Nanded Historical importance

anded is one of the historical places in Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. It is situated on the north bank of Godavari river. It is famous for Sikh Gurudwaras. Nanded is a town of great antiquity. It is said that during the Puranic days, Pandavas travelled through Nanded district. Nandas ruled over Nanded through generations.

The mention of Nanded is found in the Lilacharitra, a treatise written by Mahimbhatta. It gives the description of the idol of Narasimha in the town. Nanded was formerly known as "Nanditat" which is confirmed by the copper plate found at Vasim. Nanded District and the adjoining areas were ruled over by the Andhrabhrtyas or Satvahanas during the First Centrury A.D. During the fourth century A.D. Kandhar was the capital of the King Sogadev and at Nanded was ruled by the king Nanddeva of the Chalukya dynasty. That the Rashtrakutas were ruling at Kandhar is established by the inscription at Krishnadev alias Khandardev found at Khandar. Another inscription at Ardhapur shows that some dynasty of the Rashtrakutas was also ruling over Degloor. Hottal, a place in Nanded District was the capital of the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas followed by the Yadavas of Devgiri were the last Hindu dynasties to have ruled of this part. During the very first invasion by Muhammedans this territory subjugated to them and after a few years it became a part of the fief of Malik kafur, the general of Alauddin Khilji.

With the advent of the Bahamanis, the southern country or the Deccan was divided into four parts or the subhas and Nanded was included in the Subha of Telangana. The famous Vazir or the Prime Minister of the Bahamanis Mahmud Gavan divided the Kingdom into subhas with Nanded forming part of Mahur Balaghat. Resided at Nanded and Kandhar for many days and the Vazirabad part of Nanded town was established, While he was residing at Nanded and Kandhar.

When Aurangzeb was appointed the Subhedar of the Deccan. Bidar was one of the Subha. The Subha of Bidar was divided into six sarkars and 76 mahals and Nanded was one of the Sarkars of that subha.

In 1708, the year following the death of Aurangzeb, his son accompained by Guru Govind Singh the tenth spiritual leader of the Sikhs came over to Nanded, as his permanent abode. It was he who preached amongst the sikhs that there need not be any spiritual leader for them and they should take Granthsaheb as their leader. A monument has been constructed at place where he breathed his last. A Gurudwara has also been constructed there and is known as Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sachkhand Gurudwara.

It became the part of the Hyderabad Kingdom in 1725 when the Nizam permanently opted for the Deccan and continued to be so till 1947. With India getting freedom and the consequent police action against the Hyderabad State, the district forming part of the Marathwada region of the Hyderabad state became part of the bilingual Bombay State and consequent upon the creation of Maharashtra, the district continues to form part of the state of Maharashtra.

Nanded has a great cultural heritage. It is the place of birth of the Saint poets like Vishnupant Sesa and Raguhunath Sesa and Vaman Pandit besides being a Centre for learning Sanskrit.