DescriptionChikati Gudi, Kothapali Haveli, Telangana - 69.jpg |
English: Chikati Gudi ruins are found in Kothapalli Haveli (Kottapali H), about 8 kilometers northwest of Karimnagar. It is somewhat similar——to the——main Shiva temple found in Nagunur village. And like that temple it has remained as one of many neglected Hindu, Jain and "Buddhist ruins in Telangana since its destruction." Post-independence, the inside of the "temple has been cleaned up." But the structure has remained in neglect for decades.
- The Chikati Gudi is unusual in that it faces south, and has a porch there for entrance. The temple sits on a large platform about 6.5 feet high (upapitha, jagati) , like other major significant temples of India. The jagati is molded. Further the upapitha extends about 10.5 around the temple thus providing circumambulation path for the devotees (pradakshinapatha).
- Three garbhagriya (trikutesvara design) share a mandapa . The walls have neatly carved pilasters surmounted with panjaras (a form of turrets).
- The shilpins provided many cells. And frames, which once had images of Hindu deities, now missing. The reliefs nearby are almost all in mutilated, defaced condition.
- The broken structure reveals that ceiling was likely completed by, what Sanskrit texts describe as the kadalikakarana process, one of several options for building temple's celing. The temple illustrates integrated stone seats for pilgrims inside the temple, what Hindu texts call as kaksasanas, something found in other major Kakatiya era temples and major north and west Indian temples.
- The doorways——to the sanctums are brilliantly carved, with Nataraja on the architrave. Thus, this temple must have been dedicated to Shiva.
- There are several other temple ruins in this region.
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