File:13th century Gaurisha temple, Ramappa temples complex, Palampet Telangana - 28.jpg

English: The Ramappa temples complex is located about 65 kilometers northeast of Warangal (NH 163) and about 2 kilometers south of Palampet village near the 12th-century man made Ramappa lake for irrigation and drinking water. What is now a small village of Palampet, was named Atukuru, one of two major cities of the Reddys of Recerla – a Shudra caste family that had risen to be one of the most powerful feudatories within the Kakatiya empire. Devout Hindus, they built major and some of the most spectacular Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakti temples in medieval Telingana. One group of many temples are found within 10 kilometers of Palampet, close to the Ramappa lake (another group is found in Pillalamarri). Their legacy is also recited in major Sanskrit inscriptions they left.

The Ramappa temple complex consists of two temples next to each other, another trikuta temple, a Sanskrit inscription pillar, a Nandi monument and several mandapas.

• The Gaurisa temple is to the north end of the Ramappa temples complex, immediately next to the main Rudreswara temple (also called Ramalingeswara temple or just Ramappa temple). It is the smaller temple whose vimana was torn down and the remnants of the spire are partially visible.
• The name Gaurisa temple is mentioned in the Sanskrit foundation inscription pillar in the complex.
• The Gaurisa temple faces east and stands on a linga-pithika type of jagati according to early Hindu texts on temple architecture.
• A few stone steps into the temple are flanked by two she-elephant sculptures, damaged.
• The Gaurisa is simpler and has less carvings than the main Rudreswara temple. It does have a small ranga-mandapa with stone benches (gathering hall for pilgrims) and a very badly damaged Nandi. The adhisthana of the ranga-mandapa is decorated in a simple manner, with kandhara of large rosettes. Small shrines, now empty, flank the sides.
• The plan is square, with four citrakhanda pillars with carved belts supporting the roof.
• Closer to the sanctum are reliefs with Nayikas in classical Indian dance postures, accompanied by musicians with Indian classical musical instruments. In the sanctum is a Shiva-linga.

-Stone perforated screens allow light to enter into the temple sections.

• The surviving parts of the vimana suggest it was a tri-anga with denticular cyma moldings.

For additional information about this temple along in the Ramappa temples complex context, and those who helped build it, please see:

1. M.A. Dhaky and Michael Meister (1996), Encyclopedia of Indian Temple Architecture, Volume 1, Part 3: Text, American Institute of Indian Studies, pp. 515–536 (particularly pp. 528–536).

2. Ghulam Yazdani (1929), Annual Report of the Archaeological Department of His Exalted Highness the Nizam's Dominions for 1336 F (1926-1927 AD), Archaeological Department of Hyderabad, pp. 1–3.