Anantapur: Centuries old historic Ratimancham (a cot carved with hard stone) of Vijayanagara empire located on the hills of Veerapuram village in Gummagatta mandal had lost shape after miscreants damaged its legs expecting diamonds studded in the stone cot. However, the villagers care about the Ratimancham as it is a sentiment for many.
The historic cot familiar as Muthyappa Mancham is located near a small hill on the outskirts of Veerapuram village in Gummagatta mandal in the district. The Veerapuram area was also influenced by the Jain culture along with other parts like Amarapuram, Penukonda and Rayadurgam in the district.
A big cot was carved out five centuries ago with attractive features and sculpture. If the stone cot was just any other cot to attract tourists, there would be nothing interesting about it.
But, this particular cot has been considered a treasure, holds a sentimental value and is known to provide solutions to many. The Mutyhapu Mancham was supposed to bless childless couples with who have been married for long, with children.
K. Narayanappa, a villager recalled, “There has been a sentiment that couples who do not have kids conceive if they sleep for some time on the cot by offering poojas”.
Further, people from nearby villages also felt that the cot would clear health ailments of children. M. Rangamma, of Veerapuram recalled that offering prayers and treating the cot as a god has helped cure many ailments in children.
The centuries old Rathimancham was recently damaged by treasure hunters who excepted valuable diamonds to be studded on the cot. The hunters damaged a portion of the legs of the cot while hunting for treasures.
Though, the state archaeological department had tried to convince the villagers to cooperate and shift the cot to Anantapur museum one year ago, the villagers had squarely refused.
Presently, the veerapuram villagers are taking care of the cot although it is damaged.
