About the temple

• The 13th century shrine, which has been found in Warangal Urban district in Telangana, is unfinished but extraordinary and exquisite in its architecture.
• It contains a very wide ground plan possibly for a trikuta shrine with spacious provisions for erection of entrance portico, vestibules as well as sanctums.
• The character of the temple is identical with the Thousand Pillar temple built by Rudradeva Maharaja – the illustrious king of Kakatiya dynasty.
• King Ganapati Deva (A.D.1199-1262) might have started the edifice during the last years of his rule and it was not carried out by his successors either Rudramadevi or Pratapa Rudradeva due to their expeditions against enemies and revolt by chieftains.

Why in news?

• Structural remains of an uncompleted grand shrine of Kakatiyas has been found  at Mamunoor in Warangal Urban district.

Famous constructions of Kakatiya Dynasty

Remnants of Swayambhu temple and Keerthi Thoranas, Warangal fort:

• The Warangal Fort was a huge construction with three distinct circular strongholds surrounded by a moat. Four paths with decorative and lofty gateways known as Keerthi Thorana or Hamsa Thorana, set according to the cardinal points, lead to the center where a huge Shiva Temple (Swayambhu Gudi) once existed.
• The archaeological remains through the explored ground plan of the Swayambhu temple suggests the huge dimensions of the temple, as corroborated by the contemporary work of Kridabhiramamu.
• The gateway is obvious but much of the temple is archaeologically significant for its clear visibility of the total temple complex along with gateways.
• The archaeological remains of Swayambhu temple complex and Keerthi Thoranas demonstrate both a creative masterpiece, and a continuity and transformation through interchange of cultural values for many years of Indian and Asian art history.

Rudreswara Temple (Thousand pillars temple), Hanumakonda:

• Rudreswara Temple locally known as Veyisthambala Gudi (Thousand pillars temple) is one of the finest and earliest available examples of Kakatiya art, architecture and sculpture.
• It was built by Rudra Deva, and named after him as Sri Rudreswara swamy temple with the presiding deity as Rudreswara, in 1163 AD in the style of later Chalukyan and early Kakatiyan Architecture, star shaped and triple shrined (Trikutalaya).
• The temple is a fine specimen of architecture and sculpture with One thousand pillars implying that the temple has many pillars. There are richly carved pillars, perforated screens, exquisite icons; rock cut elephants and the monolithic dolerite Nandi as components of the temple.
• Strengthening of foundations like sand box technique, the skill of Kakatiya sculptors is manifest in adroit craftsmanship and flawless ivory carving technique in their art. The ingenuity of Kakatiya sculptors is visible in likes of lathe turned, and shiny polish in dolerite and granite stone sculpture and craft work of Nava rangamandapa.

Rudreswara (Ramappa) temple, Palampet:

• Rudreswara (Ramappa) temple is Situated 65 km from Warangal at Palampet. The Ramappa Temple, probably is the only temple in India known by the name of the sculptor who built it.
• The head sculptor was Ramappa, after whom the temple is known today, rather than after the presiding deity, Ramalingeswara, as is the general norm.
• The temple of Ramappa was built on behalf of the king, Kakati Ganapathi Deva by his chief commander Rudra Samani at a place called Ranakude in Atukuru province.
• This temple has been rightfully described as the “brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples of the Deccan” .
• The temple is a Shivalaya and stands majestically on a 6 ft high star shaped platform. The hall in front of the sanctum has numerous carved pillars that have been positioned to create an effect that combines light and space wonderfully and the exquisitely chiselled walls and ceiling are unique to the time of Kakatiyan sculptors and empire.
• The sculptural work of dance postures in the temple appears like a frozen record of dances of the region in stone and was of great inspiration for the famous work ‘Nritya Ratnavali’, by Jayapa Senani. The postures pertaining to Bharata Natya, Shrunga, Bharunga, Rathi, Perini Nritya etc., are engraved on the pillars and top-beams of ‘Mukha Mandapam’, The mythological episodes such as ‘Gopika Vastrapaharanam, Tripura samharm, Daksha Samharam, Ksheera Sagara Madhanam, Girija Kalyanam etc., stand for the highest standards of Kakatiya Sculpture. The ‘Nagini’ and other eleven devanarthakis are arranged as supporting beams on both sides of each entrance.

For more details about Kakatiya Dynasty: https://officerspulse.com/kakati-devi-temple/

Or Refer Pulse 17- Page 16

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/unfinished-temple-of-kakatiya-era-lies-in-ruins/article33103827.ece