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English: Bejjanki, sometimes spelled Bejinki, is a village in Siddipet district of Telangana. It is about 40 kilometers southwest of Karimnagar and 130 kilometers northeast of Hyderabad, the state capital. Bejjanki is a historic village around which exist ruins of several Kakatiya era temples. Of these, the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is one temple built on the top of a rocky hillock has survived. It has much intentionally damaged and defaced artwork, but enough of it along with the architecture has survived for studies.
  • The Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is a Kakatiya era temple, one that combines major artworks of Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakti traditions. This extensive synthesis is found in many Deccan Hindu temples.
  • The temple is reached by stone steps uphill. Near the start of the climb is the temple water tank with a statue of Narasimha with Lakshmi in his lap. Near the entrance is the balipitha and stambha, as well as statues of Nandi. The presence of Nandi led early colonial era visitors to this temple's ruins to mark it as a Shiva temple.
  • The temple faces east, has a square sambhunigudi plan and phamsana-style shikhara. It has a mandapa, ardhamandapa, antarala and garbhagriya. Devotees can enter from three sides, while the sanctum is at the fourth cardinal direction.
  • The mandapa is covered and inside the temple. It has a Natya-ranga set inside four exquisitely carved pillars with Hindu deities, legends and secular scenes. Above is a ceiling with Keertimukha (lion face) style of Hindu architecture, integrating it with the man-lion avatar of Vishnu. The floor in the center is smoorth, with enough space for a Natya performance at festivals and special occasions.
  • The artwork on the pillar ranges from miniature carvings to large panels such as one of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu as Narasimha. Many faces and limbs are chopped, or defaced, a legacy of the wars found in numerous Kakatiya era temples from the Islamic conquest of the Deccan region and the iconoclasm after the conquest was over.
  • The temple is likely from the earlier period of Kakatiya dynasty because the figures are shorter and stout, in contrast to the fully developed later Kakatiya masterpieces where tall, elongated figures highlighting various classical dance postures and mudras became common. Another reason for the early chronology is the simpler Hanuman iconography found in the temple.
  • Like many Hindu temples all over India, the temple includes numerous artha and kama scenes, including several sexual scenes, amorous couples, celebration of Hindu life stages, and community dance at festivals.
  • The temple has been plastered and whitewashed in the modern era, which hides some of the original details. However, the local community has left the pillars intact and some select iconography for study and appreciation, by not applying any plaster and whitewash.
Date
Source P. Madhusudan (OTRS 2021020910004089)
Author P. Madhusudan
Camera location18° 14′ 55.39″ N, 79° 00′ 47.29″ E  Heading=0° Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMapinfo

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Two of the three entrances to the temple

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12 April 2021

18°14'55.388"N, 79°0'47.290"E

heading: 0 degree

0.00037778617302606724 second

3.93 millimetre

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current01:45, 4 July 2021Thumbnail for version as of 01:45, 4 July 20214,608 × 3,456 (4.52 MB)Ms Sarah WelchUploaded a work by P. Madhusudan from P. Madhusudan (OTRS 2021020910004089) with UploadWizard

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