1. Historical Background of the Pallavas and the legacy of their Architecture 2. Aspects and Architectural Techniques of Monolithic Temple Architecture of the Pallavas 3. Origin of the Monolithic Architecture in Tamil Nadu 4. Monolithic Architectural Aspects of the Panchapandava Rathas at Mahabalipuram

1. Monolithic Temple Architecture of the Pallavas
S. Kannan, Asst. Professor, Dept of History,
Raja Doraisingam Govt. Arts College, Sivagangai
By,

2. Historical Background of the Pallavas and their Architecture
• Pallavas ruled Tondaimandalam (northern part of present Tamil Nadu) from CE 6th
century to 9th century with their capital at Kanchipuram.
• Spread of Brahmanical faith, emergence of Bhakti movement in medieval Tamil
Nadu and spread of temple architectural tradition greatly influenced the Pallavas to
attempt for creating rock - cut temples (cave temples), monolithic temples (ratha
temples) and structural temples in their territory.
• Rock - cut temple architecture - Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I alias
Mamalla - CE 6th and 7th century
• Monolithic temple architecture - Narasimhavarman I alias Mamalla - CE 7th century
• Structural temple architecture - Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha and
Nandivarman II - CE 8th and 9th century
• Mostly used hard granite stone called gneiss, a metamorphic rock and occasionally
used sand stone.
• Important centres of art and architecture are Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.
• Though Pallava art and architecture are contemporary to early western Chalukyan
art and architecture, they did not imitate or copy the latter; they rather exhibit
distinctive look despite of absorbing certain inspirations.

3. • Pallavas were forerunners of monolithic temple architecture in India
• They developed it from their own rock - cut temples
• Carved out of a single block of stone (mono + lithic = single stone temple)
• Both cut-in and cut-out techniques were followed
• Carving started at the top and ended at the bottom
• Any mistake in the cutting or carving could not be easily rectified
• Superstructural part of the monolithic temples has enormous weight and make a
heavy pressure on the lower structure of the monolithic temples
• The weight pressure of the superstructural part of the monolithic temples on the
thin walls or slender pillars led to developing cracks and damage in the temple
structure
• Subsequently the monolithic temples were left incomplete
• Marks the beginning of vimana in Dravidian architecture
Monolithic Temple Architecture of the Pallavas :
Aspects and Techniques

4. Genesis of Monolithic Temple Architecture of the Pallavas
Varaha Rock-cut Temple,
Mahabalipuram,
Pallava, Narasimhavarman I,
CE 7th century
Rock-cut Temple, Mahendravadi,
Pallava, Mahendravarman I,
CE 7th century

5. Genesis of Monolithic Temple Architecture of the Pallavas
Trimurti Rock-cut Temple, Mahabalipuram,
Pallava, CE 7th century
Carving of Temple Model,
Sculpture of Arjuna’s /
Bhagiratha’s Penance,
Mahabalipuram, Pallava, CE
7th century

6. Monolithic Temples (Panchapandava Rathas - Draupathi, Arjuna, Bhima,
Dharmaraja and Nakula - Sahadeva rathas), Mahabalipuram, Pallava,
Narasimhavarman I alias Mamalla, CE 7th century
Monolithic Temple Architecture of the Pallavas
(Five Rathas / Panchapandava Rathas, Mahabalipuram)

7. Draupathi Ratha
• Dedicated to Durga
• Hut - shaped square temple
• Only completed ratha of all
monolithic temples

8. Arjuna Ratha
• Incomplete ratha
• Two storeyed square temple
• Upper storey is decorated
with miniature architectural
pavilions
• Hexagonal griva and sikara

9. Bhima Ratha
• Incomplete ratha
• Single storeyed rectangular temple
• sala sikara (wagon vault roof )

10. Dharmaraja Ratha
• Incomplete ratha
• Probably dedicated to
Siva
• Three storeyed square
temple
• Upper storeys are
decorated with miniature
architectural pavilions
• Octagonal griva and
sikara
• Rich in Saiva iconography

11. Nakula - Sahadeva Ratha
• Incomplete ratha
• Gajaprishta vimana (apsidal)
• Two storeyed oblong temple

12. Discussion
• Purely of Pallava innovation
• Evolved from rock - cut architecture of the Pallavas
• Precursors of the succeeding structural temple architecture
• Show certain strong Buddhist influences
• Evolution of Dravidian architecture with a focus on vimana
• Influenced the early structural temple architecture of Tamil Nadu
• Probably built for Sakta, Saiva, Vaishnava, Gaumara and Ganapathya
(panchayathana concept)

13. “Men may come and men may go; but I go on for ever”
– A.L.Tennyson
Thank You