Carving of Rudrama Devi discovered - Sosin Classes · 2019-07-08 · occurred in the life of Rani...
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A tall granite nondescript structure in the middle of fields in Thorrur mandal of Mahabubabad would miss the attention of many. However, a closer look re- veals an intricate carving on a stone thrust in the middle. The structure is a watchtow- er built by the Kakatiyas, who ruled the region for more almost three centuries (1052 AD to 1323 AD). While exploring the square tower built to oversee the Siva Kesava temple in Nanchari Maduru village of Thorrur mandal here as part of the Temple Survey Pro- ject, an ocial of the Archae- ological Survey of India (ASI) stumbled upon a distinctive granite slab embedded into the walls of the tower. The slab depicts Lord Siva bless- ing Kakatiya ruler Rudrama Devi in a mythical, animal form. “The discovery of this ele- gant narrative sculpture is momentous for the archaeo- logical research and most vi- tal for the reconstruction of a few events that might have occurred in the life of Rani Rudrama Devi,” said D. Kan- na Babu, Superintending Ar- chaeologist, ASI, Chennai. He said the 13th-century watchtower, which is a little damaged, also explains the hitherto unrevealed signifi- cance as a defence bastion of the Kakatiya rulers for safe- guarding the region from the enemy surges, including the Kayasthas. Further describing the in- tricate carving, Mr. Babu said the rectangular sculp- tured panel frame repre- sents Rudrama Devi seated on an elephant, holding a sword in her raised right hand. Her left-hand carries elephant head gear, with an attendant in tow. A mahout is seen stopping the elephant by holding its trunk with the left hand and a mace in his right. “The giant animal holds the leg of its mahout with its trunk. Opposite this, in the frame we can see Lord Siva in the form of Sarabhesa Murti, his mythical animal form, appearing before the queen,” Mr. Babu said. After experiencing the Lord’s presence at this place, Rudrama Devi might have constructed the temple com- plex, he speculated.The o- cial believes the slab is one of the rare visual sources on the life of Rani Rudrama Devi. Carving of Rudrama Devi discovered ASI ocial stumbles upon the intricate work on a Kakatiya-era watchtower Abhinay Deshpande HYDERABAD The Kakatiya-era watchtower at Nanchari Maduru village in Mahabubabad; (right) The arving discovered on the wall of a watch tower depicts Lord Siva appearing in a mythical animal form to Rani Rudrama Devi.
Transcript of Carving of Rudrama Devi discovered - Sosin Classes · 2019-07-08 · occurred in the life of Rani...
A tall granite nondescriptstructure in the middle offi��elds in Thorrur mandal ofMahabubabad would missthe attention of many.
However, a closer look re-veals an intricate carving ona stone thrust in the middle.The structure is a watchtow-er built by the Kakatiyas,who ruled the region formore almost three centuries(1052 AD to 1323 AD).
While exploring thesquare tower built to overseethe Siva Kesava temple inNanchari Maduru village ofThorrur mandal here as partof the Temple Survey Pro-ject, an offi��cial of the Archae-ological Survey of India (ASI)stumbled upon a distinctivegranite slab embedded intothe walls of the tower. Theslab depicts Lord Siva bless-ing Kakatiya ruler RudramaDevi in a mythical, animalform.
“The discovery of this ele-gant narrative sculpture is
momentous for the archaeo-logical research and most vi-tal for the reconstruction of afew events that might haveoccurred in the life of RaniRudrama Devi,” said D. Kan-na Babu, Superintending Ar-chaeologist, ASI, Chennai.
He said the 13th-century
watchtower, which is a littledamaged, also explains thehitherto unrevealed signifi��-cance as a defence bastion ofthe Kakatiya rulers for safe-guarding the region from theenemy surges, including theKayasthas.
Further describing the in-
tricate carving, Mr. Babusaid the rectangular sculp-tured panel frame repre-sents Rudrama Devi seatedon an elephant, holding asword in her raised righthand. Her left-hand carrieselephant head gear, with anattendant in tow. A mahout
is seen stopping the elephantby holding its trunk with theleft hand and a mace in hisright.
“The giant animal holdsthe leg of its mahout with itstrunk. Opposite this, in theframe we can see Lord Sivain the form of SarabhesaMurti, his mythical animalform, appearing before thequeen,” Mr. Babu said.
After experiencing theLord’s presence at this place,Rudrama Devi might haveconstructed the temple com-plex, he speculated.The offi��-cial believes the slab is one ofthe rare visual sources on thelife of Rani Rudrama Devi.
Carving of Rudrama Devi discoveredASI offi��cial stumbles upon the intricate work on a Kakatiya-era watchtowerAbhinay DeshpandeHYDERABAD
The Kakatiya-era watchtower at Nanchari Maduru village in Mahabubabad; (right) The arvingdiscovered on the wall of a watch tower depicts Lord Siva appearing in a mythical animal formto Rani Rudrama Devi.
