AMARAVATHI

ANTIQUITY

There is abundant source material in the form of books and sculptural remains testifying to its spectacular past, and the exemplary role it played, registering and broadcasting the special Andhra Culture through fine arts. Among the Puranas, Skanda Purana, can be singled out for understanding the divine associations it had in the past. Inscriptions bear evidence for the huge endownments made by the royal families, like Raja Vasireddy Venkaswami, Sri Krishna Devaraya, Satavahanas etc. to the temple and educational institutions. Labour pays rich dividends, and presents a spectacle of its apurva vaibhava.

Its glory rises from the fall of a big chunk of Sivalinga worn on the person of Tarakasura, when scattered into pieces by the potent spear of Subrahmanya, the Field-Marshall of Devasena. According to legend, the demon Taraka on obtaining potential boons from Lord Siva after ghora tapas, turned a veritable yama to mortals and immortals too. His unbridled and unending danava krityas made life unendurable to the people . The Suras, along with devout and reverent experienced narakabadha with their physical bodies still living, instead of undergoing it in yamaloka. Gods, tortured and taunted day in and day out, braved war against Tarka, of course, under the instigation of Devendra, whose existence proved a living death. But to what effect! They were no match to that formidable demon. So were beaten black and blue and routed to the last. Fleeing from the war-field, they came to Dhanyakataka and lived for some time. On account of their living there for a short period, it was given the appropriate name of Amaravathi - the place of amaras. By fits and starts the battle went on; but every time, Taraka was emerging victorious. So devas used to stage a retreat to Danyakataka.

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