Kakatiya’s heir inaugurates weeklong fest in Warangal

Kakatiya’s heir inaugurates weeklong fest in Warangal

Subject: Economy

Section: External Sector

Context: Mr. Kamal Chandra Bhanj Deo, the 22 ^nd descendent of the Kakatiya dynasty, from the erstwhile princely family of Bastar, offered prayers at the historic Bhadrakali temple in Warangal marking the formal launch of the weeklong fest.

• Kakatiya dynasty
• The Kakatiya dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and parts of eastern Karnataka and southern Odisha between 12th and 14th centuries
• Their capital was Orugallu, now known as Warangal
• Early Kakatiya rulers served as feudatories to Rashtrakutas and Western Chalukyas for more than two centuries.
• Ganapati Deva ( 1199–1262) significantly expanded Kakatiya lands during the 1230s and brought under Kakatiya control the Telugu-speaking lowland delta areas around the Godavariand Krishna
• Ganapati Deva was succeeded by RudrammaDevi(r. 1262–1289)
• Rudrama Devi (or Maharani Rudramma Devi)was a queen of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263 to 1289. She was one of the very few women to rule as monarchs in India
• Marco Polo, who visited India sometime around 1289 made note of Rudramma Devi’s rule

Kakatiya architecture

• It was a notable Vesara temple building architecture developed in the region known today as eastern Deccan comprising Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
• Most of the Kakatiya architecture is influenced from Chalukya architecture a fusion of Dravidian architecture and Nagara Bhumija styles in which sandbox technology is used to construct Vimanahorizontal stepped tower
• There are hundreds of monuments in the core of Hanamakonda and Warangal of which Thousand Pillar Temple, Ramappa Temple, Ramappa Lake, Warangal Fort and Kota Gullu are prominent.

Ramappa Temple UNESCO World Heritage Site

• It was built by a Kakatiya General Recherla Rudra Reddy, during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva
• Ramappa is the main Shiva temple in a larger walled temple complex, which includes several smaller temples and structures.
• It is built of sandstone with decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite, with a distinctive Vimana (inner sanctum) made of lightweight porous bricks, also known as the “floating bricks”

Perini Sivathandavam or Perini Thandavam is an ancient dance form, from Telangana, which has been revived in recent times. It originated and prospered in Telangana, during the Kakatiya dynasty. Perini is performed in honour of Lord Siva, the Hindu god of destruction and it is believed that in ancient times this was performed before the soldiers set to war. Padmasri Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna was the person who revived this art form recently.

 It is believed that this dance form invokes ‘Prerana’ (inspiration) and is dedicated to supreme dancer, Lord Siva. One can find evidence of this dance in the sculptures near GarbhaGudi (Sanctum Sanctorum) of the Ramappa Temple at Waranga