A fascinating fusion of rock art in A.P.’s Rudragiri
- Recently, a former Superintending Archaeologist of the Temple Survey Project (Southern Region) at the Archaeological Survey of India, shared his discoveries regarding Rudragiri hillock.
Rudragiri hillock
- Location: Orvakallu village, in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Findings: prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic period and exquisite artwork from the Kakatiya dynasty.
- It features five naturally formed rock shelters at its foothills, facing westward.
- These shelters served as living quarters for people during the Mesolithic age around 5000 B.C.
Artistic brilliance
- Two natural caves at the southern end exhibit exceptional murals from the renowned Kakatiya kingdom.
- The paintings, adorned with a variety of colours derived from white kaolin and different pigments, depict captivating scenes from the epic Ramayana.
- The first cave presents a narrative mural portraying the intense battle between the Vanara brothers namely Vali and Sugriva.
- The middle cave has a grand sketch of Hanuman, accompanied by sacred symbols of the conch (Sankha) and the fire altar (Yagna Vedi)
- Hanuman is depicted carrying the Sanjeevani hill in his hand, symbolising his mission to save Lakshmana’s life.
- The third cave houses the prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic era.
Prelims Takeaway
- Rudragiri
- Mesolithic Era
- Kakatiya Dynasty
- Archaeological Survey of India