Telangana: Kakatiya-era idol found in Mahabubnagar dunes

HYDERABAD: A black granite sculpture of Vishnu-Chennakesava was unearthed from sand dunes in Mahabubnagar district on Monday.
Based on the information given by Devarakadra MLA A Venkateswara Reddy, archaeologist E Siva Nagi Reddy rushed to Mucchintala village in Chinna Chintalkunta mandal and examined the sculpture. The sculpture was recovered while removing sand as part of the construction of a check dam across local stream Vookachettuvagu located at a distance of half-a-kilometre from the village.
“The idol has been carved out of black granite. It is interesting to note that the idol was kept hidden undern rosewood logs for safety and security when there was political unrest soon after the last Kakatiya king Prataparudra was taken captive of war in 1323 AD,” he said.
Reddy added that some more Kakatiya sculptures were found defaced near the local Shiva temple. Based on the style of the Chennakesava sculpture holding Sankhu, Chakra, Padma and Gada in his four hands and typical ornaments, he presumes it to be from the first quarter of the 14th century AD.
After sensitising villagers about the historical significance of the idol, Siva Nagi Reddy appealed to the the local community to preserve it.