Trip to Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu on December 5, 2007
Dharmaraja Mandapam
Atyantakama mandapam (Dharmaraja Mandapam), Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Atyantakama mandapam (Dharmaraja Mandapam), Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
It
is officially known as the Atyantakama mandapam. The simple structure of
this cave mandapam indicates that it could be one of the early cave excavations.
Past the mahamandapam, there are two full Mahendra type pillars (with square
base & octagonal centre) and two pilasters (half pillars) with a plain
kapota. Beyond this is the ardha mandapam. There are three
garbagrihams (cells) for three deities, though now all the cells are empty.
The two dwarapalakas outside the main cell have been chiselled out.
We now see only the mark.
There is an
inscription in Pallava Grantham, that states that the shrine was built
by Atyantakama, which is the title of a king. As such it is impossible
to determine who was responsible for this construction.
Behind this
cave temple we can spot the Olakaneswara temple, a structural temple above
the Mahishasuramardhini cave.
Atyantakama mandapam (Dharmaraja Mandapam), Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
The slokam
& its meaning as given by Mr.Nagaswamy (shared by Mr.Swaminathan)
sambhasthitisamhAraNam
vitakAraNaH |
bhUyAdatyantakAmAya
jagatAm kAmamarddanaH ||
May (Siva)
the destroyer of Love, who is the cause of production, existence and destruction
(but is himself) without cause, fulfil the boundless desires of men!
AmAyazcitramAyOsAvaguNO
guNabhAjanaH |
svasthO
niruttarO jIyAdanizaH paramEzvaraH ||
May he (Siva)
be victorious, who is without illusion and possessed of manifold illusion,
who is without qualities and endowed with qualities, who is existing by
himself and is without superior, who is without lord and the highest lord!
yayAGguSThabharAkrAntaH
kailAsaH sadazAnanaH |
pAtAlamaganmUrdUghnA
zrInidhistambhibhartyamjam ||
Srinidhi bears
on his head the unborn (Siva), by the weight of whose great toe Kailasa
together with the ten faced (Ravana) sank down into Patala.
bhaktiprahvENa
manasA bhavam bhUSaNalIlayA |
dOSNA ca
yO bhuvO bhAram jIyAtsa zrIbharazciram ||
May Sribhara
be victorious for a long time, who bears Bhava (Siva) in his mind which
is filled with devotion, and bears the earth on his arm like a conquettish
embellishment!
atyantakAmO
nRpatirnnirjitArAtimaNDalaH |
khyAtO
raNajayaH zambhOstEnEdam vEzmakAritam ||
King Atyantakama,
who has subdued the territories of his foes, is famed (by the name of)
Ranajaya: he caused to be made this house of Sambhu (Siva)
jJAH sthANurnniSkalaH
sOmaH pAvakAtma vijayadvapuH |
bhImaH
zivO vijayatAm zaGkaraH kAmasUdanaH ||
May he be
victorious, who is both sentient and motionless (Sthanu), who is both undivided
and the moon, who is both fire and air, who is both terrible (Bhima) and
kind (Siva), who is both the cause of prosperity (Samkara and the destroyer
of Love!
rAjarAjO
na virasazcakrabhRnnajan ArddanaH |
tArakAdhipatiH
svasthO jayatAttaruNAGkuraH |
May Tarunankura
be victorious, who is a king of kings, but is not ugly (like Kuvera) who
is am emperor, but does not distress people (while Vishnu as both Chakrabhrit
and Janardana) who is the lord of protectors, but healthy (while the moon
is the lord of stars, but is subject to eclipses)!
zrImatOtyantakAmasya
dviSadda rpApahariNaH ?
zrInidhEH
kAmarAgasya harArAdhanasamginaH ||
abhiSEkajalApUrNE
citraratnAmbujAkarE |
AstE vizAlE
sumukhaH ZiraH sarasi ZaGkaraH ||
(8 and 9)
Just as in a large lake filled with water which is fit for bathing, and
covered with various lotus-flowers, handsome Samkara (Siva) abides on the
large head sprinkled with the water of coronation and covered with bright
jewels====of the illustrious Atyanatakama who deprives his enemies of their
pride, who is a receptacle of wealth, who possesses the charm of Cupid,
and who assiduously worships Hara (Siva.)
tEnEdaGkAritantuGgandhUrjjaTErmmandiragRham
|
prajAnAmiSTasiddhyarttham
zaGkarIm bhUtimicchatA ||
He, desiring
to attain the glory of Samkara (Siva), caused to be made this lofty dwelling
of Dhurjati (Siva) in order to procure the fulfilment of their desires
to his subjects.
dhiktESAnDhiktESAmpunarapi
dhigdhigdhigastu dhiktESAm |
yESAnn
vasati hRdayE kupathagativimOkSakO rudraH ||
Six times
cursed be those, in whose hearts does not dwell Rudra (Siva), the deliverer
from the walking on the evil path! The temple of Atyantakama Pallavesvara.
atyantakAmapallavEzvaragRha[m]
||
Dr.Swaminathan, retired professor from IIT Delhi had organized a trip
to Mahabalipuram to understand and appreciate better the great art
treasures gifted to us by the Pallavas.
We visited only a few mandapams and caves, but at every spot
Mr.Swaminathan shared with us details such as - the Pallava kings who
had contributed, the structural variations / refinement that can be
observed in the structures belonging to different periods. And sadly,
also the vandalism - mostly broken noses, attempt to project a Siva
temple as a Vishnu temple or vice versa and also an attempt by the kings
to take credit without contributing. Since several Pallava rulers seem
to have shared the same titles, that further adds to the confusion.
Mr.Swaminathan first gave a general introduction to the temple
architecture and sculpture - the different styles of rock architecture
seen at Mahabalipuram - the monoliths, cave mandapams, structural
temple, bas relief.
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