Select Andhra & Telangana Temples: Archaeological Series No. 30

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

This book is the eighth of a series of monographs on the art and architecture of the temples of Andhradésa written by me. One monograph, entitled The Temples of Tirumala, Tirupati and Tiruchanur, was published by the T. T. Devastanams. Three monographs, entitled Early Calukyan Temples, Eastern Calukyan Temples and The Temples of Srisailam, were published by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, A. P. Two monographs, entitled The Temples of Kalinga and Select Kakatiya Temples, and another, entitled Saivite Deities of Andhradėsa, were published by the Sri Venkatesvara University.

This monograph contains descriptions and illustrations of ten temples found in Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts of Andhra Pradesh, belonging to different periods and styles. I mentioned in Chapter 1 the temple proto-types as found in the famous Buddhist sculptures of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda. Mention is made in Chapter II of the Hindu temples found in Nagarjunakonda valley during the course of the excavations, as they are the carliest known Hindu temples of Andhradesa. The temple of Chezerla described in Chapter III, originally a Buddhist Caityagrha, seems to have been converted into a Siva shrine in the early period of Pallava rule. The Parasuramesvara temple of Gudimallam is a late Pallava structure remarkable for its apsidal vimana and its peculiar linga. The Kajahastisvara temple of Kalahasti is a complex containing structures of the Cola, Yadavaraya and Vijayanagara periods. The rock sculptures found joutside the temple are of particular value. The Epigraphical and literary sources have been fully utilised in writing the account of this temple. The temples of Jögimallavaram, Nellore, Tondamanad and Laddigam are of the Coja period and contain several local variations of style and construction. The temples of Nandikandi, Gangapuram and Panugal belong to the Later Cajukyan period and are of immense value for a study of the evolution of the Kakatiya style of architecture, seen in the famous examples at Hanumakonda and Palampeta. The small temple of Nandikandi resembles the Later Calukyan temple of Dambhal.

I am very thankful to Sri Mohd. Abdul Waheed Khan, Director of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh, for kindly encouraging me to prepare this monograph and for publishing it on behalf of his department.

Andhra Pradesh is endowed with a number of historical monuments and ancient sites. To all students of architecture, it is well-known the evolution of temple architecture in Andhra Pradesh owes much to the Buddhist structures. There is a long standing need for a comprehensive study of the important temples belonging to the different periods of history of Andhra Pradesh. The shrines of Hindu faith belonging to pre and early Christian era are quite meagre and minuscule. During the recent time due to unstinted efforts of archaeologists, few temples of early period have come to light which were constructed in brick and mud mortar. They are aesthetically barren, devoid of any ornamentation and look drab and monochromatic. The plan is also very simple either of apsidal or rectangular. The temple building activity of permanent nature was commenced by the Pallavas and the Vishnukundins who were the successors of Ikshvakus. During their periods, many cave temples were excavated. The Eastern Chalukyan kings who ruled over Andhra Desa for about 4 Centuries, have left numerous temples in the Coastal Districts. Their greatest contributions are the five Aramas, namely, Draksharama, Kumararama, Ksheerarama, Somarama and Amararama, all dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was the transitory epoch when Buddhism lost its ground and royal pat- ronage and Hinduism became predominant. The Chalukyas of Badami heralded a composite architecture which is a hormonious blend of Northern and Southern style. They have left behind a complex of temples at Alampur on the left bank of Tunga- bhadra in Mahboobnagar District. These temples were profusely decorated with sculpture and carving of elegant beauty. The Kakatiyas of Warangal also erected important temples in Chalukyan idiom which scattered all over the Districts of Telangana. Of all these, the most remarkable are thousand-pillared temple at Hanumakonda and at Palampet. In fact they have assimilated many Chalukyan and Yadava features in their architecture, but they developed a distinct style of their own. They were past-masters in carving exquisite figures and intricate ornamental freezes on the intractable black basalt. The Vijayanagara Rulers did not lag behind in this field. They constructed many temples of great aesthetic excellence at several places in Telangana and Rayalaseema. They have surpassed in massiveness of structure than their predecessors and they did it without subordinating artistic excellence. It is high time that a separate publication should be brought out highlighting the important characteristic features of different periods. The present publication by the learned scholar Dr. M. Rama Rao deals with some important Chola temples in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh.