Table of Contents
- 1 How old are the temples in Mahabalipuram?
- 2 When was Mahabalipuram built?
- 3 What are the sculptures in Mahabalipuram?
- 4 Who was the founder of Mahabalipuram?
- 5 Who built monuments at Mahabalipuram?
- 6 How many rathas are there in Mahabalipuram?
- 7 What is the significance of Mahabalipuram?
- 8 How to reach Mahabalipuram from Chennai?
- 9 Where is the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram?
How old are the temples in Mahabalipuram?
The Shore Temple (c. 725 AD) is a complex of temples and shrines that overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is located in Mahabalipuram, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD.
When was Mahabalipuram built?
The city of Mahabalipuram was founded by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century AD. The mandapa or pavilions and the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed Shore Temple, erected half a century later, is built from dressed stone.
What are the sculptures in Mahabalipuram?
The Varaha cave was excavated from a vertical wall on the west face of the main Mamallapuram hill. Its architecture is simple; a Vaishnavism-related cave temple, it is known for its four sculptures depicting Hindu legends: the Vamana-Trivikrama legend, the Varaha legend, the Durga legend and the Gajalakshmi legend.
What is the famous sculpture at Mahabalipuram?
One of the sculptural panels at Mahabalipuram which everyone has to see is named Arjuna’s penance. This huge monolithic stone has the sculptures of three worlds namely patala, the earth and the sky. There is a small cleavage which makes the huge monolithic stone into two pieces.
Which God is there in Mahabalipuram?
The complex consists of three separate shrines: two dedicated to the god Shiva, and one to Vishnu. 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.
Who was the founder of Mahabalipuram?
Narasimhavarman
The town’s religious centre was founded by a 7th-century-ce Hindu Pallava king—Narasimhavarman, also known as Mamalla—for whom the town was named. Ancient Chinese, Persian, and Roman coins found at Mamallapuram point to its earlier existence as a seaport.
Who built monuments at Mahabalipuram?
the Pallava kings
This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries.
How many rathas are there in Mahabalipuram?
Five Rathas
Pancha Rathas
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
| Five Rathas of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), 630–668 AD | |
| Location | Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Part of | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram |
| Includes | Dharmaraja Ratha Bhima Ratha Arjuna Ratha Nakula Sahadeva Ratha Draupadi Ratha |
Who constructed the rathas of Mahabalipuram?
Pallava king Narsimha
The magnificent ‘Ratha’ cave temples of Mahabalipuram were built by the Pallava king Narsimha in the 7th and 8th centuries. The beauty of the rock-cut sculpture of the temple is reflective of the artistic tastes of the erstwhile Pallava rulers.
Who is the founder of Mahabalipuram?
What is the significance of Mahabalipuram?
The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram is a collection of 7th- and 8th-century CE religious monuments in the coastal resort town of Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Chennai.
How to reach Mahabalipuram from Chennai?
MTC and TNSTC (Villupuram division) operate bus services between Mamallapuram/Mahabalipuram and Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Thiruttani etc. MTC’s bus services available from various parts of the Chennai include Deluxe and Air-conditioned buses. Mahabalipuram is located at the distance of 56 km from Chennai.
Where is the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram?
1808 map of Mahabalipuram. In the center is the main hill with the cave temples; the Shore Temple is near the protuberance on the coast, and the other monuments are within a few kilometres of the main hill. This chronology has been the subject of scholarly disagreement.
How old are the monuments of Mamallapuram?
Evidence dating some of the Mamallapuram monuments to the early 7th century includes the Mandagapattu inscription (Laksitayana inscription) of Mahendravarman I.