Contents

Kulpakji

Kulpakji Tirtha
Kulpakji
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Sect	Śvetāmbara
Deity	Rishabhanatha
Festivals	Mahavir Jayanti
Location
Location	Kolanupaka, Aler City, Yadadri, Telangana, India
Location in Telangana
Geographic coordinates	17°41′55″N 79°02′14″E / 17.698611°N 79.037222°E / 17.698611; 79.037222
Architecture
Date established	1st century B.C.- 1st century C.E.

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Kulpakji also Kolanupaka Temple is a 2,000 year-old^[1][2][3] Śvetāmbara Jain temple in the village of Kolanupaka in Aler City, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, Telangana, India.^[4] The temple houses three deities: one each of Lord Rishabhanatha, Lord Neminatha, and Lord Mahavira. The image of Lord Mahavir, carved of a green stone has been historically famous as "Manikyaswami" and Jivantasvami.^[5] The temple is about 80 km from Hyderabad on the Hyderabad-Warangal Highway NH 163.

History[edit]

Kolanupaka Temple is more than 2,000 years old.^[6][7] A number of Jain antiquities have been discovered in Kulpakji. A grant mentioning a gift to a basadi during the rile of Sanfkaragana (9th century) has been found at Akunur.^[8] Kolanupaka flourished as a Jain center during the Rashtrakutas period.^[9]

InVividha Tirtha Kalpa (14th century) of Jinaprabhasuri the sections Kulyapak Rishabhadeva Stuti and Kollapakamanikyadeva Tirthakalpa.^[10] He mentions that according to legends, the Manikyasami image was originally worshipped by Mandodari, the wife of Ravana.^[11] It was brought here by the ruler Sankar of Kalyana.

Over 20 Jain inscriptions have been found at Kulpak.^[12][8]Amanastambha with an inscription of 1125 AD has been found. A 12th-century inscription found in the temple mentions Meghachadra Siddhantadeva who entered sallekhana. There is a 151-line Kannada inscription issued by Someshvara IIIofWestern Chalukya Empire in 1125 AD.^[13]

According to Śvetāmbara legends, the main temple is said to have been built by Bharat Chakravartin. Jainism was prevalent in Andhra Pradesh before the 4^th century, and Kolanupaka was one of the prominent centers of Jainism from early times.^[14] The temple, was recently renovated^[15] by employing more than 150 artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat.

In April 2022, during renovation in Someshwara Temple near the Kulpakji, two 4 by 1.4 feet (1.22 by 0.43 m) sculpture of 'Maha Jaina Pada' (foot) of Jain Tirthankara was discovered.^[16][17]

The Temple[edit]

Kulpakji is an important Jain pilgrimage center of South India. The interior of the temple is made by red sandstone and white marble. Lord Rishabha, popularly called Adinath Bhagvan, was the first TirthankarinJainism. It is believed that the original deilty of Lord Adinath, known locally as Manikya Deva, has made Kolanupaka its abode.^[9]

There are eight deities of the other Tirthankars on both the sides of the main temple. The statue of Lord Mahaveer is 130 centimetres (51 in) tall and is said to be made of a single piece of jade.^[18] deities of Lord Simandar Swami and Mata Padmavati are installed on either side of the main temple.^[12] The temple also houses deities of Shantinatha, Chandraprabha, Abhinandananatha, Padmavati and Bhomyaji.^[9]

Adharamshala is built around the temple.^[9]

Also, the Someshwara Temple is very famous, which was established by Chalukya's about 800 years back. Kolanu means a Lake and Paka means a Hut. There used to be lots of lakes and huts and this caused to get this name. Kolanupaka is said to be known by different names in the past, Bimbavatipuram, Kottiyapaka, Kollihaka, Kollipaka and Kolanpak. Many statues were found while constructing the school and library in the village. All the statues were moved and placed in the Someshwara Temple's museum by Somalingam Kallem, a government official.^{[citation needed]}

Renovation[edit]

The temple was recently renovated by employing more than 150 artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat supervised by Sompuras. The old garbhagrah was preserved and a complete new temple was created surrounding the existing tower.^[19]

Gallery[edit]

• 
  Mahavira deity
• 
  Kolanupaka Temple (Kulpakji Temple) Gopuram
• 
  Kolanupaka Temple (Kulpakji Temple) entrance

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• Sura Books (2003). Tourist Guide to Andhra Pradesh. Chennai: Sura Books. ISBN 9788174781765.
• Chatterjee, Saurabh (14 May 2017). "Legacy of the Rashtrakutas". Telangana Today.
• Chandaraju, Aruna (23 January 2011). "Spirituality sculpted". The Hindu.
• Pratap, Vijay (2 September 2017). "Kolanupaka village: Ageless and amazing!". The New Indian Express.
• Shanker, C.R. Gowri (15 July 2018). "Nyaya Lingam is a role model for harmony". Deccan Chronicle.
• The Hindu (1 December 2008). "Kolanupaka temple to be re-opened". The Hindu.
• The New Indian Express (7 April 2022). "Ancient foot of Jain Tirthankara discovered in Telangana's in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district". The New Indian Express.
• Telangana Today (6 April 2022). "Rare Jain Tirthankara foot sculpture unearthed in Telangana's Kolanupaka". Telangana Today.
• "District Profile". Telangana government.
• "Places of interest - Jain Temple at Kolanpak or Kolanupaka". Warangal Police. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
• Telangana Tourism. "Ancient Center of Jainism in India". Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation.
• "1125 AD Jain inscription at Kolanupaka lying in neglect". The Hindu. 19 June 2022.