THE SIMHACHALAM TEMPLE Dr. K. SUNDARAM, M.A. (Hons.), Ph.D. Department of History and Archacology Andhra University, Waltair SIMHACHALAM DEVASTHANAM SIMHACHALAM [A. P.][ Thesis approved for the Award of Ph.D. Degree of the Andhra University in 1963] March 1969 Copies 1,000 [be qrb-\ cut! : © All rights reserved Price: Rs, 12/~Preface The Simhachalam Temple has been hailed by scholars and the general public alike as one of the important Vaishnavite shrines of Andhra Pradesh. The present monograph is a historical study of the temple in all its aspects. Incidentally it is a study of the history and culture of the region of the Visakhapatnam District in which the temple is located. The study of the temple, like other such studies, has to be based on a variety of source material. The most handy source material is the epigraphical wealth. Besides a detailed exami- nation of the inscriptions of the temple, a study of the inscrip- tions from other regions and other temples having a bearing on this temple and the region, is necessary. To cite an example, the political and cultural history presented in the inscriptions of the Srikurmam Temple (Srikakulam District) runs parallel to that of the Simhachalam Temple and complements the latter in certain matters. The temple itself supplies material for the study of its archi- tecture and sculpture. However, its architecture and sculpture owe their inspiration to the contemporary monuments in the regions to the north, the south and the west of Simhachalam. The study of the architecture and sculpture of the temple thus involves a study of the main temple complexes of South India. Again, a proper appreciation of the art and architecture of ancient and medieval India requires a study of Hindu Silpa Texts on art, architecture and iconography. In composition of the present monograph, texts like the Bhuvanapradipa, Tantra Samuchchaya and Manasara were found to be of immense help to understand the architecture of the temple. Many texts, secular and religious, having a bearing on the prescribed icono- graphic norms (pratima lakshna) had to be consulted to present the sculptural wealth of the temple in its proper perspective. Indigenous literature and the accounts of foreign travellers are of much help in understanding the history and culture of any locality. The Telugu literature since the 14th century gives occasional glimpses of the temple and its history, For iii