1000 pillars

That is 1000 pillar temple at Warangal - Hanamkonda. Are you thinking where are the 1000 pillars?

Have you visited Ayiramkal Mandapam in Madurai and counted the pillars? Could you count 1000 pillars there? Then why the name?

I got answers for these in a beautiful temple of Vishnu in Tadpatri, Andhra Pradesh. The temple Archaka doubles up as tour guide explaining the various sculptures in the temple. He showed two pillars in the main hall of the temple and called it "Vaisthambalu"and explained the concept.

A pillar is made wherein 1000 small pillars are carved all around it. 10 rows of pillars on the one big pillar - with each row having 10 sthambams and each sthambam having 10 sthambams on it.. got the calculation? 1*10 equals 10; 10*10 equals 100; 100*10 equals 1000. Amazing... not the calculation :-), but the idea of coming up with 1000 pillars on one pillar!

Now, wherever you see 1000 pillar, take a closer look and you will be pleasantly surprised to see that the sculptor had poured his heart out and made a magnificent sthambam.

Thanks to the Tadpatri Archaka and millions of salutes to all those sculptors who conceived such a grand idea and executed it... I should add the great Kings who patronised such art!

Andhariki Vandanamulu!!