Guntur: 16th century Ganesh found

Hyderabad: An archaeology research team from TS and AP has spotted a Ganesh idol, carved on the defensive wall of a medieval fort, at Kethavaram, located on the bank of the Krishna river in Bellamkonda mandal, Guntur district. 

The idol represents the Vijayanagara style of art, practised in the 16th century.  

The team, comprising Sriramoju Haragopal, Venuganti Murali and K Srinivas from Telangana, spotted the idol while exploring at Reballe in Nalgonda district. 

Based on their information, Dr Emani Sivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and CEO of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati, rushed to the Kethavaram Fort, which was built by the Reddy kings. 

They scrutinised the idol with the sculptures and the inscriptions in and around the fort.  

Sivanagi Reddy said, “The fort was conquered by Vijayanagara emperor Srikrishnadevaraya  in 1515 during his eastern campaign after capturing the forts of Udayagiri, Kondavidu, Vinukonda, Bellamkonda and Tangeda. 

There is a mention of Sadasiva Raya, referring to a certain Srinatha Raja Ramayyadeva Maharaja, the ruler of Kethavaram. The inscriptions were copied by the archaeological department of the Madras Presidency in 1934.” 

The Ganesh idol holds a pasa and ankusa in his upper hands and dantha and modaka in the lower hands. “A mouse is carved on the pedestal,” Reddy said.  He appealed to the state department of archaeology and museum to protect the idol as the area is threatened due to the waters of the Pulichintala reservoir.