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{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Madhavaraya Temple
| image = Madhavraya temple, Gandikota, India.jpg
| caption = Madhavaraya Temple courtyard
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| deity = Madhavaraya ([[Krishna]])
| tradition = [[Vaishnavism]]
| governing_body =
| location = [[Gandikota Fort]]
| locale = [[Gandikota]]
| district = [[Kadapa district|Kadapa]]
| state = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| map_type = India Andhra Pradesh#India
| map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|14.81327|78.283837}}
| architecture_type =
| architecture_style = [[Vijayanagara architecture|Vijayanagara]]
| established = First quarter of the 16th century
}}
'''Madhavaraya Temple''' is a 16th century [[Hindu temple]] located in the [[Gandikota|Gandikota Fort]], in the [[Kadapa district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]].{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=85}} Dedicated to [[Krishna]] ("Madhava"), it is also known as Madhava Perumal Temple or Madhavaraya Swamy Temple. The [[Government of India]] has designated it as a [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Andhra Pradesh|Monument of National Importance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-12/usq%202232%20for%2016122021.pdf |title=Revenue from monuments in Andhra Pradedsh |date=2021-12-16 |access-date=2022-08-19 |publisher=Ministry of Tourism, Government of India }}</ref>

== History ==

An analysis of the art and architectural features of the temple suggests that it was built in the first quarter of the 16th century. Epigraphic evidence also confirms this: the earliest reference to the temple is found in 16th century inscriptions.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=85}} Several 16th century inscriptions from the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara period]] have been discovered at Gandikota. One of these states that several individuals, including a man named Papa Timmaraju, paid obeisance to the god Madhava-raya ("Lord [[Krishna]]") and offered a garland (''tomala'') to the god.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=82}}

== Art and architecture ==

The temple is located within the [[Gandikota|Gandikota Fort]], to the south of the local [[Juma Masjid|Jumma Masjid]]. It is surrounded by a [[prakara]] in a rectangular courtyard.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=87}} The east side has the entrance, and a pillared [[cloister]] runs along the other sides.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=87}} The pillars feature [[Vijayanagara architecture|Vijayanagara]]-style [[corbel]]s.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=88}}

{{wide image|MadhavarayaSwamyTemple-GandikotaFort-AndraPradesh-GOPR0095.jpg|1000px|Courtyard with pillared [[cloister]] and ''[[mandapa]]'' at the centre}}

The main ''[[gopura]]'' (tower) gateway is located in the east, with narrower entrances in the other three directions. Its ornate platform (''[[jagati (temple)|adhishthana]]'') has carvings of creepers, flowers, lotus petals, elephants, warriors, [[vyala]]s, and other figures. The projections of the lower portions of the ''adhishthana'' contain figures of various deities, including [[Venugopala]], [[Surya]], [[Vishnu]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Ganapati]], and [[Narasimha|Yoga Narasimha]]. The two vertical projections at the entrance feature a row of figures of deities and two identical sculptures of Vishnu. The ''gopura'' has four levels (''talas''), and its ''[[shikhara]]'' (top) has fallen. The central passage of the gateway features carvings of ''dvara-palaka''s (male door-keepers) and female figures standing under creepers. The central pillars on the sides of the passage have [[bracket (architecture)|brackets]] with vyala figures. The ceiling has lotus medallion at the centre, and other decorative motifs including tortoise, fish, and lizards.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=87}}

A kitchen hall is located in the south-east corner of the courtyard. Its pillars have roll and leaf corbels, and the ceiling has gaps to provide ventilation. The doorway has decorative figures of creepers, flowers, lotus petals, and ''dvara-palika''s (female door-keepers) carrying lotuses. A [[mandapa]] with six pillars is located in front of the kitchen hall.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=87}}

A wedding hall (''kalyana-mandapa'') with 16 pillars is located in the south-west corner of the courtyard. Another ''mandapa'' is located in the north-east corner of the courtyard: it was probably used as a shrine dedicated to the [[navagraha|nine planets]] (''navagraha-mandapa'') or a site to celebrate a festival of the main deity. Its doorways feature carvings of creepers, flowers, lotus petals, and ''[[Gajalakshmi|Gaja-Lakshmi]]'' motifs. A shrine with an oblong ''[[garbhagriha|garbha-griha]]'' is also located in the north-east portion, to the east of the ''navagraha-mandapa''. It has no images now, but was probably dedicated to [[Alvars]] or [[Saptarishi]]s.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=88}}

<gallery mode="packed">
Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gandikota Kadapa Andhra Pradesh PIC 0095.jpg | The ''[[gopura]]'' gateway
Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gandikota Kadapa Andhra Pradesh PIC 0079.jpg | Ceiling of the ''gopura'' gateway
MadhavarayaSwamyTemple-GandikotaFort-AndraPradesh-DSC 0409.jpg | ''mandapa'' pillars with ''gopura'' in background
Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gandikota Kadapa Andhra Pradesh PIC 0080.jpg | A sculpture
Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gandikota Kadapa Andhra Pradesh PIC 0088.jpg | ''[[Vyala]]'' rider
Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gandikota Kadapa Andhra Pradesh PIC 0089.jpg | ''[[Surasundari]]''
Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gandikota Kadapa Andhra Pradesh PIC 0097.jpg | Elephant line drawing
</gallery>

The main temple at the centre comprises the following parts from east to west: a ''maha-mandapa'' (large pavilion), a ''mukha-mandapa'' (small pavilion), an ''[[antarala]]'' (antechamber), and a ''garbha-griha'' (the location of the main deity).{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=88}}

The pillared ''maha-mandapa'' is a rectangular hall measuring 18.29 m x 13.72 m. It has several decorative motifs and vyala brackets with riders.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=88}} It has figures of deities (including Vishnu and Surya), [[rishis]] (sages), a woman, animals, and dwarfs playing musical instruments (such as drums, cymbals and flute).{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|pp=88-89}} The upper portion of the beams has figures of male and female dancers, which suggests that the ''maha-mandapa'' may have been used as a stage for dance and music performances in honour of the deity.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=89}}

The ''mukha-mandapa'' is a slightly rectangular hall measuring 11.18 m X 9.14 m. It has finely carved pillars with lotus corbels at the centre; a stone slab with female figures dancing as a group; brackets with vyala figures; and line drawings (including those of lion, lotus flowers, and monkeys). Its doorways feature ''dvara-palakas'' and ''Gaja-Lakshmi'', and the ceiling has a lotus medallion.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=89}}

The ''antarala'' has a doorway with carvings of creepers, flowers, lotus petals, ''dvara-palakas'', and ''Gaja-Lakshmi''. The ''garbha-griha'' is square-shaped, with each side measuring 4.12 m. It has a [[pranala]] set in the north wall. The [[vimana (architectural feature)|superstructure]] above the ''garbha-griha'' no longer survives, and the image of the main deity is missing.{{sfn|A. Gurumurthi|1990|p=89}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Aenuganti Gurumurthi |chapter=The Mādhavarāya Temple |title=Temples of Cuddapah District |year=1990 |isbn=9789991648798 |publisher=New Era |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1drVAAAAMAAJ |pages=85–89 |ref={{harvid|A. Gurumurthi|1990}} }}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category inline|Madhavaperumal Temple, Gandikota}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Kadapa district]]

Madhavaraya Temple, Gandikota - Revision history

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