|
Page9
The lithic records,
preserved in the temple, however, do not take us back earlier t4an the 14th century A.D.
when the Kakathiya king, Prataparudra was ruling at Warangal. The earliest inscriptions of
the temple refer only to his reign. The Vijayanagar kings greatly improved the temple, and
Harihara the second in, 1405 A.D., constructed the Mukhamantapa in front of the shrine
chamber. Proudhadeva Raya of the same dynasty also visited the temple. The Saluva line of
kings built some tanks in the temple. Krishnadeva Raya, the famous Vijayanagar king
visited the temple, and built a row of houses on either side of the Car street, and
presented tax-free villages to the temple and also remitted the toll on horses, bullocks
and asses. His subordinate, Chandrasekhara Raya presented golden images of Nandi and
Bhringi to the shrine and a certain chief named Santhalinga constructed a water channel
for the benefit of the pilgrims and also bestowed many villages to the Jangam Brahmins. He
also repaired with gold the caves of the Much mantapa and also repaired the door at the
gateways.
|
