Table Of Content~fia&aripuram
a journey through a magical land
Srinivas - EJ.SJ?ra&f'takar
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To
Thiru Prabhakar,
\Best GWisftes.
GWonderfu[ drawinas.
Jor aff success.
~ pra~ers
-APJ Abdul Kalam
President of India.
••••••••••••••••••• Srinhiaas ,. 3-W••a&h_akar ~
~S\\afta&a£ipuram •••••••••••••••••••••••
If one takes sculptures, there are four types that are
from the available in India. Cave Temples, Carved Monoliths,
Sculptured Scenes or Bas Relief and Masonry Temples. The
desk ofe ditors unique feature of Mahabalipuram is that all these four types
are available in this place.
This book is not a research work. It is a practical guide
to Mahabalipuram. The purpose of this book is only to give
you a good introduction to the various features about the
sculptures, caves and the temples.
You may have visited Mahabalipuram more than once,
but you would have seen only some of the monuments. You
might not have known all the details. This book will fill the
gap and will give you a good account of the place as a whole.
You will enjoy the simple and conversational style in
Mahabalipuram, with a beach, a temple on the sea
which the factual details about Mahabalipuram have been
shore and some monuments, is not a mere picnic spot near
given.
Chennai . It is not just a good place to go with family and
friends to spend some time. The style is different. It is as if a guide takes you around
to the various monuments, explaining the features.
Mahabalipuram is a temple of art, created by the Pallava
rulers. It is a virtual treasure -trove of sculpture and Our friend JP has proved again that he can carve
architecture. The greatness of the place will be realised only sculptures even in print. His lively drawings add to the appeal
by those who go there in person and enjoy its splendor. of this book .
Mahabalipuram .... is a shining example of the Dravidian Next time you visit Mahabalipuram, please take this
culture and of the ancient civilization of the Tamils. It can book along with you. You will enjoy the beautiful creations of
even be said that the temple architecture, which is a unique the Pallavas much better.
feature of the Tamil culture, was born in this pl~ce.
We hope that this humble offering of ours will meet all
Recognising the greatness of the monuments of
your expectations.
Mahabalipure!n and confirming their exceptional Universal
value, the 'Convention Concerning the Protection of the With Love,
World Cultural and Natural Heritage' has included them in Subha
the UN~SCO's 'World Heritage List.'
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11 ol ~afta&afi pu ram •••••••..••••••••.•• . .. ........... . ••• • • Srinivaas ... 3.Wra&ftafrnr 111
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The history of Mahabalipuram dates back ~~. ·
two thousand years. It was a flourishing seapor-t ·:
even at the beginning of the Christian era. Thertt.: -~
were references to it in the Greek work of the J8.1 <
century AD, Periplus of the Erythraean Sea and: :
also by Ptolemy, the Greek geographer of the 2nd,, 3
century. Many Indian colonists had traveled td · ·
Starting from the 5tii century AD, the Pallava dynasty ruled
South East Asia from this port town. This was a' ,:
over parts of northern Tamil Nadu for about 400 years. Their capital
centre of pilgrimage for centuries. , ;
city was Kanchi or Kanchipuram. Mamallapuram was their seaport. Mahabalipuram was essentially a victory ;.
1
memorial city. Mamallan Narasimha Pallavan >.
In ancient times even before the Pallavas came on the scene, defeated Chalukya king Pulakesin II in 642 AD :·~·
this place was known by the name Mallai or Kadalmallai. Vaishnava and sacked his capftal Vatapi. With the enormous ,.
fortune that he brought from his conquest, he
saint Bhoodhaththazhvar was born here. This has also remained a
embellished the city of Mahabalipuram with
centre of pilgrimage and saint Thirumangai Azhvar has rendered
several beautiful buildings and monuments.
hymns in praise of this place.
Mahabalipuram was a trading centre even in the 1st and 2nd
century AD, visited among others by the Greeks. Hiuen Tsang,
the Chinese traveller of the 7th century mentions that this place The majority of the monuments belong to the times of Narasimha
was the seaport of the Pallavas. It has also been referred in Varman. The name Mamallapuram itself is derived only from the
European literature of the 14th century as the ' Place of Seven title 'Mamallan', 'the Great Wrestler' of Narasimha Varman. The
Pagodas' or the place of seven temples. rest of the monuments belong to the period of his successors
Parameswara Varman and Rajasimha Pallavan.
The monuments and the temples of Mamallapuram were
designed by the Pallava rulers during the 7'h and 81h century AD. In While the credit for designing the temples by scooping them
the development of architecture and sculpture, the contribution of out of living rocks, discarding perishable materials like brick, timber,
the Pallava kings is noteworthy. Mention should be made in this metal or mortar, goes to King Mahendra Varman, it is the kings
regard about Mahendra Varman (AD 580-630), his illustrious son Narasimha Varman, Parameswara Varman and Rajasimha who were
Mamallan Narasimha Varman (AD 630-668), Mahendra Varman responsible for Mamallapuram attaining international fame for its
II ( AD 668-672), Parameswara Varman (AD 672-700) and sculptural splendor.
Narasimha Varman II alias Rajasimha (AD 700-728).
Mahabalipuram - Bird's view
1. Arjuna's Penance
2. Pancha Paandava Cave
3. Krishna Mandapam
4. Krishna's Butterball
5. Trimurthy Cave
6. Elephant Group
7. Ganesha Rath a
8. Varaha Mandapam
9. Raya Gopuram
10. Lion Throne
11. Mahishamardini Cave
12. Adhi Varaha Mandapam
13. Old Light House
14. Five Rathas
15. Sculpture Workshop
16. Tiger Cave
17. Athiranachanda Cave
18. The Temple of Lord Vishnu
19. The Shore Temple
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••••••••• • •••••••••• Srinivaas - CJ.9.:>ra&hakar
l14l~aha&afipuram · · • · · · • · • · · · · · • · · · • · • · ·
A_,juna S fPenance
· A
:· PasM~ ~ tr~.
The journey through Mahabalipuram starts generally < ·. ,· . Lord Shiva is believed to be in possession of
from the monument, Arjuna's Penance. This beautiful work .· Pa~'!Pfltha Astra, the immensely powerful arrow or .
. weapon.· This weapon is supposed to generate a ,
of the century AD is situated just on the side of the road
7th · '·confinuol)s -stream of arrowa. once· fired. . Pleased with
itself, behind the Vishnu temple in the heart of the town, ))tz-Jiz_n4 ~s:~il~votion, the Lord bestowed him with the .'
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about which we will see in some detail later. ,;r1t~· ·;~ ~:~:·, ~(-
The area which contains this monument and also some
of the monuments which follow, is known as the Hill Area. These are known as Bas Reliefs. Both in grandeur and
In this, one has to walk for a distance of less than a in beauty, this piece is regarded as the best in these types
kilometre, for most part at a height of about 30 metres above of monuments. Perhaps the world's largest Bas Relief, it is
the sea level, on a hillock formed by wooded rocks and an universe itself in stone, throbbing with a vastness of
boulders that lie about one kilometre to the west of the sea. conception.
Arjuna's Penance is a massive piece of art, a real Can you see up there to the left, a figure doing
masterpiece in stone, which the sculptors have designed penance ... he is regarded as Arjuna, the hero of the famous
with all the creative instincts at their epic Mahabharatha. He is so emaciated that even his rib
command. One is not likely to cage is visible. He is doing a severe penance standing on
see anything like the beauty one foot, with both hands raised above his head.
and complexity of this vast
The God figure standing before him is Lord Shiva. Here
relief anywhere in the world.
Arjuna is seen as doing this penance for obtaining the
This monument which is powerful Pasupatha Astra, the weapon from the Lord for
25 metres in length and 12 the ensuing war with his cousins, the Kauravas. That is why
metres in height has been this monument itself is known as Arjuna's Penance.
carved on the edge of a huge
The countries that go to war in the present days are
whale shaped rock.
also doing ' penance' towards super powers like United
You know what these types States for weapons. Looks like in the olden days the same
of sculptures are called as? was being done towards the Gods. That is all the difference!
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l16j
0\\.afta&a[i pu ram
• ••••••••.••••••. Srinivaas , 3.9?ra&hakar ~
For a moment have a close look at the figure of Lord
Shiva. There are trident and axe in his hands and the cobra
is on his chest. His foremost lefthand is in the position of
granting a boon to his devotee. Above him is Chandra, the
.. moon and below him and on his side are the Dwarves.
'•
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Please have a good look. Starting with the Gods, you
M.babbBratba tells the story of the conflict:::
between two royal families of cousins - five brotber11,•' . can see a lot many living things here. Lord Shiva, Lord
known as the Paandavaas, who represent virtue, 'ol~~
Vishnu, Surya-the sun, Chandra-the moon, celestial beings
whom Arjuna is the middle one, on one side and the#: •
cousins, one hundred in number, known as tbe • like Kinnaras and Gandharvas, Bhuta ganas, the
Kauravaas, who represent vice, on the other. Simply' ·
Dwarves .....
put, the Mababbaratba is a powerful and amll'Ziri8",:
tezt that inspires awe and wonder. ' ·f: ~.
No, no, no please .... by Bhuta
The Kauravaas behave viciously and brutafJjr';;
towards the Paandavaas in many ways right from t/J.e:,~ ganas, the reference is not to
time of their early youth. They trick the PaandavaS,\ present day politicians !
into submission in a game of dice, humiliate them,:
and physically abuse Draupatbi, their common will!:'.•
Apart from the Gods and
The Paandavaas are banished into wilderness for •
twelve years and then to a life of disguise in the' · Goddesses, there are sages doing
society without being discovered, for one more year-.··
penance, hunters, ordinary human
They fulfill their part of the bargain, but ara •
denied their rightful share of the kingdom by tb~ beings, serpents, wild animals like
Kauravaas. The epic ends with a catastrophic war, iii ... lion, elephant and deer and domestic
wbicb the virtue triumphs over the vice. Ani just.;
animals like cat and mouse.
before the commencement of the hostilities of the· !
war, Krishna, believed to be an incarnation of Lord·'
Vishnu and who is a friend, philosopher and guide to: , This way there are more than 150 beautiful, life like
Paandavaas, delivers an ethical lecture and gives a:;·
figures in this monument and this can very well be termed
demonstration of bis divinity to bis charge Arjuna,':,~•
in the most famous sermon of all times, The Bbagavad ', as a virtual exhibition of sculptures. Historians are attributing
Gita. This "Song of the Blessed One" bas ezerted much t · this Great Penance Relief to the master sculptor
the same sort of powerful and far-reaching infiuence ·•
Maandhaatar.
on Indian civilization that the New Testament bas in '. .
Christendom. ·
Right in the middle of the monument, dividing it vertically
into 2 halves .... can you see a narrow fissure ? This is
believed to stand for the holy river Ganga, the Ganges,
which originates from the Himalayan range of mountains
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•••••••••••••••••••• Srinivaas - tJ.~ra&ftafrnr
that this monument represents the descent of river Ganges
from heaven to the earth. Archaeologists claim that once
upon a time, water really flowed in the deft of the rock.
It can be observed that most of the living beings in the
monument are facing the river and many even appear to be
rushing towards it.
Water is the lifeline of any existence. For this reason
all the civilizations in the world have originated only on the
