this presentation will give you basic information on Structural temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram by Pallava

1. Pallava’s Structural Temples of
Mahabalipuram and
Kanchipuram
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Dept. of AIHC & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University
B.A. III
Semester V

2. Pallava
Architecture

3. Shore Temple

5. Shore Temple• This complex of three separate shrines was constructed under the patronage of the
Pallava king Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha.
• The Shore Temple is both a rock cut and a free-standing structural temple.
• The entire temple stands on a naturally occurring granite boulder.
• The complex consists of three separate shrines: two dedicated to the Shiva, and one to
Vishnu.
• The Shore Temple is in asymmetrical alignment in plan, having two temples in front and
back .
• Vishnu temple is situated in between these two without the superstructure and
Anandasayana Murti is placed at the center.
• The Vishnu shrine is the oldest and smallest of the three shrines.
• The other elements of the temple, including the gateways, walls, and superstructures
were constructed out of quarried stone and mortar.
• A row of seated bulls appear at the entrance wall (prakara) of the larger Shiva shrine.
• The main temple has 60-foot high shikhra
• The entire temple is enclosed within a two-tier, compound wall with statues of
Shiva's vehicle, Nandi, surrounding it.
• The entrance to the temple complex is from the western gateway,
• On each side of the gateway stand door guardians known as dvarapalas
• There are two temples in the complex are behind the main temple, are known as the
Raja-simhesvara and the Kshatriya-simhesvara.

8. Vishnu Temple
(Narpatisimha-
Vishnugruham)
• The smaller Vishnu temple located between the two Shiva shrines, connecting the
two.
• It has a rectangular plan with a flat roof and houses a carved image of the god
Vishnu sleeping position (Sheshshayee).
• This images discovered after excavations, has been dated to the 7th century CE.
• The shrine walls have carvings depicting the life stories of Vishnu and one of his
avatars, Krishna.

9. Shiva temple (Rajsimheshwar)
• Like the Vishnu shrine, the two Shiva shrines include rich sculptural
depictions on both their inner and outer walls.
• The large Shiva shrine faces east,
• has a square plan with a sanctum and a mandapa.
• At the center of the shrine is a lingam.
• It is a stepped pyramidal tower, arranged in five tiers
with Shiva images.
• On the back wall of the temple carvings of Shiva Parvati, and their
son Skanda.
• The inner walls of the mandapa contain images of the Brahma and
Vishnu,
• The outer north wall of the sanctum includes more sculptures of Shiva
as well as a depiction of the Durga.
• The Shiva temples have been dated to the early 8th century and are
attributed to the reign of the Pallava king Rajasimha (700-728).

10. Small Shiva temple ( Kshatriysimheshwar)
• The small Shiva shrine faces west and has a square plan
• Elements of the temple :sanctum and two mandapas.
• As with the larger Shiva shrine, the smaller shrine’s
sanctum originally housed a lingam, which is now
missing.
• A sculpted panel depicting Shiva, Parvati, and Skanda
enlivens the back wall.
• Both Shiva shrines have identical multi-storied
pyramidal superstructures typical of the Dravidian style.

11. Olakkanesvara temple
• Also known as the Old
Lighthouse
• Temple is perched on the
rock above the
Mahishamardini cave
temple
• Built from grey granite
cut into blocks
• Images of dvarapalas,
Ravananugraha, episodes
of Ramayana.
• Dated to the early 8th
century and attributed to
King Rajasimha

12. Mukunda-Nayanar
temple
• This temple has ratha-like
architecture.
• Mukhmandapa and
Garbhagriha
• Dated to the early 8th
century by Pallava King
Rajasimha
• The temple, with a simple
square design.
• One tire Shikra
• Pilasters on the wall

13. Pallavas Structural Temples at Kanchipuram
• Kailasanath
• Vaikunth-Perumal

14. Kailasanatha Temple
• Bult by Narsimhavarman II- Rajsimha (700-728 CE) and
Mahendravarman III.
• Second stage of structural temple development
• Facing East, rectangular plan
• Garbhagriha with four storied vimana, Shivlinga with
immense pitha.
• Antarala
• Pillared Mandapa
• Enclosure
• The Garbhagriha is doubled walled and eight small shrines
are surrounded dedicate to Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh etc.
• Enitre shikra is carved beautifully.
• A detached Mandapa was added later
• Begining of Gopuram

15. • The pillar elements with
vyala (lions on the base)
are extra features in
Pallava style.
• At some later stage, the
mandapa and the
sanctuary were joined by
an intermediate hall called
the ardhamantapa.
• The enclosed wall is
highly decorated with
sculpture of Shiva, Vishnu,
other god and Goddesses.

16. Verandah
• In the south facing wall the sculpture depicts Shiva
as Umamaheshavara and Lingodbhava are significant
• The west facing hall has sculptures of Shiva in the form
of Sandhya Tandavamurti and Urdhava Tandvamurti,
Brahma, Vishnu, and Parvati images of ganas in
dancing poses are also there.
• The carving of Shiva on the north facing wall is a
composition of Tripurantaka flanked by
three ganas, Durga with three ganas, and goddesses.
• The exterior faces of the vimana (tower) have images of
aspects of Shiva - Bhikshatana, Somaskanda and
in Samhara-Tandava (destructive dancing) pose.

21. ■ In the inner walls of
the prakara (circumambul
atory passage) decorated
with of Durga,
Kartikeya, Tripurantaka,
Garudarudha-Vishnu,
Narsimha, Trivikram,
Natraja, Brahma-
Saraswati, Bhudevi-
Sridevi, Lingodbhava,
Bhikshatana.
■ The image
of Ardhanariswara sitting
on a bull is considered the
most noteworthy among
all images.

23. Vaikunth Perumal
• Dedicated to Vishnu also called as Thiru Parameswara
Vinnagaram
• Built by Pallavamalla Nandivarman II (731-796 CE) in 750 CE
• The temple is considered the second oldest in Kanchipuram after
the Kailasanath temple.
• West facing.
• The temple has a rectangular plan and approached through a flat
granite gateway tower.
• Square four storied Vimana
• Vishnu in three form
• Whole structure is surrounded by pillared cloisters running all
around and raised on high platform with vyala based pillares.
• The temple is built of granite with a mixture of sandstone.

27. Sculptural Art
• Three sanctuaries host the image of Vishnu in different
postures
a) seated (ground floor),
b) lying (first floor and
c) standing (second floor
• The external cloisters, with their lion pillars, are Significant.
• The cloister walls have a sequence of relief sculptures
depicting the history of the Pallava dynasty. Coranations of
Kings, Fighting, Battles with Chalukyas
• The niches on the walls around the sanctum are similar to the
Mammalapuram.
• Some of the sculptures indicates various legends
of Mahabaratha

30. Nandivardhan Group of Monumnets
• Constructed in 9th C.CE
• Situated in Kanchipuram
1. Mukteswar
2. Matangeshwar
3. Wadmallishwar
4. Virattneshwar
5. Parshu-Rameshwar

32. Conclusion
• Pallava period is an age when architecture showed grandeur and
beauty.
• The Pallava architecture shows the transition from the rock cut
temples to the stone built temples.
• The structural detailing of the ratha temples that imitates wooden
timber support, pilaster beams which are unnecessary in stone.
• The architecture of gopura begins with the Pallava dynasty as
the initiation is seen in shore temple of Mahabalipuram.
• The rock cut temples of the Mamallapuram show the influence of
Buddhist rock cut caves. In ratha temples also, some ratha follows
the Buddhist Vihara model central square hall supported by
pillared roof.
• Pallava temples in Kanchi are prototype of Vimana to be
developed by the Cholas in the later period.