Temple Architecture of the Pallavas

In the beginning of the medieval period, the Kings did not directly patronize the religious shrines and gave only indirect support. Most of the artworks were produced by the guilds of the artists who were actually funded by the villages, traders and and monks.  The tradition of direct patronization of the temples began with the Pallavas.

Under the ablest kings such as Mahendravarman, Pallavas extended their territories to the Tamil Nadu. From the time of great Mahendravarman, finest examples of Pallava art were created in Tamil Nadu such as Shore Temple and 7 pagodas of Mahabalipuram.

Today’s Mahabalipuram was known as Mamalai (Green Hill) in ancient times. Pallava King Mahendravarman successor Narsimhamvaraman was known as “Mamalla” or “The warrior”. This port city was named “Mamallapuram” after Narsimhamvaraman. This was one of the greatest ports of ancient times and here was a “cosmopolitan’ culture where people rubbed their shoulders with the Romans. This is evident from the roman coins found here and traces of a roman colony located here.

Salient Features of the Pallava Architecture

• The Pallava architecture shows the transition from the Rock Cut Architecture to the Stone built temples.
• The earliest examples of the Pallava art are the rock cut temples of the 7th century AD, while the later examples are of structural temples built in 8th and 9th century.
• The rock cut reliefs of the Pallavas are the earliest surviving royal portraits after the Kushana images.

At the end of 6th century, King Harsha ruled in the North and he patronized the Buddhist Institutions. In South, Pallavas expanded themselves from the much of the Andhra Pradesh of today to much of Tamil Nadu. The Pallava Kings are known to be one of the greatest patrons of the art, music, architecture, dance and literature. King Mahendravarman was a poet and a playwright who wrote a satire on contemporary life titled “Mattavilasa Prahasana“. Another King of Pallava Dynasty named Rajsimha (Narsimhamvaraman) was such a great lover of art that he used the title “Kalasamudra” for himself.

Pallava Temples Examples

Mandagapattu rock cut temple

The earliest monument of Mahendravarman was Mandagapattu rock cut temple which was a single rock cut temple built without any wood, brick or metal. It is located near Villupuram in Tamil Nadu. This temple has the icons of large Dwarapalas which later became a characteristic of almost all south Indian temples.

However, one of the most marvelous chapters opened with the reign of successor of Mahendravarman i.e. Narsimhavarman “Mamalla” or Rajsimha. During his reign at Mahabalipuram, massive boulders were transformed into a world of divine. These are earliest styles of temples in South India.  Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas from 4th to 9th century. Huen Tsang visited this city and wrote it a glorious city. Here, Buddhaghosa lived in 6th century.

Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram

Kailasanathar Temple is best building created during the reign of Pallava King Narsimhamvaraman. This temple is one of the most beautiful temples in India which has well balanced sculptures like a jewel box. This temple is important for historic point of view because:

• This temple inspired Rajraja Chola I to built another great beauty Brihadeshwar Temple at Tanjore.
• The direct & close intervention of the rulers started after creation of this temple.

Thus, the Kailasanathar temple began a new tradition in India where the kings took deep interest in building the temples with great structural design and antiquity. This temple has the Lion Sculptures everywhere. Lion was the insignia of the Pallavas.

Vaikuntha Perumal temple, Kanchipuram

Vaikuntha Perumal temple is located at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. It was built by Nandivarman. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams (108 holiest Shrines of Vishnu). The temple was named “Parameshwara Vishnugriham” after the original name Parmeshwara of Nandivarman.

Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

Shore Temple is a granite made temple at Mahabalipuram built during the rein of Narsimhavarman. This group of temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is oldest strucutral temple (in contrast with rock cut temples) in India. Its a beautiful 5 storyed temple, which is a combined complex of 3 shrines; 2 dedicated to Shiva and one to Vishnu.

Importance of Shore Temple

The Shore Temple marks the culmination of the architectural efforts that began with the cave temples and monolithic rathas.

Shore Temple and the 7 Pagodas

7 Pagodas is a term associated with the Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram. It is said that 6 more temples were associated with it, all now submerged in water. The legend is that prior to Narsimhamvaraman, the construction of the cave temples had started in the time of Mahendravarman. But later the order for free standing strucutres was given and 7 rathas (free standing temples) were created. After the 2004 Tsunami, the sand deposits of around 500 meters from the Shore temples were gulped by the sea and a clear arrangement of manmade structures was seen (TOI, February 26, 2005). The ASI started the excavations and it was said that sonar system indicated manmade structures under the sea.