Ramappa Temple Explained

Ramappa Temple
Map Type:India Telangana
Coordinates:18.2592°N 79.9433°W
Country:India
State:Telangana
District:Mulugu
Location:Palampet village
Deity:Shiva as Ramalingeswara Swamy
Festivals:Maha Shivaratri
Architect:Ramappa
Architecture:Kakatiya architecture, Bhumija/Vesara style
Facade Direction:East-facing
Year Completed:13th Century
Creator:Recharla Rudra
Designation1:WHS
Designation1 Offname:Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana
Designation1 Criteria:(i)(iii)
Designation1 Date:2021 (44th session)
Designation1 Number:1570
Religious Affiliation:Hinduism

Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara temple, is a Kakatiya style Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, located in Palampet village, Mulugu district, Telangana, India. It is 15km (09miles) from Mulugu, 66km (41miles) from Warangal, 209km (130miles) from Hyderabad. An inscription in the temple says it was constructed in the year by Recharla Rudra Reddy—a general of Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva .[1] [2] Located in the vicinity of Ramappa Lake, the Ramappa Temple complex which consist of three temples was constructed between 1212 and 1234, designed and architect by Ramappa—after whom the temple complex is named.[3] Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya empire, supposedly called the temple "the brightest star in the galaxy of temples". In July 2021, Ramappa Temple was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4] [5]

Structure

Ramappa Temple stands on a 6feet high star-shaped platform. The hall in front of the sanctum has numerous carved pillars that have been positioned to create an effect that combines light and space wonderfully. The temple is named after the sculptor Ramappa, who built it, making it the only temple in India to be named after its craftsman.

The main structure is in a reddish sandstone, but the columns around the outside have large brackets of black basalt which is rich in iron, magnesium and silica. These are carved as mythical animals or female dancers or musicians, and are "the masterpieces of Kakatiya art, notable for their delicate carving, sensuous postures, and elongated bodies and heads". On 25 July 2021, the temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana".[2] [6]

Restoration

The 7th Nizam of Hyderabad also donated towards restoration of the temple, with the restoration works starting in 1914.[7]

In 1931, Dr. Ghulam Yazdani, the world famous Indian Archeologist and Conservationist who established Hyderabad Archaeology Department under the Nizam Government, had traced the decorations and ornaments of the temple which were missing and restored them in its original positions.[8]

Description

The roof (garbhalayam) of the temple is built with bricks, which are so light that they can float on water.[9]

There are two small Shiva shrines on either side of the main temple. The enormous Nandi within, facing the shrine of Shiva, remains in good condition.

Nataraja Ramakrishna revived Perini Sivatandavam (Perini Dance), by seeing the sculptures in this temple.[10] [11] The dance poses, written in Nrtta Ratnavali by Jayapa Senani, also appear in these sculptures.[12]

The temple remained intact even after repeated wars, plunder and destruction during wars and natural disasters. There was a major earthquake during the 17th century which caused some damage. It survived the earthquake due to its 'sandbox technique' of laying foundation.[13]

Many of the smaller structures were neglected and are in ruins. The Archaeological Survey of India has taken charge of it. The main entrance gate in the outer wall of the temple is ruined.[14]

Location

Ramappa temple is located in Palampet, Venkatapur mandal which is 19km (12miles) from Mulugu mandal (around 70km (40miles) off Warangal city). It is located 6km (04miles) away from Kota Gullu where another Shiva temple is located.

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: Ramappa temple never fails to surprise visitors. 2015-01-01. The Hindu. Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao. January 2015.
  2. News: Nanisetti. Serish. 2021-07-25. Telangana's Ramappa Temple inscribed as a World Heritage Site. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-07-25. 0971-751X.
  3. News: 2021-07-26 . 800-year-old Ramappa Temple in Telangana gets the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag . The Economic Times . 2023-10-18 . 0013-0389.
  4. Web site: Kakatiya Rudreswara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana . 2023-04-01 . UNESCO World Heritage Centre . en.
  5. Web site: 2021-07-26 . Telangana's Ramappa Temple becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site . 2023-04-01 . . en.
  6. Web site: Cultural sites in China, India, Iran, and Spain inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. UNESCO. UNESCO. 2021-07-25. 2021-07-25.
  7. News: Ramappa temple’s first renovation effort was taken up in 1914 . The Times of India . 26 July 2021.
  8. News: Ahmed . Mohammed Hussain . UNESCO mentions Nizam’s role in restoration of Ramappa Temple . The Siasat Daily – Archive . 27 July 2021.
  9. Web site: Telangana Tourism - Visit for all reasons & all seasons. usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20180808210656/http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/warangal/ramappa-temple.html. 8 August 2018. Telangana Tourism. en.
  10. Web site: P. . Surya Rao . 10 November 2006 . Blast from the past . https://web.archive.org/web/20071111192416/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2006/11/10/stories/2006111000010200.htm . 11 November 2007 . The Hindu.
  11. Book: Gupta, Roxanne Kamayani . A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance: The Yogini's Mirror . 2000-03-01 . Simon and Schuster . 978-1-59477-527-7 . en.
  12. Book: Ponvannan, Gayathri . 100 Great Chronicles of Indian History: From Cave Paintings to the Constitution . 2022-01-25 . Hachette India . 978-93-91028-77-0 . en.
  13. Web site: Did Kakatiya rulers hold the secret to earthquake-proof buildings?. 2021-07-26. The New Indian Express.
  14. Web site: Warangal Temples, Telangana. 2006-09-11.