Nainpaka Bakasura temple in shambles

Warangal: Nainpaka temple, around 60 km north of Warangal, unique in style and touted as the one and only in southern India is in a state of shambles. This lesser-known rock-cut temple, a prototype of Sarvatobhadra architecture, which has four deities carved out on a protruded boulder, is a revelation of sorts.

Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the carvings of Yoga Narasimha Swamy, Kaleeya Venugopala Swamy, Srirama and Balarama, one on each side of east, south, north and west respectively, on a boulder that is a part of the pink stone bedrock on which temple is located, is a visual fiesta.

The shrine, which has four functional entrances on cardinal directions could be accessed from all sides, is a masterpiece of Sarvatobhadra architecture. The vimana (upper part) of the ornately sculpted 50-foot gopuram (tower) was made of bricks while the Adhishtana (base) was constructed with the pink stones sliced from the bedrock.

The plants growing out of gopuram reflects the appalling condition of the temple. The temple that is believed to have built in the 15th or 16th century on a pink stone rock near Napaka village under Chityal mandal of Bhupalpally district was first reported in 1994 by N Ramakrishna Rao and SS Ranga Chary, retired deputy director of Archaeology and Museums Department.

With the temple gaining popularity locally, it was identified in the inventory of architectural, historical, archaeological or aesthetic importance undertaken by the INTACH in 2012. Following the state government’s recommendation to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take up the temple, the Superintending Archaeologist Dr Milan Kumar Chauley visited the place along with SS Ranga Chary.

Archaeology researcher Prof. Phillip B. Wagoner, who is on a mission to prepare a guidebook on Kakatiya monuments for the Deccan Heritage Foundation (DHF), told The Hans India: “Based on the architecture of this temple, it dates back to 15 or 16th century probably built by Padma Nayakas, known to be Vaishnovites.”

The carvings of Vaishnovite dwarapalas one each at four entrances of the temple establish the fact that it was not built by the Kakatiyas. It may be noted here that Kakatiyas were known to be ardent followers of Shaivism.

Warangal Seva Tourism and Cultural Society founder and president Kusuma Surya Kiran said: “As per the local folklore it was believed that the region was ruled by Bakasura, a mythological character of Mahabharata times. With the carving of Narasimha Swamy in the sanctum sanctorum resembling Bakasura, locals believed that temple was built for him.”