During groundwork at the Sammakka-Sarakka Tribal University campus in Mulugu district, Telangana, India, the remains of an old temple, potentially dating to the Kakatiya era, were unearthed. However, the discovery’s significance in local lore wasn’t solely due to the carved stonework found near Lokam Cheruvu; the sudden emergence of three cobras from beneath the buried stones truly captured attention.
The remnants came to light while digging trenches for a compound wall across the 337-acre university grounds. Workers reportedly uncovered large stone structures close to the Lokam Cheruvu bund, leading to suspicion that the stones belonged to an ancient temple complex. Construction on that spot was halted immediately, and district officials notified the Department of Archaeology.
Excavation took a startling turn when three cobras crawled out from under the exposed stone blocks. One snake was reportedly killed by a falling stone, while the other two vanished into nearby foliage. Panic ensued among the laborers, and the earth-moving machinery used for the trenching later malfunctioned, heightening apprehension at the site.
The operator of the JCB excavator, quoted by the Deccan Chronicle, mentioned that the workers were too frightened to continue digging there. He specified that the snakes appeared right after the “ancient stones” were disturbed, lending the incident an air of warning for those present.
Subsequently, area residents gathered at the location, performed rites for the deceased snake, and buried it according to local customs. Some villagers speculated that the stones might belong to a long-lost shrine, possibly dedicated to either Hanuman or Yellamma Thalli.
The cobra incident imbued the find with deep local meaning. In South Asian religious customs, snakes are more than mere animals. Nagas, often depicted as cobra-like beings, are revered as semi-divine entities across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, capable of being both perilous and protective. Britannica characterizes nagas as mythical beings associated with serpentine forms, netherworlds, and potent sacred presence.
From an archaeological viewpoint, this does not confirm that the Mulugu ruins were guarded by snakes. But it elucidates why this event resonated so strongly with the local populace. When buried temple stones, a water body, and cobras are discovered together, the scene naturally conjures ancient notions of sacred guardianship, fertility, water, and peril.
An elderly local named Sambayya shared that local belief suggests Kakatiya rulers erected temples near water sources to sanctify the water. He urged officials to respect the location and safeguard the ruins rather than proceeding with construction over them.
Should the findings be authenticated as Kakatiya-era remnants, the discovery would fit into the broader medieval tapestry where temples, water tanks, and settlements were frequently interwoven. The Kakatiya dynasty, which controlled much of the eastern Deccan from its capital at Warangal, left behind some of Telangana’s most significant architectural achievements.
The most celebrated example is the Kakatiya Rudreswara Temple, commonly known as the Ramappa Temple, in Palampet. UNESCO deems this monument an extraordinary illustration of the artistic, architectural, and engineering prowess of the Kakatiya dynasty. Built of sandstone, construction commenced in 1213 CE and is thought to have spanned roughly four decades.
The Telangana State Tourism Department’s description also identifies the Ramappa Temple as a 13th-century Kakatiya-era cultural monument, renowned for its intricate carvings, sculptural detail, and distinctive architectural style.
The Mulugu temple ruins, tentatively placed in this vicinity, are particularly notable for their proximity to the Lokam Cheruvu lake. In medieval Telangana, water bodies were more than just practical infrastructure. They were intrinsically tied to agriculture, settlement life, ritual practices, and political authority. A shrine situated near a water source under those conditions would not have been anomalous.
The Director of the State Archaeology Department, K. Arjun Rao, confirmed the department was informed by the University’s Vice-Chancellor and promptly dispatched a team to inspect the excavation site. A detailed report is anticipated following the survey, which will establish the probable age, provenance, and importance of the discovered remains.
Authorities have also ordered the relocation of the unearthed stones to the Warangal Archaeology Museum for preservation pending further investigation.
At this stage, the Kakatiya attribution remains provisional. Archaeologists will need to scrutinize the carvings, stone type, layout, construction schema, and any associated artifacts before confirming whether the remains belong to a temple complex, a dismantled shrine, repurposed architectural fragments, or another type of structure.
Nevertheless, this finding has already accomplished something meaningful: it halted modern construction long enough for the exploration of a potential medieval sacred site. And with the sudden appearance of three cobras beneath the stones, the ruins have captured public attention not just as an archaeological find, but as a narrative where history, fear, and local beliefs briefly surfaced from the earth.
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