Hyderabad: Over 900-year-old Chalukyan temples and sculptures are lying in neglect at Polepalli of Jadcherla in Mahbubnagar district. “The group of over 900-year-old temples in dilapidated condition are crying for attention,” archaeologist E Siva Nagi Reddy has said. He visited the temples on Sunday and, while he was conducting a survey, found the sculptures were damaged.
“There are four temples, including Shiva temple with a big Shivalinga and a beautiful Nandi, a huge temple of Chennakesava, where the main idol is missing.Veerabhadra temple collapsed, but a life-size sculpture of Veerabhadra awaits attention. Also, a triple shrine on the outskirts of the village dedicated to Rudreswara, Kesavadeva and Adityadeva also seeks attention. As per an inscription dated July 18, 1099 issued by Rudradandanayaka, the military general of the Kalyani Chalukyan emperor Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya-VI, it records the gift of land parcels towards daily offerings,” he said.
Reddy found that all the temples were left uncared, resulting in growth of vegetation around and atop, camouflaging the beautiful architecture and preventing entry into the premises.
“We also noticed that idols of Chennakesava Saptamatrika, Ganesha, Kartikeya , huge-sized hero stones and Shivalingas are broken and threatened of vandalism,” he added.
Siva Nagi Reddy sensitised the villagers on the historical importance of the sculptures, inscription and temples representing the Kalyani Chalukyan and Kakatiya art and architecture and appealed to them to preserve them for posterity.
