Shiva Temple at Yellakonda (60km to the northwest of Hyderabad)
*THREAD*
Plundered & vandalized by the invaders, abandoned by the locals and ignored by the authorities, the current state of temple tells the sorry fate it went through the years.
1/n
@ReclaimTemples @LostTemple7
*THREAD*
Plundered & vandalized by the invaders, abandoned by the locals and ignored by the authorities, the current state of temple tells the sorry fate it went through the years.
1/n
@ReclaimTemples @LostTemple7
On climbing up the mound, first sight of the temple reveals the architectural style that was prevalent during the reign of Kakatiyas, the temple was most likely built in the 12th-13th cen. CE
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The temple consisting of an open Mandapam with a four-pillared Ranga Mandapa, Antarala, Garbhagriham is square-shaped in plan. The Mandapa is enclosed with Kakasana.
3/n
@GampaSD @SaveTemplesBH
3/n
@GampaSD @SaveTemplesBH
Each pillar of the Ranga Mandapa is profusely carved from Pada to Phalaka
The brackets are of chitra-potika type. Two square blocks on each side are carved with deities and sura-sundaris. Octogonal segments carved with repeating patterns with floral themes such as patravali.
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The brackets are of chitra-potika type. Two square blocks on each side are carved with deities and sura-sundaris. Octogonal segments carved with repeating patterns with floral themes such as patravali.
4/n
The square blocks on the upper portion of the pillars are carved with deities.
Shiva-Parvati, Ananthasayana, GajaLakshmi, Narsimha, etc. & carvings within the foliage of Kirthimuka are carved on the face of the pillars
5/n
Shiva-Parvati, Ananthasayana, GajaLakshmi, Narsimha, etc. & carvings within the foliage of Kirthimuka are carved on the face of the pillars
5/n
The faces of the square block in the lower portion of all the four pillars of the Ranga Mandapam are carved with Sura-sundaris in different forms within the miniature form of Kakatiya kala thoranam/arch
6/n
6/n
The 4 architraves of the RangaMandapa that span over 2 pillars each are profusely carved
The inner face of the architraves are carved with Samudra Manthan, Vamana-Trivikrama, Mahabharata
Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, etc. carved on the outer face of the architrave
The inner face of the architraves are carved with Samudra Manthan, Vamana-Trivikrama, Mahabharata
Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, etc. carved on the outer face of the architrave
The Vitāna/chada (ceiling) of the Ranga Mandapam is absolutely stunning
AshtaDikpalakas are carved inside the triangles formed by a rotated square within a square.
In the centre, probably Nataraja within the octagon formed by two squares carved at an angle of 135⁰
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AshtaDikpalakas are carved inside the triangles formed by a rotated square within a square.
In the centre, probably Nataraja within the octagon formed by two squares carved at an angle of 135⁰
8/n
The Garbhagriham has been totally vandalised. There's no Lingam inside.
It has been partially restored, the stone slabs have been randomly placed to form a walled enclosure.
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It has been partially restored, the stone slabs have been randomly placed to form a walled enclosure.
9/n
The outer walls are formed by huge stone slabs. The walls are carved with miniature shrines with dieties such as Ganesha and Hanuman within them.
The fallen off stone slabs reveal how each stone was cut to interlock with the stone blocks to form a solid wall.
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The fallen off stone slabs reveal how each stone was cut to interlock with the stone blocks to form a solid wall.
10/n
The carved stone slab, probably of a door jamb of Garbhagriha lying out in open. Zoom-in to see the level of skill that has gone into sculpture.
The Nandi that was supposed to be inside the shrine is lying outside.
Murthis of Ganesha and Naga are lying scattered in open
n/n
The Nandi that was supposed to be inside the shrine is lying outside.
Murthis of Ganesha and Naga are lying scattered in open
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Thanks @topoji16 for recommendation
