Date:02/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/02/stories/2004020203010500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ancient temple unearthed

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, FEB. 1. Remains of Shiva temple belonging to the Vijayanagara period was unearthed in the agriculture fields at Kandukuru in Anantapur rural mandal, about 15 km from here, three days ago. People of the village and surrounding areas already started queuing up to the site and offering prayers to the ancient idols found.

According to the villagers, one Shiva Reddy and his cousin discovered the historical belonging first when they were clearing the jungle (bushes) in their fields. They found the tip of a `Nandi' (bullock) idol when they were trying to pluck out the roots of thorny plants by digging inside.

As they found a tip of the idol they started excavating out of curiosity and unearthed the Nandi idol. As the matter was learnt by 36 devotees of Shiva, who are on `Shiva deekasha' currently, they took up excavation at the site and unearthed an idol of `Shivalinga' stone carvings of fish, tortoise and other animals, and other stone supports of the temple.

The devotees of Shiva cleared the surrounding area of the site with the help of villagers of Kandukuru, Itukalapalli, Jangalapalli, Krishnamreddipalli, Ganganapalli and others. They have also taken up sinking of borewell today evening.