12th-Century Sculptors Depict Ganesha in Unusual Forms
Later, it was recovered from a canal along with a huge sculpture of Ganesha in 1987, and both were shifted to the Museum.
Hyderabad:While Lord Ganesh is often depicted in seated or dancing forms, rare 12th-century sculptures show the deity in unusual forms, including fighting a demon.
A sculpture at Pachchala Someshwara Temple, Panagal, Nalgonda district, depicts Lord Ganesha engaged in a dual fight with Durasada, a demon who was terrorising the humans on the earth, and kills him and his retinue as mentioned in the Ganesha Purana. The temple was built by the Cholas of Kanduru in the 12th century CE.
The same sculpture has also been found carved in the central pillars of Chennakesava Temple at Macherla and Sitarama Temple at Sattenapalli in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh.
Archaeologists opine that it is a rare sculpture of Ganesha; generally, Ganesh sculptures are seen either seated or dancing.
Another rare sculpture of Lord Ganesh’s rat vehicle is also preserved at the Pangal Archaeological Museum. It is said to be unique in south India. The sculpture measures 3.0 ft in length, 2.0 in height and 1.5 ft in width. It is on display in the open air at the District Archaeological Museum at Panagal, Nalgonda district.
It was originally shifted from the Kattangur area. Later, it was recovered from a canal along with a huge sculpture of Ganesha in 1987, and both were shifted to the Museum.
Archaeologists said no other of its kind has been reported from south India. They added that it represents the iconographic features of the Cholas of Kandur, who ruled from Panagal in the 12th century CE.
