Copyright remains with Goutham Ramesh. Please do not reuse this photograph without permission.
“Sometimes, a change in stone can reveal a change in intention.”
Inside the Natya Mantapa of the Hazara Rama Temple, I was drawn to this Devi sculpted on one of the dark pillars. The stone here looks strikingly different from much of the granite architecture we see across Hampi. Its darker, smoother appearance immediately reminded me of the soapstone associated with Hoysala temples, and because this temple stands so close to the royal enclosure, I kept wondering whether that choice of material was deliberate and perhaps reserved for a space of greater importance.
I wanted the photograph to carry that contrast. I used the light entering from one of the doorways to gently illuminate the Devi in the foreground, while another carved pillar recedes into the darker granite interior behind her. For me, the frame is about more than the sculpture itself. It is about texture, material, light, and the possibility that even the choice of stone was part of how the builders expressed refinement and prestige within a royal sacred space.
Comments are for approved members
Public previews can be shared for marketing, while community discussion stays inside CPA.
Log In