Temples destroyed for hidden treasure in Nallamala forest
The Nallamala forest, most of which is spread over Kurnool district has been a permanent hunting ground for those who want to become rich quickly by digging into the treasure. In pursuit of wealth, treasure hunters are destroying the ancient temples. Sri Giri, the abode of Lord Shiva at Srisailam has been hotly pursued by wealth hunters, according to a Shivite, an expert, who did extensive resear
Kurnool: The Nallamala forest, most of which is spread over Kurnool district has been a permanent hunting ground for those who want to become rich quickly by digging into the treasure. In pursuit of wealth, treasure hunters are destroying the ancient temples. Sri Giri, the abode of Lord Shiva at Srisailam has been hotly pursued by wealth hunters, according to a Shivite, an expert, who did extensive research on different cults in the past hundred years.
Highlights:
- State govt banned night travel in and out of Srisailam temple ghat road after a report stated 2,500 tonnes of gold buried under temple
- Hunt for hidden treasures in Nallamala forest is still going on despite police arrested several persons in the recent past
It is said that a Professor from Harvard University on Eastern Religions was commissioned to report on Srisailam findings. There is a vast research available on Srisailam in Western Universities than in our universities, said an Indologist and agama expert. Even today many temples are uprooted and destroyed by several treasure hunters in Nallamala forest. The Archeology departments of state and centre are resource-less and powerless to stop these greedy hunters who at times do these things with full support of the politicians.
A mining engineer, who studied the Srisailam temple and its surroundings, said that there would be more than 2,500 tonnes of gold buried under the temple premises. After his report, the state government banned all night travel in and out of Srisailam temple ghat road. This is what the western multinational companies are aiming to dig out the hidden treasures from India. Ahobilam temple in the Nallamala forest of Kurnool district was in focus a few years back that an underground den-sealed with big stones just in front of main deity-contains gold and diamonds of 16th-century King Krishnadevaraya.
The police in the recent past have arrested several persons for their involvement in treasure hunting. According to a historian, during the battle of Talikota when the front line Vijayanagara armies were defeated, the backup army under the Commander in Chief Tirumalaraya, who was waiting across the river Krishna, decided to save the wealth of the kingdom rather than fight the battle.
By V Narendra Kumar
