Madhavaraya Temple, Gandikota – The Temple

Madhavaraya Temple, Gandikota – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with a massive four tiered rajagopuram. The rajagopuram might be of five tiers and the topmost tier have been lost completely. The temple is completely enclosed within a massive granite wall. A pillared mandapa runs along the south, west and north in the prakaram abutting the compound wall. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, mukha mandapa and maha mandapa. The maha mandapa is rectangular on plan and is supported by forty pillars.

The pillars are carved with Hindu deities, musicians, floral motifs, animals and geometrical patterns. The mukha mandapa is also rectangular in plan. It has entrance porches on northern and southern sides. The entrance porches are supported by two pillars. All the entrances of the mukha mandapa have doorjambs. The centre of the lintel has a carving of Gajalakshmi. The base of the doorjamb has carvings of dvarapalas on either side.

There are four finely carved pillars at the centre of the mukha mandapa. The ceiling in between the four central pillars is adorned with a lotus medallion. The walls of the mukha mandapa are plain except the carvings like lion, lotus flowers, monkey, etc. The sanctum is square on plan. The superstructure over the sanctum is completely lost. The doorway of antarala has three bands of decoration. The doorjamb is decorated with creepers, flowers and lotus petal carvings.

The centre of the lintel has a carving of Gajalakshmi. The base of the doorjamb has carvings of dvarapalas on either side. The image in the sanctum is missing. It is said that the main deity from the sanctum was shifted to Mydukuru after the Nizams finally broke the fort security. The kitchen hall (madapalli) is situated on the south eastern corner of the prakaram. This hall is closed on all sides except the doorway on the west. The hall is supported by four central pillars.

There is a six pillared mandapa in front of the kitchen hall. The Kalyana mandapa is situated on south western corner of the prakaram. The mandapa is in dilapidated condition and is supported by sixteen pillars. The navagraha mandapa is situated on the north eastern portion of the prakaram. It is situated to the west of Azhwars shrine. This mandapa is closed on all sides except the doorways on southern, eastern and western sides.

All the doorways have doorjambs decorated with creepers, flowers and lotus petal carvings. The centre of the lintel has a carving of Gajalakshmi. The base of the doorjamb has carvings of dvarapalas on either side. There is a raised pavilion in the centre with four pillars. This manḍapa might have been used as the shrine of planets or to celebrate some festival of the main deity. The Azhwar shrine is situated on the north east corner of the prakaram. This shrine consists of sanctum and an entrance porch. The sanctum is oblong in plan.