Ramappa - The Temple of Dance
#ramappatemple
The Ramappa group of temples were built in 1213 CE, Situated in village of Palampet,Telangana.
Temple complex was built by Recharla Rudra,chief of army of Ganapatideva.
Complex is named after main architect Ramappa Stapathi.
#Ramappa
#ramappatemple
The Ramappa group of temples were built in 1213 CE, Situated in village of Palampet,Telangana.
Temple complex was built by Recharla Rudra,chief of army of Ganapatideva.
Complex is named after main architect Ramappa Stapathi.
#Ramappa
These temples are filled with sculptures that can easily be counted among the masterpieces of Indian sculptural art, and they create a perfect balance between the two ancient art forms prevalent in India: architecture and sculpture.
The most magnificent jewel in the Kakatiyan crown of temple architecture is the Rameshwara temple within the #Ramappa temple complex, in Palampet.
The beauty of this temple is mesmerising;
like a beautiful verse carved in stone, frozen for posterity.
- The Kakatiyan Dynasty
The beauty of this temple is mesmerising;
like a beautiful verse carved in stone, frozen for posterity.
- The Kakatiyan Dynasty
A look at our history will show that architecture and sculpture were two distinctive forms of art, and developed as such from the ancient times.
And The two became intertwined;
And The two became intertwined;
As beautiful figures were sculpted on temple walls during the Pallava& Chalukyan period,
A practice later adopted by the Chalukyan vassals:the Kakatiyans.
A practice later adopted by the Chalukyan vassals:the Kakatiyans.
As the Kakatiyas declared their independence and slowly turned into a dominant ruling dynasty of the Andhradesa, their architecture and sculpture, which evolved simultaneously over the three centuries of their rule, merged seamlessly into each other.
This is evident in their various temples, which are filled with exquisite figures covering each pillar, wall, door panel, door jamb, lintel, and ceiling;
Beautiful sculptures fill the door jambs and pillars of Kakatiyan temples
Beautiful sculptures fill the door jambs and pillars of Kakatiyan temples
The Ramappa temples, which are of the prefabricated type, is built of red and white tinged sandstone and show beautiful brick shikharas and ardhashikharas in front, keeping in line with the Chalukyan pattern.
The Ramappa Temple Bricks🪨 Float On Water🌊
The special feature of these temples is the use of feather lite spongy BRICKS THAT FLOAT ON WATER!
A man made ancient Bharat's🇮🇳 technological ingenuity of the 13th century.
#Ramappa #ramappatemple
The special feature of these temples is the use of feather lite spongy BRICKS THAT FLOAT ON WATER!
A man made ancient Bharat's🇮🇳 technological ingenuity of the 13th century.
#Ramappa #ramappatemple
Another innovation seen in these temples is the use of sand- box technology, where the foundation pit was topped with sand that would act as a support or cushion during earthquakes, thus protecting the structures.
The garbagriha of the Kateswara temple is a trikuta, commonly seen in many Kakatiyan temples, a style that was earlier developed by the Chalukyans.
The 12 bracket figures of the madanikas in the Rameswara temple bring out the best in the Kakatiyan sculptural art,
reflecting the skilled artistry of that period that could use chisels on black basalt and carve out exquisite figures in graceful rhythmic poses.
reflecting the skilled artistry of that period that could use chisels on black basalt and carve out exquisite figures in graceful rhythmic poses.
These slim, tall, and graceful madanikas along with other female figures inside the temple in varying dance poses became the inspiration for a dance treatise known as Nrityaratnavali that was written by Jayasenapati, a Kakatiyan army general.
Dancers on pillars. Maybe they once adorned the pillars around the circular rangamandapas.
The temple wall friezes show four petalled flowers, half moons on outer edges, single figures lined between two pillars, elephants, lions, etc.
The single figures show females doing their hair, donning a saree, applying vermilion on foreheads, huntresses, chawrie bearers, drummers, mithuna couples,
Saivite devotees,
Bhairava, Surya,
dancing Ganesh,
Narasimha,
soldiers with shields, and
Jain tirthankaras.
Saivite devotees,
Bhairava, Surya,
dancing Ganesh,
Narasimha,
soldiers with shields, and
Jain tirthankaras.
Unlike the voluptous Hoyala madanikas and the typical beauties of the classical Indian art, these madanikas/salabhanjikas exhibit slim and tall figures in graceful poses; however their faces that have noticeably large eyes, are rather wooden with no emotions.
Not all madanikas are dancers; one is a nagini;
one is a huntress with a bow and arrow;
one is a drummer;
and two are jaganmohinis.
Besides the salabhanjikas/madanikas, there are gajasimhas on basalt brackets all around the mandapa that form the royal insignia of the Kakatiyas.
On the two sides of the three mandapa entrances there are women figures in different postures; a huntress, a salabhanjika, among others
Jaali work on the entrance door to the antarala has circles that are formed by creepers encircling dancers and drummers.
Women in a palm grove, seen at the lower part of the door jamb
The rangamandapa inside is a circular, raised, single black stone, and has exquisitely carved pillars on four sides with intricately sculpted roof that speaks of various stories,
where we see a king standing with a sword while women holding parrots surround him.
where we see a king standing with a sword while women holding parrots surround him.
The different sculptures on pillars and ceilings shows
the astadikpalas,
& The tales of the samudramanthana (the devas are seen with halos while the asuras do not show any)
Shiva’s marriage,
the killing of Gajasura, vastraharana,
and many other tales from the Hindu epics.
the astadikpalas,
& The tales of the samudramanthana (the devas are seen with halos while the asuras do not show any)
Shiva’s marriage,
the killing of Gajasura, vastraharana,
and many other tales from the Hindu epics.
QUOTE ON THE TEMPLE
The temple is a Sivalayam, where Lord Ramalingeswara is worshipped.
Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya
Empire, called the temple
"the brightest star in the galaxy of temples".
The temple is a Sivalayam, where Lord Ramalingeswara is worshipped.
Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya
Empire, called the temple
"the brightest star in the galaxy of temples".
The Kakatiyan ERA was synonymous with wealth and prosperity of the common people,
large-scale developments that included turning forest tracts into fertile farmlands with the help of innumerable large man -made tanks,
and prosperous overseas trading with many foreign countries.
large-scale developments that included turning forest tracts into fertile farmlands with the help of innumerable large man -made tanks,
and prosperous overseas trading with many foreign countries.
Thus, the lives of common people were filled with joy and contentment,
& it is this feeling that we see reflecting in the sculptures.
& it is this feeling that we see reflecting in the sculptures.
Almost 1000 years later, when we now see these temple sculptures,
we witness a historical documentation,
an actual glimpse into a society and
its people whose lives once resonated with happiness and prosperity.
we witness a historical documentation,
an actual glimpse into a society and
its people whose lives once resonated with happiness and prosperity.
Now,Who were the Kakatiyas?
From two stone inscriptions it is learnt that the Kakatiyas got their name from a place called Kakatipura,
which is a place where the Cholas once ruled & where the temples of Ekavira devi & Kakati devi / Kakatamma (Chamunda of the saptamatrikas) stand.
From two stone inscriptions it is learnt that the Kakatiyas got their name from a place called Kakatipura,
which is a place where the Cholas once ruled & where the temples of Ekavira devi & Kakati devi / Kakatamma (Chamunda of the saptamatrikas) stand.
It is also believed that the Kakatiyas worshipped the Kakati devi,
from whom the family name may have been derived.
from whom the family name may have been derived.
Some epigraphical evidences suggest that the Kakatiyas belonged to some Rashtrakuta clan, hence they were Sudras (Chaturdhakulajas),with claims to Kshatriya-hood based on their warrior like activities.
Devi Chamunda or Kakati devi (Kakatamma)🙏 from whom the Kakatiya dynasty was likely to have derived its name, 13th century, Kolunapaka
Kakatiyan lineage:
870-895 CE – Gundaya’s reign as Rashtrakuta vassal
895-940 CE ~ Ereya’s reign as Rashtrakuta vassal
870-895 CE – Gundaya’s reign as Rashtrakuta vassal
895-940 CE ~ Ereya’s reign as Rashtrakuta vassal
The Mangallu inscription in 956 CE shows Kakatiyan Gundyana fighting under the Eastern Chalukya king; hence likely their vassal (noticeably the inscription doesn’t place the prefix Rashtrakuta before Gundyana’s name showing the disconnect with the clan)
973 CE ~ Collapse of Rashtrakutas
996-1052 CE ~ Beta I installed as king of Annumakonda or Hanamkonda by Erana and his wife Kamaseni (Beta I’s sister)
996-1052 CE ~ Beta I installed as king of Annumakonda or Hanamkonda by Erana and his wife Kamaseni (Beta I’s sister)
1052-1076 CE
Prola I rules as Kalyani/Western Chalukyan vassal under king Trilokyamalla Someswara.
The latter gave official ruling rights of Hanumakonda to Prola I (which was already bestowed upon him by his aunt Kamaseni)
after Prola fought a successful battle against the Cholas
Prola I rules as Kalyani/Western Chalukyan vassal under king Trilokyamalla Someswara.
The latter gave official ruling rights of Hanumakonda to Prola I (which was already bestowed upon him by his aunt Kamaseni)
after Prola fought a successful battle against the Cholas
1076-1110 CE ~ Beta II rules as Kalyani Chalukyan vassal of king Tribhuvanamalla Vikramditya
1110-1158 CE ~ Prola II rules as Kalyani Chalukyan vassal
1110-1158 CE ~ Prola II rules as Kalyani Chalukyan vassal
1158 CE ~
As the Western Chalukyas fall from power,
Rudradeva or Prataparudra I declares his independence,
and becomes the first independent ruler of the Kakatiyan dynasty.
He rules as the first king of the Kakatiya dynasty until 1195 CE.
As the Western Chalukyas fall from power,
Rudradeva or Prataparudra I declares his independence,
and becomes the first independent ruler of the Kakatiyan dynasty.
He rules as the first king of the Kakatiya dynasty until 1195 CE.
1195-1198 CE ~
Mahadeva rules.
He dies in a war in 1198 CE and his young son Ganapatideva is imprisoned.
Later Jaitugi of the Yadavas set him free, and Ganapatideva comes under loyal guardianship of his faithful vassal Recherla Rudra.
Mahadeva rules.
He dies in a war in 1198 CE and his young son Ganapatideva is imprisoned.
Later Jaitugi of the Yadavas set him free, and Ganapatideva comes under loyal guardianship of his faithful vassal Recherla Rudra.
1199 -1262 CE Ganapatideva rules.
In 1262 he hands over his throne to his daughter Rudrammadevi.
In 1269 Ganapatideva dies.
In 1262 he hands over his throne to his daughter Rudrammadevi.
In 1269 Ganapatideva dies.
The painting represents the court of Rani Rudramma of the Kakatiya dynasty meeting Marco Polo,
who was representing the Mongol king Kublai Khan (13th CE).
Marco Polo is shown accompanied by Chinese & Mongol representatives,
And they are carrying gifts of silk & Chinese pottery.
who was representing the Mongol king Kublai Khan (13th CE).
Marco Polo is shown accompanied by Chinese & Mongol representatives,
And they are carrying gifts of silk & Chinese pottery.
Here the Rani and her throne has been painted based on the image of Indrani in Ellora,
while the two huge gold makaras are based on the two makaras seen on top of Yamuna in Ellora.
The queen’s crown shows the Nataraja carved in emerald, which depicts her as a Shaivite.
while the two huge gold makaras are based on the two makaras seen on top of Yamuna in Ellora.
The queen’s crown shows the Nataraja carved in emerald, which depicts her as a Shaivite.
In 1289 Rudrammadevi dies in a battle along with her loyal Senani Mallikarjuna Nayakudu.
In 1289 Prataparudra II starts his rule.
He was Rudrammadevi’s grandson (daughter’s son), brought up by the queen herself and trained as her successor.
He was Rudrammadevi’s grandson (daughter’s son), brought up by the queen herself and trained as her successor.
In 1323 CE
After a fifth time invasion of Kakatiya kingdom by Mohammed bin Tughlaq,
the capital of the Kakatiyas, Warangal finally falls.
Prataprudra II was taken a prisoner, and while being taken to Delhi he commits suicide by drowning in the Narmada river.
After a fifth time invasion of Kakatiya kingdom by Mohammed bin Tughlaq,
the capital of the Kakatiyas, Warangal finally falls.
Prataprudra II was taken a prisoner, and while being taken to Delhi he commits suicide by drowning in the Narmada river.
Remains inside the Warangal fort.
Standing prominently is a Kirti thorana of the Kakatiyas.
The fort was completely DESTROYED by Mohammed bin Tughlaq’s army in 1323 CE.
Standing prominently is a Kirti thorana of the Kakatiyas.
The fort was completely DESTROYED by Mohammed bin Tughlaq’s army in 1323 CE.
In 1323 CE Kakatiya rule comes to an end.
As the loyal vassals of the Kakatiyas, the Nayakas, snatch power back from Delhi and take over.
Prataprudra II’s brother Annamdeo moves to Bastar with his army in 1324 CE,
And carves a kingdom there, which is held by his successors until 1947.
Prataprudra II’s brother Annamdeo moves to Bastar with his army in 1324 CE,
And carves a kingdom there, which is held by his successors until 1947.
The last direct descendant of the Kakatiya dynasty was maharani Prafulla kumari who reigned from 1921 to 1936.
She was married to Prafulla Chandra Bhanjadeva of Mayurbhanj.
Raja Kamal Chandra bhanja deva is still held as the king of Bastar by the locals.
She was married to Prafulla Chandra Bhanjadeva of Mayurbhanj.
Raja Kamal Chandra bhanja deva is still held as the king of Bastar by the locals.
All five Islamic invasions faced by the Kakatiya kingdom took place during King Prataprudra II’s rule.
The deadliest attack was launched during the second attack by Alauddin Khilji’s army under Malik Kafur in 1309,
when different Kakatiyan cities, including Hanamkonda, were brutally DESTROYED by Khilji’s army.
when different Kakatiyan cities, including Hanamkonda, were brutally DESTROYED by Khilji’s army.
It was during this attack that Prataprudra II offered the Koh-i-noor diamond💎 to Khilji in exchange for peace.
Yes, The Kohinoor💎 came from "Kollur Mine" in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh,
during the reign of The Kakatiya dynasty in 13th century in the Bhadrakali Temple.
Yes, The Kohinoor💎 came from "Kollur Mine" in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh,
during the reign of The Kakatiya dynasty in 13th century in the Bhadrakali Temple.
1000 pillared temple complex in Hanamkonda.
The temple complex was started by Rudradeva-1163
& completed by Ganapatideva-1213
Rudrammadevi came here everyday from Warangal Fort to pray
This temple & ENTIRE CITY faced massive DESTRUCTION under Malik Kafur (Khilji's)army (1309 CE)
The temple complex was started by Rudradeva-1163
& completed by Ganapatideva-1213
Rudrammadevi came here everyday from Warangal Fort to pray
This temple & ENTIRE CITY faced massive DESTRUCTION under Malik Kafur (Khilji's)army (1309 CE)
Loading suggestions...