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Sculpture in Siddipet Identified as Kakatiya Emperor Ganapati Deva and His Consort

Unconfirmed expert attributions could expand material evidence of Kakatiya rule in Telangana pending state authentication

Overview

  • Local heritage groups discovered a three-foot square granite sculptural panel in Totapalli village during a community survey and awareness programme.
  • Archaeologist E. Sivanagireddy and historian Sriramoju Haragopal identified the three carved figures as Ganapati Deva, his wife Somala Devi and the royal preceptor Visveswara Sivacharya.
  • The specialists based their attribution on iconographic details such as royal parasols, a bun-shaped headgear and rudraksha malas for the emperor, a dhammilla hairdress for the queen, and a miniature Shivalinga being venerated.
  • They also cite nearby Trikuta-style temple architecture and Kakatiya sculptural features as supporting evidence, while no formal authentication or conservation action by state or national archaeology authorities has been reported.
  • If verified, the panel would be the first identified stone depiction of Ganapati Deva and Somala Devi in Telangana and could prompt further local surveys and calls for protection of the site.