Kotilingala
| Koti lingala | |
|---|---|
| Holy Site | |
 Koti lingala
Koti lingala
|
|
| Coordinates: 18°51′41″N 79°11′47″E / 18.861255°N 79.196488°ECoordinates: 18°51′41″N 79°11′47″E / 18.861255°N 79.196488°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Telangana |
| District | Karimnagar |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | TS |
| Website | telangana |
Koti Lingala is a Hindu pilgrimage site in Karimnagar district of the Indian state of Telangana. It is situated in Velagatoor mandal of the district, on the Godavari river. It is located on the bank of the Godavari River, and has a traditional Shiva temple for Hindus, the Koteswara Siddeshwara Temple.
Archaeological discoveries at Kotilingala indicate that it was an important town in ancient town, during the period of the Assaka mahajanapada and the Satavahanas.
Kotilingala has an archaeological site that was excavated by V. V. Krishna Sastry. The site has a mud fort with several gates and running 1054 metres long and 330 metres wide. A watch tower located in the south-eastern corner measures 11.5 * 10.55 m. Ancient pottery, beads, bricks querns, and other artifacts have been found at the site. Two hoards of punch-marked coins attributed to 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE have been found at the site. These coins were issued by Gobhada and Samagopa, who are believed to be local pre-Satavahana rulers.
Based on these discoveries, Kotilingala is believed to be a town of the ancient Assaka (also Andhra or Ashmaka) mahajanapada. The mud fortification, protected by a stream on its east and the Godavari river on its west, indicate its high political and commercial significance.
Coins of Satavahana kings have also been found at Kotilingala. A few of these are copper and potin coins bearing the legend "Rano Siri Chimuka Satavahanasa". Some scholars such as A. M. Sastry and K. D. Bajpai have identified the issuer of these coins with Simuka, who is considered as the founder of the Satavahana dynasty based on the Puranic genealogies. However, others such as P. L. Gupta and I. K. Sarma have argued that the Kotilingala coins belonged to a later ruler with a similar or same name., have disputed this identification. P.V.P. Sastry, who first discovered these coins and attributed them to Simuka in 1978, also changed his view and later stated that Chimuka or Chhimuka of Kotilingala was not same as the Simuka mentioned in Naneghat inscription.
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