Mamallapuram- the pallava architecture

Mahabalipuram  –  The pallava architecture.

Pallava kings, who made great contributon to the temples around the world.  They are the pioneers  of creating temples in southern india.  During their regime several temples were built by Carving  from a single rock.  After their regimes  was dismantled by Cholas in the 9th  century AD, Chola kings  made structured temples with great architecture in their own way.   

Pallavas were  most noted as a king of architect as it had been resemblance of their work on temples found at mahabalipuram and kanchipuram. Mahendravarman I, who was known as  early  pallava rulers of southern india lived during 600-630 AD, had a great patronage of art and temples.  He was  first started to build monolithic rock cut temples as a sign of victories he got during his rein.  His famous work are rock cut temples at mahabalipuram  were incompleted during his regime.

Narasimhavarman I (A.D 630-668) who was a son of Mahendravarmam I,  has shared his father work of building temples at mahabalipuram which was incompleted at the time when he took his father’s throne.  He finished building rock cut temples at mamallapuram.  He was also called a mamallan. Mamallapuram (mamallan   puram ) a place named after his name mamallan.   Mamallapuram was considered as world heritage site by UNESCO  in the recent years.  Mamallapuram  as mahabalipuram is now being called,  is situated in the kanchipuram district, south of Chennai, one can reach mamallapuram from Chennai city within 1 hour at  a distance of 54 km.

1.Five Rathas(Pancha pandava rathas).

Mamallapuram is famous for rock cut temples and sea shore temples. Mamallapuram attracted many visitors abroad as they are often visiting  the place for it famous stylish architecture.  It also attracted people from other parts of india. The famous spot at this site is Five rathas,  each were constructed from a single stone called monolithic rock cut temples.   Each rathas were carved from a single monolithic rock.  The rathas were named after Five pandavas (Arjuna , Bheema, Nakula ,sahadeva, and Dharmaraja ) Droupadi .  These rathas are mostly dedicated to lord shiva and durga.

Following are the images of  five rathas(a.k.a  pancha pandava rathas meaning Five pandavas rathas) were taken recently.

Five rathas

Arjuna ratha(back), Bheema Ratha(front)

Dharmaraja ratha

Four rathas(except dharmaraja ratha)

Nakula sakadeva(left), Droupadi(back),Arjuna(Right)

 

2.Arjuna's  penance.

It is also located in the town of mahabalipuram and built during 7th century AD. It is  believed to be formed during Narasimhavarman I tenure.  This penance carved in the 7th century AD  from a magnificient  rock.  It measures at a height of 15 m and a length of 30 m approximately.  There has been two views believed to the formation of this penance.  One is that, it is a story of arjuna, one of pandavas performed several austerities to obtain shiva’s weapon to destroy his enemies.

Arjuna's Penance

The other one is that it is a depiction of  art of devotion performed by the king  Arjuna to bring the river Ganges down to earth  from heaven to purify the souls of his ancestors.  It is also called the Decent of the ganges.  Apart from these views, it also depicts the popular fables from the Hindu panchatantra books.

Many carvings found on this rock were nagas, lord Vishnu holding his arms, and the famous rock cut elephant along with human beings. You can found those things in the below images.

Rock cut elephant

Pillars inside

 3. Sea shore temple.

Shore temple

It is a structural temple built during 8^th century AD during the peiood of Rajasimha.  It had built on the shore of the bay of Bengal  as it is name called.  It had constructed on a 50 ft square platform at a height of 60 ft. It is made out of granites on the sea shore of Bay of Bengal.   It has partially  cut shiva lingam are found inside the temple facing the sea shore to the north. Shivan and Parvathy  statue were found on the wall behind this lingam.  This temple is dedicated to Vishnu  and shiva. As this temple is located on the shore of the bay of Bengal that has resulted in erosion  of temple structure.

Royar gopuram, Ganesh ratha, Varaha mandapam and Krishna butter ball were also found at this site.

Ganesh ratha

Butter Ball

Royar gopuram

It is the best place for photography and also those who have passionate of seeing Ancient Indian dynasties architecture.