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How Srirangam Survived the 14th Century: Invasion, Sacred Exile and Vijayanagara Revival

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Published by Orugallu Andhalu   Introduction: When BhÅ«loka Vaiku ṇṭ ha Faced History For centuries, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam stood as the foremost centre of ÅšrÄ« Vaiá¹£ ṇ ava worship in South India — a sacred city sustained by royal patronage, temple institutions, and uninterrupted ritual tradition. By the late Chola and Pandya periods, Srirangam had evolved into one of the wealthiest and most influential temple establishments of medieval India. Its vast enclosures, active festivals, scholarly institutions, and extensive endowments made it not only a religious centre but also an important socio-economic institution. However, the early fourteenth century marked a turning point in South Indian history. Political instability following the decline of the Pandya kingdom brought northern military campaigns into the Tamil region. During this turbulent period, Srirangam — revered in tradition as BhÅ«loka Vaiku ṇṭ ha , the earthly abode of Lord Ranganatha — experie...
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Salar Jung I and the Zillabandi Reforms: Administrative Transformation of Hyderabad State in the Nineteenth Century

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Published by Orugallu Andhalu   Introduction : Figure 1: Sir Mir Turab Ali Khan (Salar Jung I), undated photograph. Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Mir Turab Ali Khan, popularly known as Salar Jung I, emerged as one of the most influential administrators of nineteenth-century Hyderabad, undertaking reforms that fundamentally transformed the governance and financial structure of the State. Serving during a period marked by administrative fragmentation and fiscal instability, he introduced measures that reshaped revenue administration, strengthened state authority, and laid the foundations of a more centralized and accountable system of governance. In an era when large parts of British India operated under the Zamindari system—where revenue collection was entrusted to intermediary landlords—Hyderabad faced its own challenges of fragmented governance, irregular revenue practices, and agrarian insecurity. Recognizing the limitations of such intermediary-based administration...
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Location: 20-4-236, Khilwath Rd, Khilwat, Hyderabad, Telangana 500002, India
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How the Kakatiyas Built Telangana: The Tank–Temple–Town Model

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Published by Orugallu Andhalu   Introduction Unlike the earlier phase under the Western Chalukyas, the large-scale and systematic founding of new agrarian settlements in the water-resource-rich zones of Telangana emerged prominently during the sovereign rule of the Kakatiyas. Though the Kakatiyas had long served as feudatories before asserting independence in the 12th century, their transition to sovereignty marked a decisive shift in regional development. Having governed the land for generations, they possessed intimate knowledge of its topography, rainfall patterns, forest tracts, and seasonal water flows. Once independent, they undertook deliberate and organized efforts to expand agrarian society across Telangana. The Kakatiya rulers, along with their feudatories, commanders, merchants, and revenue officials, actively participated in founding new villages by: Clearing forest tracts Excavating irrigation tanks Constructing temples Allocating cultivable lands ...
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