Carving of mythological Gandabherunda found at Vinukonda Narasimhaswamy temple

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found a rare pictograph depicting the mythological two-headed bird Gandabherunda (a form of Lord Vishnu) at a temple at Vinukonda in Andhra Pradesh’s Palnadu district, shedding new light on the medieval history of the region.

Director (Epigraphy) at ASI K. Muniratnam Reddy said: Hindu It was stated that the figure of Gandabherunda with some inscriptions was found on a stone slab in the sanctum of the Narasimhaswamy temple in Vinukonda. The inscription is written in Telugu and its alphabet corresponds to Saka 1399, Hemalambi year, Karthika Sukla 10, i.e. Thursday, 16 October 1477 AD.

Stating that the Gandabherunda carving shows the cultural importance of the region at that time, the Director added that this is a rare feature in the Hindu religion. “This temple must be one of the famous Vaishnava temples of that time. Because only big temples have such Gandabherunda carvings,” said Mr. Muniratnam Reddy.

According to epigraphic records, the temple, sikhara and mandapa in front of Sri Laksmi Narasimhaswamy temple were built by Sagi Gamnamanayini and this act was dedicated to the spiritual merits of his parents Gadanayani and Tippasani.

The inscription also refers to a chief adorned with powerful epithets such as Karavala Bhairava, Puliya Markolu and Ganda Ganda Bherundan, indicating his valor and status.

Mr. Reddy added that the identification was made with inputs from Oppicharla Lakshmanachary, a sculptor, and Thurimella Srinivasa Prasad, a senior assistant in the Revenue department from Darsi.