A rare ninth‑century Gajalaxmi sculpture dating to the Rashtrakuta period was found in neglected condition under a tree at a Hanuman temple in Yanagandla village, Kulcharam mandal, Medak district.
Based on information given by Burra Santosh of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam (KTCB), Dr E. Sivanagi Reddy, senior archaeologist and CEO Pleach India Foundation, and Sriramoju Haragopal, KTCB convener, along with heritage activists Gottipati Srinivasa Rao and Prof. A. Raghu, visited the site.
The sculpture, carved out of black granite, represents Goddess Lakshmi seated in padmasana, holding lotus flowers while elephants anoint her. Above it is a depiction of the ocean churning (sagara mathana), a rare feature not reported earlier from the Telugu states.
On the reverse, a 12‑handed Shiva‑Nataraja in ananda tandava is flanked by Brahma and Vishnu in seated posture. The team described it as a Rashtrakuta masterpiece.
Dr Reddy said the depiction of samudra mathana was significant as Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean during the churning. He added that such sculptures were usually seen in temple toranas, suggesting it might have adorned a gateway of a now‑vanished shrine. Dr Reddy and Haragopal appealed to villagers to preserve the sculpture by erecting it on a pedestal.
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