There is no festivity round the corner to mark completion of 850 years of the famed Kakatiya era 1,000-pillar temple as both the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and state recognised Kakatiya Heritage Trust (KHT) have made no plans to celebrate the occasion.
The Telugu-Sanskrit inscription on a black granite stone pillar, which stands at the entrance of ASI office in 1,000-pillar temple complex prominently mentions the date of the temple’s foundation as Magha 13 of 1084 year in Shaliva-hana Sakaamvatsara calendar.
The 1084 year in Sh-alivahana Sakaamvatsara calendar corresponds to 1162 AD, November 13 in the Gre-gorian calendar (English calendar). The inscription on the granite pillar says that Kakatiyan ruler Rudradeva (1158-1195) built it to commemorate his victory in wars fought against five kings.
In other way, the stone pillar is also significant for its engravings of the figu-res of the sun God and Vishnu, which are said to be exact replica of their idols kept in separate chambers inside the 1000-pillar temple of the olden days. Their idols were said to have been destroyed by invading armies of Alauddin Khilji during the fag end of Kakatiyan dynasty.
The 850 year milestone for the 1000-pillar temple was discovered by Dr Takkala Balaraju, aut-hor on numerous books on art and culture and retired district treasury officer, who corroborated the dates mentioned in a 1972 book on Kakatiyan inscriptions titled ‘Sasanrdha Prakashika’.
It is significant to note that plans are afoot to celebrate 800 years of construction of the Ramappa temple, another Kakatiyan era temple, in 2013, which would be jointly hosted by KHT, ASI and the state government. “The temple completing 850 ye-ars is a momentous occasi-on, which should be highlighted to popularise it am-ong tourists and pilgrims,” said Dr T. Balaraju.
When contacted, Mr M. Shiva Kumar, the ASI conservation officer and in charge of the 1,000-pillar’s mandapam renovation works, said that they have not yet planned for any celebratory event to commemorate the completion of 850 years.
Speaking to this newspaper, Prof M. Panduranga Rao, the trustee of KHT, said that they are planning a grand event at 1000-pillar only after the ongoing renovation work at the temple’s mandapam gets concluded in March 2012.
Source: Deccan Chronicle [October 08, 2011]
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| Interior of the Thousand Pillar Temple [Credit: AsiaWonder] |
The 1084 year in Sh-alivahana Sakaamvatsara calendar corresponds to 1162 AD, November 13 in the Gre-gorian calendar (English calendar). The inscription on the granite pillar says that Kakatiyan ruler Rudradeva (1158-1195) built it to commemorate his victory in wars fought against five kings.
In other way, the stone pillar is also significant for its engravings of the figu-res of the sun God and Vishnu, which are said to be exact replica of their idols kept in separate chambers inside the 1000-pillar temple of the olden days. Their idols were said to have been destroyed by invading armies of Alauddin Khilji during the fag end of Kakatiyan dynasty.
The 850 year milestone for the 1000-pillar temple was discovered by Dr Takkala Balaraju, aut-hor on numerous books on art and culture and retired district treasury officer, who corroborated the dates mentioned in a 1972 book on Kakatiyan inscriptions titled ‘Sasanrdha Prakashika’.
It is significant to note that plans are afoot to celebrate 800 years of construction of the Ramappa temple, another Kakatiyan era temple, in 2013, which would be jointly hosted by KHT, ASI and the state government. “The temple completing 850 ye-ars is a momentous occasi-on, which should be highlighted to popularise it am-ong tourists and pilgrims,” said Dr T. Balaraju.
When contacted, Mr M. Shiva Kumar, the ASI conservation officer and in charge of the 1,000-pillar’s mandapam renovation works, said that they have not yet planned for any celebratory event to commemorate the completion of 850 years.
Speaking to this newspaper, Prof M. Panduranga Rao, the trustee of KHT, said that they are planning a grand event at 1000-pillar only after the ongoing renovation work at the temple’s mandapam gets concluded in March 2012.
Source: Deccan Chronicle [October 08, 2011]