Kadiri Town

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This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

Kadiri Town

Head-quarters of the taluk of the same name in Cuddapah District, Madras, situated in 14 degree 6' N. and 78 degree 10' E. Population (1901), 10,493. A large temple here (one of the most famous in the District) is dedicated to Narasimha, to whose festival many pilgrims resort in the early part of the year. It is said that an image of Narasimha was found in an ant-hill under a chendra tree, but the same story is told of other places. The name of this tree in Sanskrit is khadri; and tradition states that when the jungle was cleared by Ranga Nayudu, a local chieftain of Patnam, and the temple was built, this name was given to the town which arose round the shrine. It was for a long time the practice to let loose a tiger or leopard at the festival here in January and shoot at it, but one year a bystander was shot instead, and the custom was prohibited by the Collector. Two days after the car-procession, Paraiyans and other low-caste people — contrary to all precedent — are allowed to enter the temple. They bathe in the river close by and pass into the building in great crowds, carrying small bundles containing coin and jewels wrapped up in cloths, which they present to the god. These bundles are received by a person employed by contractors who farm the privilege.

Kadiri shows signs of having at one time been a Musalman town. Though the existing buildings bear no trace of Muhammadan archi- tecture, for two miles round there is a large number of tombs and mosques, mostly decayed but some still well preserved. The place was formerly the seat of a local chieftain. When Munro took over the country he sent for the chief to settle with him the amount of revenue he was to pay. The man refused to come, so a detachment was sent against him. They surprised the fortified temple in which he had taken post, but he escaped in the confusion. His possessions were, however, confiscated. Since the town became a station on the South Indian Railway, it has increased in importance as a trade centre. A brisk business in grain is transacted. There is a branch of the London Missionary Society.