Telangana: Fourth century sculpture found in Nalgonda

HYDERABAD: Archaeologists have found a fourth century stone plaque of Mahishasuramardhini of Vishnukundin period in Nalgonda district.
The miniature stone plaque of Mahishasuramardhini was reported from the outskirts of Panagal, a temple town in Nalgonda district. E Siva Nagi Reddy, archaeologist, along with D Suryakumar, a Nalgonda-based epigraphist and historian, examined the sculpture in detail.
“The plaque was recovered by the farmers of Dandempalli village located on the Panagal-Kattangoor road at a distance of three km from Panagal. They found it some time back while digging a channel for agricultural purpose.
It bears a lot of archaeological and historical significance and represents the Vishnukundin style of art and iconography,” said Nagi Reddy.
The plaque carved out of soap stone represents goddess Mahishasuramardhini engaged in slaying the demon Mahishasura in the form of a buffalo. “She is seen trampling the head of the demon with her left hand and twisting its tail and at the same time piercing the trident into its head. The other two arms hold sankhu and chakra.
The simple drapery, ornaments and the turban-like headgear clearly reveals the early iconography,” Nagi Reddy said.
According to him, a terracotta broken image of Mahishasuramardhini of third century was reported from Veerapuram in Kurnool district and another tiny stone sculpture of the goddess from Keesaragutta.
Sriramoju Haragopal, a historian of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brindam, said it belonged to the Vishnukundin period and said that a similar image in a bigger size carved on a boulder was found at Basar temple town.
Nagi Reddy said the current find bore a lot of historical significance as it served an indispensable source for the art history of early medieval Telangana.