Published: 22nd Sep, 2022
Context
A 12-day World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Camp-2022 is set to be organised under the aegis of the Warangal-based Kakatiya Heritage Trust at the historic Ramappa temple in Palampet of Mulugu district.
About
About Ramappa Temple
- Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshswara (Lord Siva) temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the state of Telangana.
- It lies in a valley in Palampet village of Venkatapur Mandal of Mulugu district,a tiny village long past its days of glory in the 13th and 14th centuries.
- An inscription in the temple dates it to the year 1213 CE and says it was built by a Kakatiya General RecharlaRudra Deva, during the period of theKakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva.
- This temple was constructed by Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva’s general RecharlaRudra.
- Kakatiya Dynasty was the South Indian dynasty that ruled Andhra Pradesh in India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE.
- RamalingeswaraSwamyis the presiding deity of this temple.
- Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya Empire, allegedly called the temple “the brightest star in the galaxy of temples”.
Architecture
- The temple complexes of Kakatiyas have a distinct style, technology, and decoration exhibiting the influence of the Kakatiyan sculptor.
- The temple stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars, and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiyan sculptors.
- The foundation is built with the “sandbox technique”,the flooring is granite, and the pillars are basalt.
- The technique involved filling the pit — dug up for laying the foundation — with a mixture of sand-lime, jaggery (for binding) and karakkaya (black myrobalan fruit) before the buildings were constructed on these 'sandboxes'.
- The sandbox in the foundation acts as a cushion in case of earthquakes.
- Most of the vibrations caused by earthquakes lose their strength while passing through the sand by the time they reach the actual foundation of the building.
- The lower part of the temple is red sandstonewhile the white gopuram is built with light bricks that reportedly float on water.
- The Kakatiya temples, dedicated mostly to Shiva, reveal in their construction a happy blending of the styles of North India and South India which influenced the political life of the Deccan.
- They adopted both theNorth Indian NagaraBhumija style and the South Indian Dravida style.
- The most important of these temples are those atPalampet (Ramappa temple), Hanamkonda (Thousand Pillared temple) and the temples in the Warangal fort including the big ruined temple complex — Swayambhunadha temple.
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