13th Century self-sacrifice sculpture found in Telangana’s Jangaon
Hyderabad: An ‘atma bali’ (ritual self-sacrifice) orthostatic sculpture was found during the exploration conducted by members of the ‘Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam’ (KTCB) at Lingampalli village in Jangaon district. The KTCB members led by its convenor Sriramoju Haragopal found the ‘Siditala’ — a self-sacrificing ritual — belonging to the post-Kakatiya 13th Century. On the memorial […]
Hyderabad: An ‘atma bali’ (ritual self-sacrifice) orthostatic sculpture was found during the exploration conducted by members of the ‘Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam’ (KTCB) at Lingampalli village in Jangaon district.
The KTCB members led by its convenor Sriramoju Haragopal found the ‘Siditala’ — a self-sacrificing ritual — belonging to the post-Kakatiya 13th Century. On the memorial stone, a woman can be seen sitting in the Dhyanasana, a meditation position, holding a ‘linga’ in her right hand.
Sharing details about the sculpture, Sriramoju Haragopal, says, “We are not very sure what the woman is holding in her left hand. She is wearing several ornaments, including a necklace, earrings, waistband and bracelets.
She is draped in a silk sari. Her hair is tied to a pole, so when her head is severed, it will swing away from the body. Back in the days, it was a common custom for the devotees — especially of Veerashaiva community — to perform such rituals. By the virtue of the features and style of the sculpture we were able to deduce the time period it belonged. ”
The second panel on the sculpture shows two apsaras (celestial beings) carrying the saint worshipping the Linga on their arm to heaven. Several self-sacrifice rituals have been documented from the 13th Century, including Velivali, Jolavali, Grahana, Sidi Tale, Shoolabrah and Sallekana, by historians from across the nation.
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