Kadiri

Kadiri
కదిరి
khadri
Town
Kadiri

Location in Andhra Pradesh, India

Coordinates: 14°07′N 78°10′E / 14.12°N 78.17°ECoordinates: 14°07′N 78°10′E / 14.12°N 78.17°E
Country India
State Andhra Pradesh
District Anantapur
Area[1]
 • Total 25.88 km2 (9.99 sq mi)
Elevation 504 m (1,654 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 89,240
 • Density 3,400/km2 (8,900/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Telugu
 • Other Urdu Telugu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 515 591
Vehicle registration AP–02
Website Kadiri Municipality

Kadiri is a town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a place of Hindu pilgrimage, famous for the temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. It is also the seat of a revenue division and a mandal of Andhra Pradesh state.

Etymology

The name Kadiri is an alternative name for the Sanskrit word, Khadri, meaning Canary Wood or Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia). The town has derived its name from the famous legend of Sri Narasimha Swamy described below, where the Lord emerges from a Khadri tree to rescue his devotee Prahlada.Sri Krishna Devaraya made an effort in building temple for Lord Narasimha which is now being visited by people all over the country.

Religious importance

Kadiri is famous primarily for its association with Lord Sri Narasimha Swamy, the fourth Avataram of Lord Sri Vishnu. The town is a place of Hindu pilgrimage because of the legend recounted below, and the temple located in Kadiri which commemorates that legend.

Kadiri in the Epics

The Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is located in this town, and large number of Hindu pilgrims visit this temple throughout the year.

The temple

The Lord Narasimha at Kadiri is believed by devotees to be self emanating (Svaymabhu) from the roots of "Khadri" tree. The main pole (Moolavirat) is that of AshtaBaahu Sri Nrusimha (having eight hands) cleaving Hiranyakasipu and transforming into a more protecting persona with Bhakta Prahlada standing beside him, with folded hands, paying obeisances. After the daily Abishekam is performed, the Archa-Vigraha (Deity of Narasimha) is claimed by the Archakas to be sweating, despite being repeatedly wiped off by the Archakas here.

Annual chariot festival

Another event carried out by Hindus every year is the "Rathothsavam".On this holy day, a huge Rath (Chariot) with the Lord Lakshmi Narasimha's idol on it, is pulled by hundreds of devotees.This Chariot is said to be India's second biggest chariot. More than two lakh people arrive from almost all surrounding districts, Karnataka and from different states of India to watch this devotional and spiritual event.

Other attractions

The Chennaraayaswamy Gudi Project (C.G Project) is located 35 km from this town. The temple of popular poet "Sri Yogi Vemana" is at Katarupalle is only 15 kilometres from this town.

The Thimmamma Marrimaanu (World's Biggest banyan tree spread over 11 acres (4 ha) of land. It got entry in the Guinness Book of Records, 1989). It is located just 25 km away from Kadiri.Timmamma Marrimanu Development board with president as T.Gajula Narasaiah(freedom fighter,EX-samithi president and Janatha Dal national council member) has been working for development and maintenance of this heritage site.Kadiri is also known for its wide variety jasmine flowers (Malle Poolu), Vermilion (Kumkuma), Silk (Pattu Daaram) and Ground Nuts(Veru Senaga).

The local Muslim community celebrates two major festivals annually, each with a gala fair. These are the Urs of Hazrath Syed Sheikh-e-Shah Wali and the Urs of Nana Saheb. Both these men were noble human beings of old times.

Economy

Kadiri is renowned for its yield in variety of groundnut products. Main crops in this region are groundnut and sunflower. Beedi (tobacco sticks) works is another major field on which many people survive in Kadiri.There has been a rapid growth in development of Mango orchards and plantations in this region since 2005. It also houses a vast number of textile shops, thereby a business hub in this region.

Research institutions

Transport

Kadiri got into the mainline, after the 100 year age old MG line is converted into BG. It has two daily passenger trains running between Guntakal and Tirupati. A daily train runs through Kadiri connecting the joint capital of Andhra Pradesh-Telangana and the capital of Karnataka. It also has a weekly train running between Hyderabad and Madurai (Chennai).

Kadiri is on the National Highway of Anantapur - Chennai (NH 205) and have scores of buses to Chennai, Bangalore, Vijayawada and Hyderabad by RTC buses and private travel agencies.

Geography

Kadiri is located at 14°07′N 78°10′E / 14.12°N 78.17°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 504 metres (1653 ft).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[3] Kadiri had a population of 76,261. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kadiri has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 46%. In Kadiri, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Kadiri is one of the few towns in Andhra Pradesh with a large MUSLIM population of 55% of the town after Hindupur. Hindupur has the largest Muslim population in Anantapur district. Sri Tayi surya narayana Degree college, Sri Basireddy college are situated in Kadiri.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kadiri.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Basic Information of Municipality". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kadiri
  3. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.