Pallava Rock-cut Architecture: Mahabalipuram
The Pallavas bridged the transition from rock-cut architecture to structural stone temples. Mahendra Varman I gloried in the construction of temple without the use of bricks, timber, metal or mortar. He built a number of rock-cut mandapas. They were simple pillared halls. The main feature of the front facade is a row of pillars each 7 feet high, the shaft being square in section with a 2 foot side above and below and the corners chamfered in the middle third to give an octagonal section. A heavy bracket provides the capital. In the earliest examples at Mandagapattu and Trichinopoly, there is no cornice above the pillars , but later roll moulding was added as at Pallavaram.
Mahendra I also built a rock-cut temple of Anantasayana at Undavalli (Guntur distrit) and the series at Bhairavakonda (North Arcot District) towards the end of his reign. In these temples at Undavalli, Mahendra attempted to copy a Buddhist vihara. It consists of four storeys of pillared mandapas set one above the other and rising to a height of 50 feet. His successor Narsimha Varman I (Mahamalla) built the rock-cut mandapas at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram).
Narsimha Varman also built monolithic rathas popularly called the seven pagodas.
Group of monuments at Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is known for its world heritage site complex of Group of monuments of the Pallava Period. Most of the monuments at Mahabalipuram are rock cut and monolithic. They denote the early Dravidian architecture and have inculcated in themselves the Buddhist elements of architecture.
The monuments at Mahabalipuram include the following:
Thirukadalmallai
This is first and foremost of Mahabalipuram sculptures. It is one of the 108 Divya desam. This temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, was built by Pallavas to safeguard the sculptures from the ocean. It is told that after building this temple, the remaining architecture was preserved and was not corroded by sea. It’s not a rock cut temple but was built as free standing temple.
Descent of the Ganges or Bhagiratha Penance
This is a giant open-air bas relief. It depicts Bhagiratha bringing down the Ganges to earth. It is world’s largest open air bass relief.
Varaha Cave Temple
Varaha Cave Temple or the Adi Varaha Cave Temple is a rock-cut cave temple located at Mahabalipuram. This rock cut temple dates back to 7th century and is considered to be one of the finest testimonial to the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis. The most prominent sculpture in the cave is that of Lord Vishnu in the incarnated form of a Varaha or boar lifting Bhudevi, the mother earth goddess from the sea.
Shore Temple
Shore Temple is granite made temple at Mahabalipuram built during the reign of Narsimha Varman. This group of temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is oldest structural temple (in contrast with rock cut temples) in India. Its a beautiful 5 storied 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. Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) – five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhisthira, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled – each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone. The close examination of the rathas at Mahabalipuram reveals that there used to be a school for young sculptors. For example, each of the different Rathas has been carved in a different style.
