Israeli delegation visits ancient hilltop Kondaveedu Fort

Vijayawada: A delegation from Hebrew University, Israel, visited the hilltop ancient Kondaveedu Fort in Guntur district on Tuesday.

Headed by Sanskrit language professor Yigal Bronner, the delegation, comprising professors and students, viewed all artefacts, inscriptions and structures of the fort.

Professor Yigal specialises in Alankara Shastra. He informed his team about the Reddy dynasty kings – Kumaragiri Reddy, Kataiya Vemareddy and Pedakomati Vemareddy. Also Sanskrit poets, the kings have to their credit many texts.

Among them, Kataiya Vemudu (Vemareddy) wrote a Sanskrit text called Karpura Vasanta Rajyam, which has a prose poem called Vema Bhupalayam (History of Pedda Komati Vemareddy). He authored a commentary in Sanskrit on 100 of the 700 verses in Gatha Saptasati written by Halu in Prakrit.

Kumaragiri Reddy's brother-in-law and prime minister, Kataiya Vemareddy also wrote a commentary on Kalidasa's drama trilogy, of which the most important is Abhignana Saakuntalam.

Professor Yigal said he had an indescribable feeling when he last visited the Kondaveedu Fort and has hence returned with a delegation from the Hebrew University.

Kondaveedu Fort Development Committee convener Kalli Siva Reddy explained to the delegation the importance of key buildings and ponds on the hilltop fort. The three ponds fulfilled the water needs of people residing in the fort during those days. In addition, there are the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple and Mandapam named after Yogi Vemana, the greatest poet of the century in Telugu literature.

After examining the Kondaveedu Fort, the Israeli delegation visited the Heritage Exhibition of Reddy kings.