Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.96

c2.96

Why this temple should be locally known as the Akkanna Mādanna Mandapa I do not know. Akkanna and Mādanna, according to the Dutch journalist Havart, were ministers of the Qutb Shahi kings Abdulla Qutb Shāh and Abdul Hassan. They were two brothers born of a very poor family but rose rapidly in the rank in the service of Abdulla Qutb Shāh (1611—1672 A. D.), and appear to have maintained the same high position also under Abdul Hassan, the successor of Abdulla Qutb Shāh. However, their good fortune did not last very long. In 1685 A. D. Aurangazeb entered Golkonda with his army and plundered the house of Mādanna who was accused by the people of high treason. Under orders from the Sultan Abdul Hassan the two brothers, once the bosom friends of the king were murdered in a most ignominious manner. They were dragged along the streets in the presence of the people. Mādanna was beheaded and his head was sent to Aurangazeb, while that of Akkanna was trampled under the foot of an elephant. Their death appears to have occurred about November 1685 A. D. Abdul Hassan, who thought that he would now be quite safe was himself deposed and confined in Daulatabad Fort two years later.