Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Rare Rashtrakuta-Era Gajalakshmi Sculpture Found in Medak Village
A very old stone sculpture was found in Yanagandla village.
It is thought to be from the ninth century, during the Rashtrakuta period.
One side shows Lakshmi sitting with lotus flowers while elephants pour water over her.
Above her, gods and demons are shown churning the ocean.
The historians said this scene is unusual in the Telugu states.
The other side shows Shiva dancing, with Brahma and Vishnu nearby.
They think the sculpture may once have stood at the entrance to a shrine that has disappeared.
They asked villagers to protect it by placing it on a raised stand.
A ninth-century Gajalakshmi sculpture was found neglected at Yanagandla village in Medak district.
The black-granite sculpture shows Lakshmi seated with lotus flowers as elephants anoint her.
A scene of gods and demons churning the ocean appears above Lakshmi; historians called it a rare feature in the Telugu states.
The reverse depicts 12-armed Shiva-Nataraja dancing, with seated Brahma and Vishnu beside him.
The visiting historians and heritage activists said the sculpture may have adorned a gateway and urged villagers to raise it on a pedestal.
- Who
- A team including archaeologist E. Sivanagi Reddy, KTCB convener Sriramoju Haragopal, Gottipati Srinivasa Rao and Prof. A. Raghu visited the site.
- What
- A ninth-century Rashtrakuta-period Gajalakshmi sculpture was found and examined.
- When
- The sculpture dates to the ninth century; the articles do not specify when it was found or when the team visited.
- Where
- At Yanagandla village, Kulcharam mandal, Medak district; one article says it was under a tree at a Hanuman temple.
- Why
- The team urged villagers to preserve the sculpture. Reddy said its ocean-churning scene was significant and suggested it may once have adorned a gateway to a vanished shrine.
- Date and period
- Ninth century CE, Rashtrakuta period
- Material
- Black granite
- Discovery site
- Yanagandla village, Kulcharam mandal, Medak district; described as lying neglected and, in one account, beneath a tree at a Hanuman temple
- Front depiction
- Lakshmi seated in padmasana holding lotus flowers, with elephants anointing her
- Unusual detail
- A depiction of gods and demons churning the ocean appears above Gajalakshmi; historians said this feature had not previously been reported from the Telugu states
- Reverse depiction
- A 12-armed Shiva-Nataraja performing ananda tandava, flanked by seated Brahma and Vishnu
- Preservation appeal
- E. Sivanagi Reddy and Sriramoju Haragopal urged villagers to place the sculpture on a pedestal
- Possible original placement
- Reddy said such sculptures were usually seen in temple gateways and suggested it may have belonged to a now-vanished shrine
