Andhra Pradesh: Kakatiya-era sculptures found lying in neglect

GUNTUR: Historical sculptures belonging to the Kakatiya dynasty were found in utter neglect at Kolakaluru village of Tenali mandal in Guntur district.
Archaeologist and CEO, Pleach India Foundation, Dr E Sivanagireddy and amateur archaeologist K Srinath Reddy visited the village after receiving information from locals about the sculptures.
After a thorough inspection of the sculptures, Dr Sivanagireddy said four inscriptions dated 1240, 1241, 1242 and 1318 CE are engraved on pillars of the Agasthyeswara temple and the southern wall of the Kesava temple which record the donation of land to dancers and upkeep of both the temples.
"Pochulenka, son of Somayalenka, the military general of Kakatiya Prataparudra, gifted some lands in 1318 CE for the Somavara and Sanivara (Monday and Saturday) offerings. We have also found nearly 1000 years old sculptures of Mahishasura Mardhini, two Nandis and one Nagadevatha," said Dr Sivanagireddy.
He said that they have unearthed beautifully-carved red sandstone pillars and door frames depicted with dwarapalas on which scaffolding material dumped was stacked carelessly during the renovation work of the temples. He said that the historical temples and temple parts are in a shambles and there is deliberate coating of chemical colours on the historical structures and dwarapala sculptures.
He said that chemical coating of historical structures damages the original look. Reddy sensitised the villagers on the historical significance and antiquarian value of these artefacts and urged them to preserve them for posterity by erecting pedestals with proper labels. K Venkateswara Rao, president, Puratana organization, also participated in the programme.