Page:Vizagapatam.djvu/330

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VIZAGAPATAM.

the place are the weaving of coarse white cloths by a number of Padma Sáles and the making, by one family of Kamsális, of lacquered toys (unusually well finished and prettily coloured) on a lathe in the ordinary manner.

The proprietary estate which is named after the village has already been referred to on p. 221 above.

A quarter of a mile to the south of the village is the agraháram of Upmáka, on a hill near which is a well-known shrine to Venkatésvara, the famous god of Tirupati in North Arcot, This is approached by 295 steps and consists of a kind of grotto, partly formed by two enormous overhanging masses of rock, on the wall of which is rudely chased a representation of the deity. Another temple to the same god stands at the foot of the hill. At the celebration of the god's marriage, in March, huge crowds assemble from all over the Northern Circars.

Panchadhárala : Seven miles in a direct line north-east of Sarvasiddhi and about fifteen by road from Anakápalle; population, 2,284. The name means 'five fountains' and is derived from five jets of water fed by a perennial natural spring which are to be found in a paved enclosure to the south of the Siva temple. Close by these is a lingam on which are carved 1,020 other lingams in 12 rows of 85 each, and which is inconsequently known as the kótilingam, or 'crore of lingams.' The temple itself is not wonderful architecturally, but on the pillars of the mandapams within it are several inscriptions of historical interest, two of them (dated in years corresponding to A.D. 1407 and 1428, respectively) giving a genealogy of a branch of the Eastern Chálukya kings. Further particulars appear in paragraph 41 of the Government Epigraphist's report for 1899-1900.

Panchadhárala once gave its name to one of the estates which were formed out of the havili lands and put up to auction at a fixed assessment in 1802. But subsequently, on the discovery being made that it and some of the villages adjoining were really within the ancient limits of the Vizianagram zamindari, they were transferred thereto and the estate was named Chipurupalle, after the most central of the villages remaining. This property, which comprised 24 villages, was bought at the auction by the Rája of Vizianagram. Subdivision after subdivision followed; fifteen of the villages were bought in by Government at sales for arrears; and the remaining nine now form no less than eight proprietary estates, namely, Bharinikam, Chipurupalle, Idulapáka-Bónangi and Ráváda in Anakápalle taluk, Mámidiváda in Sarvasiddhi, and Appikonda, Kúráda-Kondayyavalasa and Siddhésvaram in Vizagapatam. The history of Bharinikam has been referred to on p. 221 above.

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