Hyderabad: A 10th-century hero stone with Saiva affiliation is located beside the Beerappa temple near the service road at Manchirevula village in Gandipet mandal of Rangareddy district. Archaeologist Dr E Sivanagireddy said on Sunday, after inspecting the sculpture, that it has been left exposed and neglected.Based on information shared by Sriramoju Haragopal, convenor of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam, Dr Reddy visited the site and stated that the sculpture, dated to the Rashtrakuta period, is of historical significance and requires protection from damage caused by sun and rain. Though it has survived for around 1,000 years, the monument now remains in the open without any protection.Rashtrakuta periodDr Reddy said the sculpture depicts a hero adorned with ornaments and poised for combat. The figure is shown standing in Alidhasana pose, holding a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left. He pointed to a distinctive feature on the sculpture — a snake with its hood raised above the hero’s head. These iconographical elements, he said, help date the sculpture to the Rashtrakuta period.
