Description9th to 11th century Alampur Papanasi Temples, Telangana India - 37.jpg
English: The Papanasi group of Hindu temples is dedicated to Shiva, but includes iconography of Shaktism (Saptamatrikas) and Vaishnavism (Vishnu image).
They were closer to the Srisailam dam and at a lower level in threat of occasional flooding. They were therefore moved to their current location.
The Papanasi group is a smaller, simpler temples in the Nagara-style than the larger, more sophisticated yet older Navabrahma group of temples nearby in Alampur village.
The square plan sanctums typically have the Ganga and Yamuna goddesses at the entrance, plus Gajalakshmi at her usual central location in the lalitabimba. The Shikara is also simple and square. Walls are plain, as are the mouldings. The Kuta, Sala and Panjara are simple but follow the rules of Hindu architecture.
Some pillars carry inscriptions, and these are from the 10th-century about gifts and donations to these temples. Other depict stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Panchatantra.
The most complex of these 23 temples is the Papanaseswara temple, with has a superstructure on top of the sanctum and a bigger amalaka.
Nataraja or Netasa are a common Shaiva theme found in these group of temples. One temple reverentially includes the Dasavatara iconography of Vaishnavism. Several Shakti matrikas are also found in these temples.
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Captions
A group of 23 transplanted Hindu temples southwest of Alampur village, Shavism