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| Rudreshwara Swamy temple warangal India bharattemples.com |
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| step-well, Rudraswamy temple Warangal vedictemplesin.blogspot.com |
The temple is renowned for its star-shaped architecture and the intricate carvings on its one thousand pillars. These pillars, many of which are interconnected to form thick walls, showcase the exceptional skill and craftsmanship of the masons. Remarkably, King Rudra Deva himself is said to have been the architect of this grand structure.
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| Rudreshwara Swamy temple warangal vedictemplesin.blogspot.com |
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| Richly ornametal interior 1000 pillar mandapam, vedictemplesin.blogspot.com |
Although primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple's inclusion of shrines for Vishnu and Surya highlights the Kakatiya rulers' patronage of the Sun God. Temples dedicated to Brahma are rare, partly due to a curse attributed to Shiva, with notable exceptions in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
The temple suffered damage during the 14th-century raids by the army of the Tughlaq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Evidence of this destruction can be seen in the broken leg of the monolithic Nandi (the bull mount of Shiva), missing deities of Surya and Vishnu, and various broken fragments scattered around the temple. Despite this, the central hall, or Ranga Mandapam, survived and remains connected to many of the shrines. Thanks to the munificence of the The Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan who donated Rs. one lakh 1 Lakh towards this temple to meet the initial repairs..
The temple's foundation, which goes as deep as six meters into the ground, was necessitated by the loose soil of the region. The entire structure stands on a one-meter-high platform, measuring approximately 31×25 meters with a height of 9.5 meters. It houses around 2,560 beautifully carved sculptures, primarily made from basaltic rock of volcanic origin, common in the Deccan region. This is the reason why most of the sculptures pillars look black and exhibit good shining on the surface as basaltic rocks could be easily dressed, polished and carved.
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| ornate pillar Rudraswamy temple Warangal kittiuisheking.blockspot.in |
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| ornate pillar Rudraswamy temple Warangal |
In addition to its architectural splendor, the temple has historical significance for its cultural practices. During festivals, dancers known as Devar Adiiyar, who dedicated their lives only to the service of temple deities, in particular, the cosmic dancer Nataraja (Shiva), performed in the temple halls, providing a noble service to the community. Unfortunately in the later centuries it carried different meaning.
Other notable features of the temple include a rectangular stepped Pushkarni (temple tank), a Thoran (gateway) at the eastern entrance, a pillared Mandapa (hall) at the western wing, and intricately carved elephant statues.
The Thousand Pillar Temple is accessible by air, train, and road. The nearest airport is in Hyderabad, 157 km away, and the nearest railway station is Warangal, about 6 km from the temple. Both private and government buses frequently operate to this famous tourist destination. Photo credit: vedictemplesin.blogspot.com
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