Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Ancient Somasutra Restored Inside UNESCO-Listed Ramappa Temple in Hyderabad
The Somasutra is a channel inside Ramappa Temple that carries away water and other fluids after a religious ceremony.
This ceremony is called Abhishekam.
The channel became blocked for more than 70 years.
Because of this, priests had difficulty performing the ceremony properly.
During Shivaratri, a drum was sometimes used temporarily to collect the fluids.
The Archaeological Survey of India repaired the channel.
Workers used cameras, 3D mapping and careful soft drilling to remove the blockage.
They did this without damaging the old temple.
The Archaeological Survey of India restored the ancient Somasutra inside Ramappa Temple’s Garbhagriha.
The channel drains residual Abhishekam fluids, known as Abhisheka Jalam.
Blockages had prevented proper Abhishekam rituals under Agama Shastra practices.
ASI used 3D mapping, endoscopic cameras, real-time monitoring and soft drilling.
The Somasutra had been unusable for more than 70 years, requiring temporary drainage arrangements during major occasions.
- Who
- The Archaeological Survey of India’s Hyderabad Circle restored the Somasutra.
- What
- An ancient drainage channel for Abhisheka Jalam was cleared and restored.
- When
- The article does not specify when the restoration was completed.
- Where
- Inside the Garbhagriha of Ramappa Temple in Hyderabad.
- Why
- The blockage had hindered Abhishekam rituals and caused drainage problems.
- Restored feature
- Ancient Somasutra
- Function
- Drains residual fluids after Abhishekams
- Temple
- Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Restoration agency
- Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle
- Duration of blockage
- More than 70 years
- Methods used
- 3D mapping, endoscopic inspection, real-time monitoring and soft drilling
- Religious practice affected
- Abhishekam under Agama Shastra rituals