The Sculpture of the Kakatiyas

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Author's Preface Though sculpture started in ancient India as an art quite distinct from architecture, it developed as a handmaid of architecture in the Buddhist period and in South India during the Pallava and Chalukyan periods. The Rashtrakutas constructed few temples and got made fewer sculptures in the round. The Buddhists and Jains caused the carving of figures in the round but theirs were gradually failing movements. The temples of Kanchi, Badami, Pattadakkal and Malkhed kept the lamp of sculpture cburning brightly and it was at that stage that the Kakatiyas sprung up almost from the soil'. The efxtant Jain temple-patterns which they had at first adopted provided very little scope for even relief sculptures to develop. With independence and the consequent enlightenment, enthusiasm suggested prefabrication of decorative sculpture as also of temple architecture. Architecture and sculpture developed side by side and simultaneously. The story of Kakatiya sculpture is therefore intertwined with the story of their architecture.

Foreword The powerful dynasty of Kakatiyas which succeeded Chalukyas of Kalyani ruled over Deccan from Circa, 950 A.D. to Circa 1160 A.D. They were great warriors and declared their independence in the middle of 12th century and ruled over a vast dominion from their capital at Warangal. They were great patrons of Art, Architecture and Literature and to this day in most of the villages of Telangana one can see the beautiful temples erected by the munificence of these rulers. The architecture of the temples built by them is indeed lofty and grand and there is decidedly a sense of proportion and symmetry. The temples constructed during their hegemony represent the full development of the medieval Dekhani style which Fergusson has termed "Chalukyan" but Mr. Havell in his enthusiastic analysis of symbolism in Indian architecture, speaks of this designation as "delusive", but the reasons which led Fergusson to adopt the term were that the style developed its distinctive feature during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty that it flourished in the country which was under their sway. If the influence of Chalukya dynasty is not considered to be the main factor in the evolution of the style the term 'Chalukyan might be changed for Dekhani, which can be the only appropriate name for this style.