Ramappa Temple restores 300-year-old water channel
Telangana : The Ramappa Temple in Venkatapur mandal of Mulugu district has restored its traditional Somasutra, enabling uninterrupted daily water abhishekam for the presiding deity Rudreshwara.
The restoration marks the resumption of a full-fledged daily water abhishekam that had remained disrupted for about 300 years. The Somasutra, the traditional channel through which water flows out of the sanctum after abhishekam, is believed to have been blocked following an earthquake in the 17th century.
Scientific methods used to clear blocked Somasutra
With the channel blocked, complete abhishekam rituals could not be performed. Restoration work was taken up after several years using modern equipment and scientific conservation methods.
The team used 3D mapping, endoscopic and GoPro cameras, and real-time monitoring screens to track the restoration process. To prevent any damage to the temple structure, the obstructions were carefully removed layer by layer using soft drilling techniques.
The work has resulted in the restoration of the Somasutra, allowing the abhishekam water to flow out smoothly from the temple.
The restoration was carried out in the presence of Endowments Department officials and under the direct supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Hyderabad Circle team.
INTACH convener Prof M Panduranga Rao, Central Archaeological Department DE Krishna Chaitanya, joint Warangal district conservation architects Malles(h) and Krishnavamsi, and Ramappa Temple executive officer Immadi Bhaskar were present during the restoration work.
