Padmakshi Temple

Probably sometime after the 1156 CE, the Brahmanical shrine replaced the Jain shrine, possibly due to the influence of the Veerashaivas. In the 19th century, the Jains appealed to the Nizam of Hyderabad to grant them the control of the site, arguing that it was originally a Jain shrine. The Nizam instituted a commission to investigate the Jain claim, and concluded that the earliest shrine at the site belonged to the Hindus. In 1869 CE, the Nizam granted land for the maintenance of the temple.^[1]

Architecture

An impressive feature of the temple is the four faces of the Annakonda pillar, which is a quadrangular column made of black granite stone at the temple's entrance.^[4]

The temple has rich sculpture of the

The present Padmakshi herself is a Jain yakshini of Parshwanatha called Amrakushmandini along with yaksha Dharnendra and with a huge naked image of Parahwanatha in the middle of both.^[citation needed]

Once a year, Lakhs of women arrive to celebrate the famous Bathukamma festival and immerse flowers in the pond at the foot of the Padmakshi hillock.^[6]

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  Painting of Goddess Padmakshi at Padmakshi Gutta
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  Statue of Parshvantha
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  Jain Tirthankara reliefs at Padmakshi Gutta
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  Jain Tirthankara reliefs at Padmakshi Gutta
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  Jain Tirthankara reliefs at Padmakshi Gutta

References