The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram datable to the late 7th century is notable for its location on the seashore. It is a five-storey structural Hindu temple, the earliest important structural temple in Southern India, built on a 50 foot square platform with a pyramidal structure rising 60 feet high. Though similar in style to the Dharmaraja Ratha, it differs in being a fully structural temple rather than rock-cut, about 3-4 times the size of the Dharmaraja Ratha with a triple structure adding rear and front shrines.

1. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
DRAVIDIAN STYLE

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3. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
 The Shore Temple is a five-storeyed
structural Hindu temple
 It is the earliest important structural
temple in Southern India.
 Its pyramidal structure is 60 ft high
and sits on a 50 ft square platform.
 There is a small temple in front which
was the original porch
 It is made out of finely cut local granite.
 Recent excavations have revealed new
structures here under the sand

4. • The temple is a combination of three shrines.
• The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva as is the smaller second shrine.
• A small third shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a
reclining Vishnu and may have had water channeled into the temple,
entering the Vishnu shrine.
• The two Shiva shrines are orthogonal in configuration.
• The entrance is through a transverse barrel vault gopuram.
• The two shikharas have a pyramidal outline, each individual tier is
distinct with overhanging eaves that cast dark shadows.
• The outer wall of the shrine to Vishnu and the inner side of the
boundary wall are extensively sculptured and topped by large
sculptures of Nandi
• The temple's outer walls are divided by plasters into bays, the lower
part being carved into a series of rearing lions.

6. The Shore temple at Mahabalipuram datable to late 7th century is specially known because
of its location on the sea-shore.
This temple though very similar stylistically to the Dharmaraja ratha, differs from it in an
important respect that it is a structural temple and not a rock-cut one.
It is about 3 to 4 times the size of the Dharmaraja ratha and is made a triple structure by
adding a shrine at the back and slightly jutting out in the front.
There are two spires, much loftier than in the case of the previous temples, the higher spire
has more storeys than the Dharmaraja ratha and the pinnacle is higher and pointed.
It is much more complicated, enlarged and enriched.
The shrine is enclosed by a massive wall, having the typical Pallava rampart lion pilasters at
regular intervals. On its outer side, the wall is surmounted by seated bull figures.

7. ELEMENTS OF
SHORE TEMPLE

8. Sajida – snigdha – tsering