953) published "Antiquarian Remains in Hyderabad State" listing 118 prehistoric sites as protected.
• S.S. Rao (1966): Researched Stone Age remains in the Musi River Valley (Nalgonda Dist).