HYDERABAD: Rare carvings of giraffes and camels on the outer walls of the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam have provided new archaeological evidence that the temple town was not only a major pilgrimage center but also an important hub linked to regional and international trade networks during the Vijayanarag period.
The significance of the sculptures came to light after Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) director (Epigraphy) K Muniratnam Reddy examined an old black-and-white photograph of a sculptural panel on the southern wall of the temple’s prakara.
The panel depicts a procession of two giraffes and two camels accompanied by attendants, showing trade links between the Indian subcontinent, Africa and West Asia.
Located in AP’s Nandyal district, Srisailam is home to Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and Sri Bhramaramba Temple, one of the Shakti Peethas. While known as a major pilgrimage center, newly highlighted carvings suggest that the city also played an important role in medieval trade and cultural exchange.
The temple complex contains several narrative bas-reliefs on its outer prakara walls dating to the 14th-16th centuries, during the Vijayanagara Empire. Among them, the giraffe and camel panel is considered extremely rare.
