Sculptures from Kakatiya period found at Umamaheswaram in Nagarkurnool
Nagarkurnool: Two beautiful sculptures of the Kakatiya period are found lying in utter neglect among the bushes at the famous Shiva temple at Umamaheswaram in Nagarkurnool district.
A life size sculpture of Siva and a Nandi idol carved out of black basalt stone were noticed by Dr. E. Sivanagireddy, archaeologist during his explorations conducted near by the Anjaneya temple at the foot of the hill on Tuesday as part the heritage awareness program called ‘ Preserve Heritage for Posterity’.
The Saivite sculpture according to him is broken at head and hands portion and at the head and left leg of the bull sculpture but decorated with rich ornamentation representing the artistic dexterity of the Kakatiya art that flourished during the 14th century AD.
According to Sriramoju Haragopal, Convenor, Kotta Telangana Charitra Brindam the mutilated Saivite sculpture represents Veerabhadra based on the style of art and iconography and similar find he noticed at Devaracharla in Nalgonda district of the same period.
Besides citing a reference to an inscription of the last Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra dated to 1320 AD was found inside the temple that records donation of lands in 16 villages for the maintenance of Umamaheswara temple that attests the Kakatiya patronage.
Dr. Sivanagireddy disclosed that a 14 th century inscription at Umamaheswaram records the installation of the sculptures of Parvati, Chennakesava, Mahishamardhini, Veerabhadra and Nandikeswara(bull) by certain Sadananda Swamy and were carved by two sculptor brothers , namely China Sarabhayya and Peda Sarabhayya.
He said that the sculptures of Veerabhadra and Nandi found by him in the bushes
are none other than the ones mentioned in the above inscription and the other three sculptures, namely, Parvati, Chennakesava and Mahishamardhini are now seen inside the Mahamandapa of the Umamaheswara temple. It is disheartening to know from the local people that the two sculptures were deliberately dozed out by the miscreants. He also lamented on the neglect of an inscription of the Recharla Chief Madanayaka dated 1377 AD broken into four pieces and found scattered pin the road side at the Anjaneya temple.
Dr.Sivanagi Reddy sensitised the temple priests and the local community on the historical significance and archaeological importance of the sculptures and appealed to the concerned authorities to preserve them for posterity by erecting them on pedastals under proper labelling.
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