Temples in India are a symbol of faith and unity, you must know many such temples which are named after the goddess or deity sitting in them. Do you know that there is such a famous temple in India that is not named after God but after the name of the person who built it? Yes, this temple is the “Ramappa Temple” of Telangana.
About Ramappa Temple
Ramappa Temple of Telangana has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further, this temple is dedicated to God Shiva and is also called Ram Lingeswar Temple or Rudreshwara Temple. Another special thing about this temple is that it is made of ultra-lightweight bricks, which we will discuss further in detail.
So let’s start with the historical background of Ramappa Temple.
Historical Background of Ramappa Temple
- The story of Ramappa Temple is related to the Kakatiya Dynasty of the south. Kakatiya Dynasty ruled the region comprising present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from the 12th century to the 14th century.
- By the way, the origin of this dynasty is believed to be from the legendary King Durgai. But Prola II is credited to make the Kakatiyas a sovereign dynasty who were earlier feudatories of western Chalukyas.
- Kakatiya Dynasty used to worship the goddess Kakati, due to which it had to be named Kakatiya Dynasty.
- When the idea of building a temple came to the mind of King Ganpati Dev, he ordered his general Rudra Samanna to build the temple in 1213 AD.
- The chief architect of this temple “Rampappa” was ordered to build a mighty temple.
- It took 40 years to complete this temple and when this temple was completed, King Ganapati Dev dedicated this temple to the architect Ramappa and named the temple after him.
Geographical Aspects of Ramappa Temple
Warangal City situated in Deccan Plateau is a hub of Kakatiya art. Ramappa Temple is built just a few kilometers from Warangal. Apart from this, many other temples were built near Ramappa.
- Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda.
- Lake near Ramappa Temple is called Ramappa lake.
Also Read: History of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple
Architecture and Sculptures
Ramappa Temple is known for its Architecture and Sculptures, but this temple is famous for its sculptures more than its architecture, let us know what is it in the architecture and sculpture of this temple that makes it so attractive.
The Architecture of Ramappa Temple
- Ramappa Temple is made on a 6 ft high star-shaped platform which is influenced by Hoysalas.
- Hoysaleswarai Temple at Halebidu in Karnataka is one of the prime examples of star-shaped temple architecture.
- Like other South Indian temples, Ramappa Temple is also made in the Dravidian Style. It contains all the features of the Dravidian style.
- In addition, The temple is made up of Red Sandstones with a carving of Black Granite on it. Moreover, the source of its ultra-light red light stone is still debatable.
- The Mandapa made up of black granite pillars is used in religious ceremonies.
- The pillars of Natya Mandapa ensure light on Shivling for the whole day.
Sculptures of Ramappa Temple
- The sculptures of the Kakatiya Dynasty have delicate and elongated carvings with sensuous postures.
- Different dance posters have been thoroughly carved on the Stones. Further, this carving became a source of inspiration for Nritya Ratnavali of Jayapa Senani.
- The different postures on the top beam of the main Mundapa are related to the different arts of Sambandh Natya.
- Famous mythological episodes of the region show the sculptural mastery of Kakatiyas.
- The pictures of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are carved on the walls of the temple.
- In addition to this, the carvings of elephants on the walls show the role of elephants in the construction of the temple.
- Apart from this, there is also a fluted structure outside the centrum of the temple.
- A 9 feet tall statue of Nandi is also present outside the temple.
It is believed that the stones of the temple are so light that they can float on water. Many attempts at destruction were made on the temple by the Delhi sultanate and for many years this temple remained unattended. But today, the Archaeological Survey of India takes care of the temple.
Conclusion
The temple is evidence of the glorious past of the Kakatiya Dynasty. That’s why the Indian government proposed the name of the temple to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2019 and it was approved in July 2021. The Spectacular stone carvings and intricately sculpted pillars of the temple are astonishing. Further, inside this monument, there is a glimpse of all the characteristics of the Kakatiya dynasty.
Traveller Morocco Polo in the 13th century described the temple as the brightest star in the Galaxy of India, which somewhere justifies the beauty of this temple. In addition to a love for art, music, and dance, Ramappa Temple also portrays an example of the Engineering Genius of the time. Further, This Temple has withstood many wars, invasions, and natural calamities and it’s our duty to protect and preserve the rich cultural heritage.
Thank you!