Question

Who built the temple called Thousand Pillared Temple in Hanamkonda?
A) Rudradeva
B) Prola Il
C) Ganapati Deva
D) Rudramadevi

Answer 1

Hint: The Thousand Pillar Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara Swamy Temple, is a mediaeval Hindu temple in Hanamkonda, Telangana, India. Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya are honoured in this temple. Thousand Pillar Temple has been included to UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage monuments, which also includes Warangal Fort, Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, and Ramappa Temple.

Complete answer:
The Thousand Pillars Temple, located at the base of Hanamkonda hill, is the most prominent tourist attraction in Warangal. Rudra Deva, the Kakatiya King, erected it in the 12th century. This temple, dedicated largely to Lord Shiva, is also known as Sri Rudreshwara Swamy Temple.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Rudra deva: This is the correct answer. In Hanamkonda, Rudradeva constructed the Thousand Pillared Temple. It is built in the Chalukyan architecture style. It is considered to be one of the best examples of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture. Since the Kakatiya monarchs had a specific devotion for Shiva, the temple deity is Rudreshwara Swamy, a personification of Lord Shiva.

B) Prola II: This option is incorrect because he did not build the temple called Thousand Pillared Temple. Prola II was the final vassal monarch of the Kakatiya dynasty to serve as a feudatory to the Western Chalukyas. Prataparudra I, his son and successor, was the first independent Kakatiya ruler.

C) Ganapati Deva: This option is incorrect because Ganapati Deva, who succeeded Prola Raja and ruled for 60 years (1200-1262), was a great patron of the arts and perpetuated the history of scholastic achievements and prosperity, since the most notable renowned constructions such as Warangal fort and temples were erected during his reign but he did not build the temple called Thousand Pillared Temple.

D) Rudrama devi: This option is incorrect because she did not build the temple, Thousand Pillared Temple. Rudrama Devi ruled the Deccan Plateau as a king of the Kakatiya dynasty from 1263 until 1289 (or 1295). She was one of India's few female kings, and in order to do so, she cultivated a male image.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (A) i.e, Rudra deva.

Note: With a thousand pillars, the temple is a superb example of architecture and sculpture. The temple features ornately carved pillars, perforated screens, magnificent iconography, rock-cut elephants, and the monolithic dolerite Nandi. The talent of Kakatiya sculptors is reflected in adroit craftsmanship and faultless ivory carving technique in the strengthening of foundations such as sandbox technique.