What are some interesting facts about Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh?

 Anantapur district was one of the largest districts in Andhra Pradesh, in the recent reorganization it was divided into Anantapur and Sri Satyasai district. I will be covering both these districts here for the answer.

The place gets it’s name from Ananthasagara a huge tank constructed during the Vijayanagara Empire, and named after Ananthamma, the wife of Bukka Raya.

Tadipatri was part of the Gandikota province in Vijayanagara Empire, initially called as Tatipalli, later Tatipatri, was also called as Bhaskara Kshetram in ancient times. The place is believed to get it's name from the palm trees located here, Tati is Telugu for palm. As per some stories, Tadipatri is also believed to have got it's name from the fact that Rama killed the demoness Tataki here. The place was founded in 1350 AD, when a Brahmin Narayana Bhatta settled here on the orders of Vidyaranya Swamy.

The two main temples of Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy and Chintala Venkataramana Swamy were built between 1460-1525,while the former was built by Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka, the ruler of Gandikota, the latter was built by his son Timma Nayaka. Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple, located on the banks of the Penna river, gets it's name from the fact that the Shiva linga in the sanctum sanctorum, is surrounded by a perennial underground stream( Bugga) all the time.

Tadipatri

Tadipatri was part of the Gandikota province in Vijayanagara Empire, initially called as Tatipalli, later Tatipatri, was also called as Bhaskara Kshetram in ancient times.

https://sadashree.substack.com/p/tadipatri

The Penna Ahobilam temple near Uravakonda, is one of the prominent Narasimha Kshetras, it’s believed the temple here was built on Narasimha Swamy’s footprint. The temple here was built in 1472 by Sadashiva Raya.

Gooty is the anglicized version of Gutthi, which itself was a corruption of it's original name Gautamapuri, the fort here, is believed to be dating from 6th century AD. It was ruled by Vijayanagara rulers,Bahmani sultans, the Nizam and Tipu Sultan at various phases. The current fort owes it's existence to the Palegars who renovated ,most of the laborers who worked on it's construction settled in the village of Nakapalli between Bellary and Uravakonda. They even have names like Guttappa, Guttamma to date.

There is also a cemetery at the foothills of Gooty fort, which has the tomb of Sir Thomas Munro, who was the Governor of Madras Presidency, and who served here as Collector of Bellary.

Guntakal Junction is one of the more well known ones, especially for Railway lovers, lying on both the Mumbai-Chennai, Vijayawada-Goa lines as well as the line towards Bangalore, making it a station that never sleeps.

Apart from the railway junction, Guntakal is famous for the Kasapuram Anjaneya Swamy temple nearby, one of the well known Hanuman temples in the Telugu states, established by Vyasarayaluvaru, the Guru of Sri Krishnadeva Raya.

Gooty-Guntakal

A fort, Railway junction and Hanuman Temple

https://sadashree.substack.com/p/gooty-guntakal

Puttaparthi, the abode of Shri Satya Sai Baba, and Prashanti Nilayam, is now the HQ of the newly formed Sri Satyasai district, carved out of Anantapur district.

Dharmavaram is famous for it’s handlooms and textiles.

Kadiri, one of the famous Narasimha Kshetras is located here, gets it's name from the fact that Shree Narasimha is believed to have resided here in the roots of a Kadiri(Mulberry) tree for a long time. Also at Sthothadri hill nearby Prahalada is believed to have prayed to Narasimha to calm him down after he killed Hiranyakasipu.

The very popular Telugu folk song Bet Rayi Swami Devuda, Nanellinoda, Katamarayuda, Kadiri Narasimhudaa, that references Kadiri, is actually a a reference to the Dasavatharams in the Rayalaseema regional dialect.

The song actually starts with "Betarayi Swami Devuda, Nanellinoda, Betarayi Swami Devuda. Katama Rayuda, Kadiri Narasimhudaa Metaina Vetagada ninne nammithi raa" And then proceeds to describe each of the Dasavatarams.

Betarayi Swami Devuda, Nanellinoda basically meaning Lord of Hunting, who rules over me.

Katama Rayudu is believed to be a local chieftain of Kadiri, known for his valour.

Metaina Vetagada ninne nammithi raa meaning I place my trust in you the best of hunters.

The hunter reference here is to how Narasimha managed to hunt down Hiranyakasipu, using all his tact and intelligence, and finally slay him.

Timmamma Marrimanu located around 35 km from Kadiri, was listed in Guiness Book in 1989, spreading over an area of 5 sq acress. And is a very popular attraction to those visiting Kadiri. It's believed that Thimmamamba, the daughter of Venkatappa, Mangamamba, commited Sati when her husband Veerayya passed away. The Banyan tree is believed to have sprung at the North East corner of that site. The massive banyan tree was listed by Guinness in 1989 as the largest ever, due to efforts of one Satyanarayana.

Also around 12 km from Kadiri at Katurupalli is the Samadhi of Yogi Vemana, the great saint,philosopher, thinker, whose sayings known as Vemana Padhyalu have become an integral part of Telugu culture.

Kadiri

Kadiri, one of the famous Narasimha Kshetras in Andhra Pradesh, gets it's name from the fact that Shree Narasimha is believed to have resided here in the roots of a Kadiri(Mulberry) tree for a long time.

https://sadashree.substack.com/p/kadiri

Lepakshi famous for the Veerabhadra Temple, and the huge Nandi here, symbolizing the majesty and grandeur of the Vijayanagara style of architecture, one of those places you should visit in your lifetime, just for the sheer majesty and grandeur of it's sculptures, that take your breath away, and the architecture here.

It's believed that Jatayu after being injured in the fight with Ravan when he was abducting Sita fell here on a hill called Kurma Saila. When Rama saw the injured Jatayu, he gently asked him to get up saying "Le-Pakshi" meaning "Get up bird", which soon became the place name.

The other story goes that Virupanna, the treasurer of Achyuta Raya, was buillding this temple from the treasury funds. When the king came to know of it, Virupanna plucked out his own eyes and threw them on a wall. And from the words Lopa-Akshi(Without Eyes) came Lepakshi.

The Lepakshi complex was built by Virupanna and Veeranna, who were employed in the Penugonda Samsthanam, the former was the treasurer there during the 15th century. There is a small hillock near Lepakshi called Kurma Saila, where Jatayu is believed to have fallen injured, that has a small Shiva temple, which is believed to have been built by Agastya Maharshi himself.

https://sadashree.substack.com/p/lepakshi

Some of the famous people from Anantapur district include

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, former President of India.

Ballari Raghava, the doyen of Telugu theater.

Director K.V.Reddy known for the classic Mayabazaar

Veteran actress Ramaprabha

Sujeeth director of Saaho

Actress Priyanka Jawalkar

What are some of the most mind-blowing facts about Andhra Pradesh?

 1). Telugu, the official language of Andhra Pradesh, was described by Englishmen as the "Italian of the East " for its sweetness.

2). Potti Sriramulu fasted for over 50 days, for achieving the State of Andhra, and lost his life in the process. His sacrifice became instrumental in the linguistic re-organisation of States.

3). Pingali Venkayya, who designed the Indian National Flag, was born in Bhatlapenumarru, in the Krishna district. He served in the British Indian army during the Anglo-Boer wars in South Africa.

4). Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of rice in the country. It also accounts for about 55% of the country's production of castor, and about 94% of Virginia tobacco.

5). Nagarjunasagaris the world's tallest masonry dam, at a height of 124 metres, and creates a reservoir holding up to 11,472 million cubic metres.

6). Andhra Pradesh has a coastline of 970 KM, making it the second longest coastline in India.

7). In the late 18th century, the single largest source of revenue for the East India Company came from the hundi in Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala.

8). The famous Ongole Bull looks similar to Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. It’s said all the stone sculptures of Nandi in all temples are modelled after the Ongole Bull.

9). The Ramappa Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) located in the Warangal district is probablythe only temple in India named after a sculptor, instead of the presiding deity.

10). Golconda, near Hyderabad was India’s richest diamond mine. It produced renowned diamonds like: the Koh-i-Noor, the Darya-e-Nur, the Nur-Ul-Ain, the Hope diamond and the Regent diamond.

11). The Salarjung Museum located in Hyderabad, houses the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world.

12). Theworld’s longest wardrobe can be found at Purana Haveli, Hyderabad. The wardrobe belongs to Mahbub Ali Pasha, who is said never to have worn the same thing twice.

13). Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has been acknowledged by theGuinness World Records as the single corporation having the largest fleet of buses in the world. APSRTC has 23,000 buses in its stable.

14). It is rumored that Roman king Nero lamented Romans paying more to the Chilli farmers of Andhra Pradesh than to Roman treasury as taxes during the effort to rebuild Rome after the great fire. It is documented that he banned all imports from Andhra Pradesh during Rome rebuilding era.