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<p style=”margin-bottom: 13px; text-align: center;”><span style=”font-size:11pt”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><b><span lang=”EN-US” style=”font-size:16.0pt”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>Source – the Hindu</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 13px; text-align: center;”><span style=”font-size:11pt”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><b><span lang=”EN-US” style=”font-size:16.0pt”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>GS Paper 1</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p>
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<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><b><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>Context </span></span></span></b><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>- Kakati Devi temple built by Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva in Dharanikota converted into an abode of local Goddess ‘Balusulamma.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><b><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>About </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• A temple constructed by Emperor Ganapati Deva, a mighty ruler of Kakatiya dynasty, in Dharanikota near present Andhra Pradesh capital Amravati has been converted into an abode of local goddess Balusulamma (Goddess Durga)</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• The presiding deity at this 13th century temple was Kakati Devi, the tutelary deity of Kakatiya rulers. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• Ganapati Deva is the first king who introduced the worship of Kakati Devi into the coastal region of Andhra and outside the dominions of his kingdom</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><b><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>ART AND ARCHITECTURE</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• ceiling bears decorations of lotus medallions and no sikhara on its top</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• These architectural features are totally akin to their counterparts found in shrines at Hanamkonda and Warangal fort etc., – the original home land of Kakatiya dynasty,</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>•Currently, the idol is placed in a small shelter on the southern side of the temple, locally known as Gollabhama Gudi</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><b><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>SCULPTURE</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>•The goddess is gracefully seated in Padmasana with eight hands.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>•Her facial physiognomic features are oval, distinguished with slender cheeks, wide open eyes, an elongated nose and closed tender pair of lips. She has eight hands and poses eight different special attributes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• Her lower right hand is benevolently blessing the devotees. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom:13px”><span style=”font-size:16px;”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:Calibri,sans-serif”><span lang=”EN-US”><span style=”line-height:115%”><span style=”font-family:"Cambria",serif”>• This is a very rare and unique image possessed with best iconographical illustrations of the Kakatiya sculptures and pointing towards a most distinguished cult deity.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>