Two rare sculptural portraits of Kakatiya queen Rudrama Devi were unearthed and identified on the premises of Sangameswara Swamy Temple at Teerthala village in Khammam district.
Context
Two rare sculptural portraits of Kakatiya queen Rudrama Devi were unearthed and identified on the premises of Sangameswara Swamy Temple at Teerthala village in Khammam district.
About the newly discovered sculptures
- Portraits: It has safely retained queen Rudrama Devi`s (A.D 1262 – 89) imperial personality.
- Devotion: The sculpture shows her devotion for Lord Siva.
- The first sculptured panel: It is in an oval frame and depicts the majestic personality of Rudrama Devi.
- She is seated on her forefeet with her hands are in Anjali mudra (a gesture of worship).
- The face is oval and eyes are closed in deep meditation.
- She wears elaborate earrings, beaded necklaces, armlets, wristlets and anklets.
- The lower garment covers up to ankles and tied with a waistband.
- The queen bears a very striking royal crown on her head with some circular plaques are hanging from the lower edge of it, and cover a part of the forehead of the queen.
- The sculpture indicates that Rudrama Devi visited the Sangamesvara temple at the time of its sanctification.
- The second sculptural panel: It is in a rectangular frame and represents arrival of the Rudrama Devi on a royal elephant to this temple site.
- It shows the provincial chief under her control is welcoming her by stopping the running elephant with his hands.
Who was Rudrama Devi?
- Rudrama Devi(was a monarch of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263-1289 until her death.
Kakatiya dynasty
- The Kakatiya dynasty was a South Indian dynasty.
- It ruled most of eastern Deccan region that comprise present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka and southern Odisha.
- They ruled between 12th and 14th centuries.
- Their capital was Orugallu which is now known as Warangal.
- Kakatiya rulers served as feudatories to the Rashtrakutas and Western Chalukyas for more than two centuries.
- They assumed sovereignty under Prataparudra I in 1163 CE after suppressing the Chalukya subordinates in the Telangana region.
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- She was one of the very few women who ruled as monarchs in India.
- As per the Ganapati Deva`s Malkapuram inscription, Chaitra Bahula Ashtami is her birthday.
- Challenges: Rudrama Devi faced challenges from the Eastern Ganga dynastyand the Yadavas.
- Devotion: She was a staunch devotee of Shiva.
Sangameswara temple
- It is panchakuta, which is a five-unit marvellous shrine monument.
- The shrine stands on a well built jagati platform which is being covered under flooring.
- The shrine complex is enriched with two most marvellous sculptural representations.
- The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva.
- The temple was constructed during the reign of Rani Rudrama Devi.
- It is situated in the Teerthala village on the banks of Akeru river.
- The place is venerated as ‘Triveni sangama sthali’ and is situated on the confluence of three rivers – Akeru, Munneru and Buggeru.
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