Nature’s marvel exposed to unabated destruction

Sangareddy: A nature’s marvel, which has been a witness to civilization, still thrives in the rocky terrain adorned in Edthanur on the outskirts of Sangareddy. It proves to be a paradise for historians, archaeologists, adventurers and nature’s enthusiasts. But it may not be able to survive the onslaught of human greed and administrative negligence.

It has been three years since granite quarrying has been going on causing grave danger to the existence of the historically significant Edthanur caves. Edthanur village, which comes under Sangareddy mandal, is famous for Chowdamma Thalli Jatara. The local festival, which is held a few days before Sankranti, attracts thousands of devotees to Chowdamma’s abode in a cave at Chowdamma Gutta, one of the seven hillocks.

The cave temple of Bayyanna, her brother, is located close-by. According to the local folklore Chowdamma is considered as daughter of Lord Shiva and according to some she is the form of Nalla Pochamma. As per historians, they were probably local heroes. In one of the cave is Lord Venkateshwara and Padmavathi. All the idols are intrinsically carved on granite rocks. Historians are clueless when these idols were carved.

Apart from these, there is a Shiva temple on the hill and two Chowdamma temples newly constructed, separately by Malas and Madigas (SCs), as they are not allowed to enter the main temple. An interesting story about Devathala Kuccha that is popular among the locals is mystic powers of Jogayya. He was the only person who could enter caves of the hill during Shravana Masa to perform rituals before statues of gods and goddesses.

People say that he used to go empty handed and return with fruits and eatables. Locals now claim that one could hear devotional songs from the caves during Shravana Masa. One of the hills is Dongala Dhone (thieves’ cave), named after Kaveti Baganna and Erkali Joganna, who used to terrorise landlords, extort money and distribut it among the poor. They enjoyed great respect among the locals and used to live in the caves of Dongala Dhone.

In an open land between the hills is Lonepet, where elephants used to be sold. Close to Lonepet is Lambadi Daani Chelime, a spring where water used to flow from an aquifer to the surface. In recent years, the spring has gone dry.During the period of Nizam rule, Edthanur was connected with Golconda through a route known as Patnam Baata (way to city).

The most interesting of all is Koyyala Golusu, one of the hills. Rock paintings depicting humans in hunting posture with spears, deer, cattle and other animals can be seen in the caves of these hills. The paintings look startlingly similar to cave paintings of neolithic and megalithic periods found in other parts of the world. The paintings are a proof that humans had made the caves their home thousands of years ago.

Similar paintings can also be found inside a cave on Chowdamma Gutta. Locals call the paintings Gangi Aavulu (holy cows). Most of the paintings have faded off with the passage of time. Some are still bright and clear. The painters used pigments which gave reddish colour to their art.

There are agricultural fields at the foot of these rocky hills, where even until today, pieces of ancient pottery similar to the ones recovered during excavations in Kondapur and Pulluru villages in Medak district can be found lying in pieces. There are beautiful stone carvings of what looked like tribals, carved beautifully on huge granite rocks. These carvings lay neglected near one of the fields.