Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara temple, is a
Kakatiya style Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
dedicated to the god
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
, located in
Telangana, India
Telangana (; , ) is a state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the eleventh-largest state and the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of and 35, ...
. It is from
Mulugu
Mulugu is a town in Mulugu district, Telangana. It is the headquarters of the district, which was formed in 2019 after Jayashankar Bhupalpally district was split. Prior to the reorganization of districts that created Jayashankar Bhupalpally dis ...
, from
Warangal
Warangal () is a city in the Indian state of Telangana and the district headquarters of Warangal district. It is the second largest city in Telangana with a population of 704,570 per 2011 Census of India, and spreading over an .
Warangal ser ...
, from
Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
. An inscription in the temple says it was constructed in the year by Recharla Rudra alias Recharla Rudri Reddi- a General of
Kakatiya
The Kakatiya dynasty (IAST: Kākatīya) was an Indian dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka and southern Odisha between 12th and 14th centuries. Th ...
ruler
Ganapati Deva 1199–1262.
Located in the vicinity of
Ramappa Lake
Ramappa Lake is a lake situated in Warangal district, Telangana, India. The lake is one of the prominent reservoirs built by Kakatiya rulers. It is situated in Warangal
Warangal () is a city in the Indian state of Telangana and the distri ...
, 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.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo (, , ; 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known as ''Book of the Marv ...
, during his visit to the Kakatiya empire, supposedly called the temple "the brightest star in the galaxy of temples". Ramappa Temple stands majestically on a 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
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
, but the columns round the outside have large brackets of black
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
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
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
as "Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana".
Description
The roof (garbhalayam) of the temple is built with bricks, which are so light that they are able to float on water.
There are two small Shiva
shrine
A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy sacred space, space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor worship, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, Daemon (mythology), daem ...
s on either side of the main temple. The enormous
Nandi
Nandi may refer to:
People
* Nandy (surname), Indian surname
* Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe
* Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi
* Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...
within, facing the shrine of Shiva, remains in good condition.
Nataraja Ramakrishna
Nataraja Ramakrishna (21 March 1923 – 7 June 2011) was a dance guru from Telangana, India. He was the chairman of Andhra Pradesh Sangeeta Nataka Academy. He was also a scholar and musicologist who promoted classical dance in Andhra Pradesh a ...
revived
Perini Sivatandavam
Perini Sivathandavam (Perini Śivathandavam) or Perini Thandavam is an ancient dance form, from Telangana, which has been revived in recent times. It originated and prospered in Telangana, during the Kakatiya dynasty.
Perini is performed in honour ...
(Perini Dance), by seeing the sculptures in this temple. The dance poses, written in Nritta Rathnavalid by Jayapa Senaani, also appear in these sculptures.
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.
Many of the smaller structures were neglected and are in ruins. The
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...
has taken charge of it. The main entrance gate in the outer wall of the temple is ruined.
Location
Ramappa temple is located in Palampet,
Venkatapur
Venkatapur is a village and a mandal in Mulugu district in the state of Telangana, India. It is the second-largest revenue village of the district, comprising around 12,000 people.
See also
*Ramappa Temple
Ramappa Temple, also known as t ...
mandal which is from Mulugu mandal (around off Warangal city). It is located away from
Kota Gullu
Ghanpur temples, popularly known as Kota Gullu, are a group of 12th century stone temples that are located in Ghanpur near Warangal in Telangana, India. They are located 9 km northwest of the more famous Ramappa Temple in Palampet.
Histo ...
where another Shiva temple is located.
Gallery
File:Ramappa Temple (Human Scale).jpg, From the side
File:Ramappa Temple 02.jpg
File:Temple - Front view.JPG, Front
File:Temples of India.jpg
File:A view of Ramappa Temple 01.JPG, From behind
File:Ramappa Temple by Varsha Bhargavi Kondapalli 21.jpg, One of the distinctive dancers
File:Ramappa Temple by Varsha Bhargavi Kondapalli 38.jpg, Dancer
File:Ramappa Temple by Varsha Bhargavi Kondapalli 09.jpg, Pillar inside the mandapa
File:Ramappa Temple by Varsha Bhargavi Kondapalli 14.jpg, Inside the mandapa
File:Ramappa temple...JPG, Smaller temple
References
Bibliography
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External links
Ramappa Temple(Complete info)
{{World Heritage Sites in India
Hindu temples in Hanamkonda district
Tourist attractions in Warangal
Archaeological sites in Telangana
Shiva temples in Telangana
Hindu temples in Telangana
World Heritage Sites in India
Mulugu district