Sculptors take centre stage at Yadadri

When Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadagirigutta — renamed as Yadadri — opens shortly after the renovation, the devotees will probably be handled to a non secular and aesthetic grandeur. The temple on the hillock, in an space of 4 acres, is about to grow to be a major pilgrim-cum-tourist vacation spot for the Telanganites and the trustworthy internationally. A dream enterprise of the Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao, the Yadadri venture, began in October 2016, is “98% complete”, in keeping with the chief advisor Anandachari Velu Sthapathi. The famend sculptor is worked up and says it’s his purva janma sukrutam (boon from his earlier beginning) that he’s a part of this venture now.

Anandachari Velu is overseeing the ultimate levels of sculpting work along with his 11-member group of assistant sthapathis. Over 500 sculptors from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are engaged at completely different points of sculpting. “Through ancient times, temple architecture and sculptures significantly contributed to a region’s culture and civilization,” factors out Anandachari Velu who’s been part of the mammoth Yadadri venture together with famend sthapathi Sundar Rajan, artwork director Anand Sai, Yadadri Temple Development Authority vice-chairman Kishan Rao and temple govt officer N Geetha. “Shilpa Kala (the art of sculpting) is an integral part of the temple construction and sculptors are the main enforcers of Agama Shastra in temple building. Agama Shastra, which lays down rules for temple construction, idol installation and worship rituals, was revealed by no less than Lord Shiva to his consort Parvathi. We have conformed 100 % to Agama Shastra guidelines while blending it with Shilpa Shastra, to construct this temple,” he informs.

Backed by black stone

Touted to be the primary of its form, the seven-storied 80-feet Maharajagopuram on the western facet of the temple is constructed completely with black stone, historically referred to as Krishna Shila. “The gopurams are usually built in stone till roof level and brick is used beyond that. Even the temples in Tanjore are built that way except for the main gopuram. But in Yadadri, we are using black stone all the way, from top to bottom for the Maharajagopuram and other six gopurams in the expanse of the temple,” says Anandachari Velu.

The Sthapathi group with advisors Dr Anandachari Velu and S Sundara Rajan at Yadadri
 

The garbha griha (Sanctum sanctorum) the place the presiding deity swayambhu Narasimha resides, is unbroken; the one renovation right here being the development of a 48-ft five-storied vimana gopuram, which now awaits gold plating.

The centrally air-conditioned Mukha Mandapam going through the sanctum sanctorum is adorned with pillars which have the imposing statues of the 12 Alwars carved on them, and depiction of Prahlada’s story in brass. “Our sculptors worked with devotion and passion to bring alive the epic narratives,” says Anandachari Velu earlier than including, “The work on Prakara Mandapams in the periphery of the temple, meant for various ‘puja’ rituals is another sculptural marvel that the artists have worked on to enhance the aesthetics of the temple.”

Doing away with the cement to bind the slabs collectively, a mixture of lime mortar, karakkaya (Indian hog plum), jaggery, aloe vera and jute has been used as a substitute, informs the Sthapathi. An historic observe, this combine is believed to resist all vagaries of nature. “The sculptures may break, but will not melt,” he affirms.

More than two lakh tons of granite was quarried from Gurijepalli mines in Prakasam district, AP, after the consultants from IIT Chennai, accredited of its high quality and sturdiness.

The Mukha Mandapam going through the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) at Yadadri Temple; (left) Temple Development Authority chief adviser Anandachari Velu Sthapathi.
 

“With the expertise that’s accessible now, made it attainable to hurry up the development — what may have taken just a few a long time up to now — to a matter of 4 years, says the proud 68-year-old Shapathi who’s had an illustrious profession with the Endowments Department, AP earlier than his retirement in 2010. Reappointed in 2013 at Srisaila Devasthanam as an Aasthana Sthapathi until 2014, Anandachari Velu turned the Sthapathi Advisor YTDA in 2018.

Exemplary ability

Born in Chittoor in AP, Anandachari did his grasp’s diploma in Archaeology and skilled within the artwork of temple structure and sculptural work at the TTD Silpakalasala. He has performed 1000’s of temple structure and sculpture works and acquired greater than 100 awards, vital ones being the State Government’s Kalaratna in 2013 and Pratibha Puraskar from the Telugu University.

Just after his coaching, Anandachari had the chance to work on sculptures that adorned the Venkateswara temple in New York in 1975. He gained immense expertise as a part of the Srisailam Submergible Transplantation of Temples work. Under Ganapathi Sthapathi, he participated within the sculpting of Buddha statue in Hussain Sagar.

He left his mark at the rebuilding of the Srikalahasti temple’s rajagopuram, Hathiramji Mutt’s Venugopala Swamy temple in Tirupathi and plenty of extra.

“Not many are aware but the S.V. Institute of Traditional Sculpture & Architecture at TTD has been producing graduates (sthapathis) in the last 50 years. A similar one is being set up at Yadadri now,” informs Anandachari Velu, who’s maybe the one sthapathi within the nation to have a PhD from the Theological University, New York, in ‘Religious architecture and construction methods of Hindu, Muslim and Christianity’.

Is there a commonality that he finds? “All three worship places have domes – a great indication of unity in diversity,” he indicators off.