GS PAPER I: Indian Culture - Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context: A very rare portrait Sculpture of Kakatiya Sovereign Rani Rudrama Devi in devotedly venerating the deities of Panchakutesvara temple at Teerthala Village, Khammam District, Telangana – datable to 13th Century A.D. unearthed.

Sangameswara temple

• Temple was built during the reign of the Kakatiya queen.
• The celebrated Sangameswara temple is panchakuta – a five-unit marvellous shrine monument consisting of wonderful architectural features and requisite components for the comfortable worship of divinities.
• The shrine stands on a well built jagati platform now being covered under flooring and the most baffling aspect of the shrine is its complex enriched with two most marvellous sculptural representations.

Rudrama Devi sculputure:

• Although both the sculptured slabs are abraded due to ravages of nature over the passage of time.
• The portraits have safely retained queen Rudrama Devi`s (A.D 1262 – 89) imperial personality and her characteristic gesticulation as an ardent devotee of Lord Siva.
• The first sculptured panel is in an oval frame and depicts the majestic personality of Rudrama Devi.
• She is seated on her forefeet while her hands are in Anjali mudra (a gesture of worship). The face is oval, eyes are closed in deep meditation, and dress and ornaments of the queen are quite stunning.

• She wears elaborate earrings, beaded necklaces, armlets, wristlets and anklets. Her typical royal upper robe is very handsome and the lower garment covers up to ankles and tied with a waistband.
• The most interesting aspect is that the queen bears a very striking royal crown on her head and some circular plaques are hanging from the lower edge of it, and cover part of the forehead of the queen.
• The sculpture indicates that Rudrama Devi visited the Sangamesvara temple at the time of its sanctification.
• While the second sculptural panel is in a rectangular frame representing arrival or the Rudrama Devi on a royal elephant to this temple site, and probably a provincial chief under her control is welcoming her by stopping the running elephant with his hands.
• As per the Ganapati Deva`s Malkapuram inscription, Chaitra Bahula Ashtami is her birthday.

Rudrama Devi

• She was a monarch of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263-1289 until her death.
• She was one of the very few women to rule as monarchs in India and promoted a male image in order to do so.
• This was a significant change and one that was followed by her successor and also by the later Vijayanagara Empire.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rare-sculptures-of-rani-rudrama-devi-unearthed/article34522374.ece?homepage=true

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