Anantapur: The Ahnika Mantapam, shelter of St. Vyasaraja, is in a vulnerable state in the hill area of Penukonda, summer capital of Vijayangar empire in the district.
Saint Sri Vyasaraja Swamy was the rajguru for three generations of Vijayanagar emperors and had also ruled the empire during Sri Krishnadevaraya period five centuries ago, when Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya had handed over the entire empire to the saint to be freed from dosha called kuhu yoga.
Vyasaraja was extremely influential in the Vijayanagar Empire. He had stayed for one year at Penukonda to establish the Vedic varsity. His ahnika mantapam on Penukonda hilltop is on the verge of disappearance, sources said.
While the Vedic institute of the saint has been converted into a mulberry garden, the ahnika mantapam is in a worse condition. M. Raghunath, a devotee, said such ancient and historical structures should be protected for the future generations.
The saint had consecrated 732 Hanuman temples, of which half were in Penukonda. With the state government ignoring to conduct annual celebrations, Congress leaders staged a protest by ‘begging’ on the streets of Penukonda to organise annual festival to remember Sri Krishnadevaraya.
“Though the Karnataka government is celebrating Hampi Utsav every year in a grand manner, our government has no interest,” Congress in-charge K.T. Sridhar from Penukonda said.
