LORD SRI RAMA AND LAXMANA APPEARED TO SULTAN ABUL HASSAN KUTUBSHAH AT
GOLCONDA AND GOT THE RELEASE OF SRI RAMDAS HIS DEVOTEE FROM PRISON AFTER
PAYING THE DUES
DR K Prabhakar Rao
The dynasty of Kutubshahi Sultans (1518-1687) was found by Sultan Kuli at Golconda located near Hyderabad. He was the Faujdar and Governor of Telangana provinces under Bhamani Sultan reigning at Bidar ( Now in Karnataka). He was a very efficient warrior and administrator. After the break up of Bahmani Kingdom (found in 14 century) , provincial chiefs declared independence at five places such as Ahmednagar ( Nizamshahi), Bidar ( Baridshahi) Golconda ( Kutubshahi), Bijapur ( Adil Shahi) and Berar at Ellichpur ( Imad Shahi). The Kutubshahi dynasty produced 6 sultans and the last one was Sultan Abul Hasan kutubshah and fondly was called Tanasha meaning good and jovial king. The Golconda sultans were :
1. Sultan Kuli ( Founder) Kutubshah
2. Zamshed Kutubshah
3. Ibrahim Kutubshah
4. Mohammed Kuli Kutubshah
5. Mohammed Kutubshah
6. Abdullah Kutubshah
7. Abul Hahan Kutubshah
Abul Hasan Kutubsha was a benevolent god fearing king and he treated all sections with equal considerations. He appointed Madanna as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom and Akkanna the elder brother of Madanna was appointed as the Commander in Chief of Armed forces. These brothers earlier helped the Sultan to come to power after the death of Abdullah Kutubshah who had no sons. Abul Hasan was the younger son in law of Abdullah Kutubshah. Madanna was a peshkar to Mir Jumla in the court of Abdullah Kutubshah. These were Telugu Brahmin family hailing from Hanmakonda ( Warnagal) about 150 KM from Golconda. Linganna another relative of Madanna was also appointed as a commader in army. Kancharla Gopanna a very close relative of Madanna ( sisters son) was appointed as the Tehsildar of Bhadrachalam province which is now a great pilgrim town in Khammam District of AP state. This town is located on the banks of River Godavari. Sultan Abul Hasan ruled effectively and Madanna played very crucial and important role in guiding the empire to attain glory.
As Tahasildar he was discharging his official duties earnestly and collecting revenues due to Sultan in continuation of daily preaches: chanting of 'Ramanama' and the feeding the poor at his house. Due to his deep devotion to Lord Rama he was addressed as Bhakta Ramadas. Gopanna heard the news that the villagers of palvoncha paragana were proceeding to witness Jatara ( festival) at Bhadrachalam. He, too, out of curiosity, visited Bhadrachalam. He found the deities in an amazing appearance; Gopanna then asked the villagers to contribute liberally for the construction of the temple. The villagers appealed to him to spend the revenue collections for the construction of the temple with a promise to repay the amount after harvesting the crops. As such Gopanna constructed the temple without taking permission from the sultan. Many ornaments were also made and presented to Lord Rama at the temple.It is lerant that he spent Rs six lakhs of government revenue for the purpose.
When the temple reached completion, he had a problem of fixing the 'Sudarshana Chakra' at the crest of the main temple. Deeply distressed he fell into sleep. On the same night, Rama in his dream asked him to have a holy dip in the river Godavari where he would find it accordingly. On the next day morning Gopanna did so and found holy Sudarshana Chakra in the river without much difficulty. He presumed that Sudarshana Chakra itself was shaped up with the divine power of his beloved God Rama. Soon after the construction, his miseries started.
It is firmly believed that Lord Rama, Sita and Laxmana built an Ashram on the banks of Godavari river and stayed while they were observing exile from Ayodhya. Having learnt that Gopanna used govt funds for temple construction without any royal permission, the sultan was angry and he was summoned to Golconda.Annoyed with Gopannas conduct Sultan dismissed him from service and he was imprisoned and put in jail for 12 long yeras. Even today that small prison exists in Golconda fort in which the images of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxmana are present believed to have been carved on stone walls by Gopanna while in captivity. Although Madanna and Akkanna were in important positions they were helpless. Time passed by and Gopanna suffered torture and captivity in silence. He spent most of his time praying to the Lord seeking his intervention for his release. He wrote Dasarathi Satakam a book of Telugu poetry containing 100 verses in which he pleaded with Lord Rama. He also wrote many Kirtnas that are preserved even today.
After 12 long years of captivity it was time for ending the ordeal for Ramdas. During one night, two handsome youth appeared in front of Sultan Abul Hasan. They were bright and were armed with bows and arrows. Sultan asked them who they were and they replied that they were the followers of Ramdas and had come to pay up the dues for which he was put in prison. The youth handed over a bag containing gold coins amounting to Rs 6 lakhs. Sultan gave them the receipt for the amount and the youth vanished. The next morning the Sultan went to the prison and informed Ramdas that he was being released as dues have been paid by his agents, Ramdas had no clue and was surprised. On hearing the episode, Ramdas realized that the youth were none other than Lord Rama and Laxmana. He cried in despair that he could not see them inspite of his long devotion while the Sultan had the luck of seeing them in person. Sultan realized the greatness of Ramdas immediately and with great honor made arrangements for his departure to Bhadrachalam with all his lost rights and position restored not before seeking his pardon for the harsh jail treatment imposed on him.
From then onwards Bhadrachalam town has grown into a great pilgrim center in AP State. Sultan Abul Hasan became a great devotee of Lord Rama and on Ramnavami each year official royal presents were sent to the deity with all ppm and show.. The practice continued and even during the reign of Asif Jahi Kings at Hyderabad the practice continued. In modern days the CM of the state presents the official gifts to the Lord on the occasion every year.
It is also believed that Ramdas in his earlier birth kept a parrot in a cage as a pet and as a punishment he had to undergo 12 year prison term in his later birth. King Abul Hasan has become immortal with the episode. Sadly his kingdom was usurped by Aurangzeb the fundamentalist in 1687 and Golconda kingdom ceased to exist. Akkanna and Madanna were murdered by the conspirators in 1686 while Golconda fort was under seize by Mughal forces. Sultan Abul Hasan was imprisoned at Daultabad fort ( Devagiri) in Maharashtra where he passed away after 17 years. Aurangzeb too died in 1707 at Ahmed nagar . Ramadas and his poems, Kirtans and Bhajans have become very popular in Telugu lnad and sung with great devotion by all sections. Ramanavami is celebrated with great pomp and show at Bhadracahalam each year. Sultan Abul Hasan although was a Muslim could have the Darshan of Lord Rama and Laxmana and it is believed that he was a Brahmin in his previous birth.
---------------- Note: Content of this blog post is writer's personal opi
DR K Prabhakar Rao
The dynasty of Kutubshahi Sultans (1518-1687) was found by Sultan Kuli at Golconda located near Hyderabad. He was the Faujdar and Governor of Telangana provinces under Bhamani Sultan reigning at Bidar ( Now in Karnataka). He was a very efficient warrior and administrator. After the break up of Bahmani Kingdom (found in 14 century) , provincial chiefs declared independence at five places such as Ahmednagar ( Nizamshahi), Bidar ( Baridshahi) Golconda ( Kutubshahi), Bijapur ( Adil Shahi) and Berar at Ellichpur ( Imad Shahi). The Kutubshahi dynasty produced 6 sultans and the last one was Sultan Abul Hasan kutubshah and fondly was called Tanasha meaning good and jovial king. The Golconda sultans were :
1. Sultan Kuli ( Founder) Kutubshah
2. Zamshed Kutubshah
3. Ibrahim Kutubshah
4. Mohammed Kuli Kutubshah
5. Mohammed Kutubshah
6. Abdullah Kutubshah
7. Abul Hahan Kutubshah
Abul Hasan Kutubsha was a benevolent god fearing king and he treated all sections with equal considerations. He appointed Madanna as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom and Akkanna the elder brother of Madanna was appointed as the Commander in Chief of Armed forces. These brothers earlier helped the Sultan to come to power after the death of Abdullah Kutubshah who had no sons. Abul Hasan was the younger son in law of Abdullah Kutubshah. Madanna was a peshkar to Mir Jumla in the court of Abdullah Kutubshah. These were Telugu Brahmin family hailing from Hanmakonda ( Warnagal) about 150 KM from Golconda. Linganna another relative of Madanna was also appointed as a commader in army. Kancharla Gopanna a very close relative of Madanna ( sisters son) was appointed as the Tehsildar of Bhadrachalam province which is now a great pilgrim town in Khammam District of AP state. This town is located on the banks of River Godavari. Sultan Abul Hasan ruled effectively and Madanna played very crucial and important role in guiding the empire to attain glory.
As Tahasildar he was discharging his official duties earnestly and collecting revenues due to Sultan in continuation of daily preaches: chanting of 'Ramanama' and the feeding the poor at his house. Due to his deep devotion to Lord Rama he was addressed as Bhakta Ramadas. Gopanna heard the news that the villagers of palvoncha paragana were proceeding to witness Jatara ( festival) at Bhadrachalam. He, too, out of curiosity, visited Bhadrachalam. He found the deities in an amazing appearance; Gopanna then asked the villagers to contribute liberally for the construction of the temple. The villagers appealed to him to spend the revenue collections for the construction of the temple with a promise to repay the amount after harvesting the crops. As such Gopanna constructed the temple without taking permission from the sultan. Many ornaments were also made and presented to Lord Rama at the temple.It is lerant that he spent Rs six lakhs of government revenue for the purpose.
When the temple reached completion, he had a problem of fixing the 'Sudarshana Chakra' at the crest of the main temple. Deeply distressed he fell into sleep. On the same night, Rama in his dream asked him to have a holy dip in the river Godavari where he would find it accordingly. On the next day morning Gopanna did so and found holy Sudarshana Chakra in the river without much difficulty. He presumed that Sudarshana Chakra itself was shaped up with the divine power of his beloved God Rama. Soon after the construction, his miseries started.
It is firmly believed that Lord Rama, Sita and Laxmana built an Ashram on the banks of Godavari river and stayed while they were observing exile from Ayodhya. Having learnt that Gopanna used govt funds for temple construction without any royal permission, the sultan was angry and he was summoned to Golconda.Annoyed with Gopannas conduct Sultan dismissed him from service and he was imprisoned and put in jail for 12 long yeras. Even today that small prison exists in Golconda fort in which the images of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxmana are present believed to have been carved on stone walls by Gopanna while in captivity. Although Madanna and Akkanna were in important positions they were helpless. Time passed by and Gopanna suffered torture and captivity in silence. He spent most of his time praying to the Lord seeking his intervention for his release. He wrote Dasarathi Satakam a book of Telugu poetry containing 100 verses in which he pleaded with Lord Rama. He also wrote many Kirtnas that are preserved even today.
After 12 long years of captivity it was time for ending the ordeal for Ramdas. During one night, two handsome youth appeared in front of Sultan Abul Hasan. They were bright and were armed with bows and arrows. Sultan asked them who they were and they replied that they were the followers of Ramdas and had come to pay up the dues for which he was put in prison. The youth handed over a bag containing gold coins amounting to Rs 6 lakhs. Sultan gave them the receipt for the amount and the youth vanished. The next morning the Sultan went to the prison and informed Ramdas that he was being released as dues have been paid by his agents, Ramdas had no clue and was surprised. On hearing the episode, Ramdas realized that the youth were none other than Lord Rama and Laxmana. He cried in despair that he could not see them inspite of his long devotion while the Sultan had the luck of seeing them in person. Sultan realized the greatness of Ramdas immediately and with great honor made arrangements for his departure to Bhadrachalam with all his lost rights and position restored not before seeking his pardon for the harsh jail treatment imposed on him.
From then onwards Bhadrachalam town has grown into a great pilgrim center in AP State. Sultan Abul Hasan became a great devotee of Lord Rama and on Ramnavami each year official royal presents were sent to the deity with all ppm and show.. The practice continued and even during the reign of Asif Jahi Kings at Hyderabad the practice continued. In modern days the CM of the state presents the official gifts to the Lord on the occasion every year.
It is also believed that Ramdas in his earlier birth kept a parrot in a cage as a pet and as a punishment he had to undergo 12 year prison term in his later birth. King Abul Hasan has become immortal with the episode. Sadly his kingdom was usurped by Aurangzeb the fundamentalist in 1687 and Golconda kingdom ceased to exist. Akkanna and Madanna were murdered by the conspirators in 1686 while Golconda fort was under seize by Mughal forces. Sultan Abul Hasan was imprisoned at Daultabad fort ( Devagiri) in Maharashtra where he passed away after 17 years. Aurangzeb too died in 1707 at Ahmed nagar . Ramadas and his poems, Kirtans and Bhajans have become very popular in Telugu lnad and sung with great devotion by all sections. Ramanavami is celebrated with great pomp and show at Bhadracahalam each year. Sultan Abul Hasan although was a Muslim could have the Darshan of Lord Rama and Laxmana and it is believed that he was a Brahmin in his previous birth.
---------------- Note: Content of this blog post is writer's personal opi
1 comment:
After the death of cruel Zamshed shah, his minor son subhan ali kutubshah was crowned as sultan. But he did not last. Ibrahim kutubshah younger brother of Zamshed was statying at vijaynagar under assylum for seven years fearing zamshed took over Golconda kingdom with the help of Golconda nobles and help of Rama Raya of vijay nagar.Probably subhan ali was eliminated silently.Zamshed died of cancer and he paid for murdering his aged fatherSultan kuli.
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