Bugga Ramalingesvara and Chintala Venkataramana temples of Tadpatri

The Bugga Ramalingesvara and the Chintala Venkataramana temples in Tadpatri, in Anantapur district, were built in the golden age of Vijayanagar art, the former in the last quarter of the fifteenth century, the latter in the second half of the sixteenth. The former is unique for the fact that there are glowing sculptures on its gopuras from the bottom.

Ramalingesvara Temple

The Ramalingesvara stands on the banks of the Pennar at a place where it turns north. Hindu tradition holds such sites sacred. The shrines of the Lord and the Goddess are contiguous to each other. There is also a sanctum for Sri Rama near that of the Goddess, with a common mukhamandapa. While the Lord’s shrine is plain in appearance, that of the Goddess and Sri Rama is ornamented. The Linga is self manifested and stands near a small perpetual spring, hence, the adjective Bugga.

The mandapa containing the shrines of Goddess and Sri Rama is a handsome structure with sixteen pillars and nine pilasters. Four of the columns form a small inner mandapa at the centre. The artistic glory of the temple lies in its three gopuras. While the western, much plastered over, is comparatively plain, the southern and the northern are gorgeous creations. The northern is finished and yet it glows with a harmonious combination of architectural and decorative motifs. A grand miniature vimala is depicted here. Of the human figures, one wearing Vijayanagar head gear and with folded arms facing the temple, may be identified with Ramalinga Nayudu, who probably built the temple. This gopura faces the river. The southern gopura is damaged, yet it luxuriates in sculpture of many modes.

Chintala Venkataramana Temple

The Chintala Venkataramana temple, slightly later in date, also glows with sculpture, but this is a mandapa. The main gopura, on the east is bdaly damaged. There are signs of vandalism elsewhere in the temple. Today, the entrance is from the north. The mukhamandapa scientillates with sculpture on its pillars. This is the most handsome part of a handsome temple. Each pillar is a work of art. Some carry figures of women wearing heavy coiffeurs. All these sculptures are mutilated at the hands. On some other columns there are yalis, or mythical beasts.

The outer walls of the shrine and the ardhamandapa are full of superb reliefs, telling the stories of the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha. There is a stone chariot hard by the mukhamandapa. Smaller than the celebrated on in Hampi, it is in the form of a portable shrine with wheels. It carries six small Garuda images on either side. There are remains of paniting on the ceiling of the mukhamandapa and of two porches close by.