Rare sculpture of Brahma couple found in Guntur

​Vijayawada: In the light of the fact that there are no temples built to the creator, Lord Brahma because of a curse, it is very interesting to find a rare sculpture of Brahma and Goddess Saraswathi carved on one panel while leveling the ground inside the Anandeswara Temple, at a riverside village, Pedakonduru of Duggirala mandal in Guntur district, said Dr Emani Sivanagi Reddy, CEO, The Cultural Centre Of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA) on Monday.

He said on the information by the villagers Simarouthu Venkatesh and Dasari Siva Prasad, they rushed to the spot accompanied by Golla Narayanarao, secretary, Andhra Arts Academy, Dr Venna Vallabharao and Subhakar Medasani, secretary, Amaravati Buddha Vihara and examined the sculpture in detail and found that the sculpture of the Brahma couple carved on red sand stone consists of Brahma seated in Sukhasana and depicted with four heads and four hands holding rosary, kamandalu, Sruk and Sruva in three hands and the fourth hand is seen embracing Goddess Saraswathi. She is seen seated in Padmasana on the left side lap of Brahma, playing Veena with her two hands.

He said that based on the style of art and the two inscriptions of Kandaradeva, ruler of Kondruru (the then name of Pedakonduru) issued in 1170 and 1173 AD respectively, the sculpture can be dated to the 12th century AD. Dr Reddy sensitised the villagers on the historical significance and rare feature of the sculpture, appealed to them to erect it on a pedestal and to preserve it for posterity.

There are other sculptures of Saptamatrika, Ganesha and Veerabhadra on the premises of the temple which also deserve proper display with labels, said Sivanagi Reddy. The explorations conducted in the old village revealed antiquarian remains like bricks, and potsherds belonged to the 3rd -4th centuries AD, he added.