Trip to Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu on December 5, 2007
Trimurti Mandapam
This cave temple is a three celled
mandapam. There is no maha mandapam or ardha mandapam. All
three shrines are on one common platform with independent steps leading
to each garbagriham.
The first cell is dedicated to Brahma
Sastha, the second to Siva and the third to Vishnu. Beside the Vishnu
is a Durga panel.
The dwara-palakas in the first shrine
are two rishis in three fourth profile with beard, their hair knotted above
their heads. They are both holding a flower in their inner hands,
while the outer hand rests on their hip. The sage on the left is
holding a ladle in his left hand (the spoon used during yagam).
The deity in the garbagriham is Lord
Subramanya as Brahma Sastha instead of the usual four headed Brahma.
He has four arms - the main right hand in abaya mudra, the main left hand
on his hips and is wearing a crossed rudraksha malai on his chest.
The dwarapalakas in the Siva shrine
are also seen in three-fourth profile with a slight smile. Their
outer arm is resting on their hips. The one on the left is holding
a mace in his inner arm. In the garbagriham, there is a carving of
Siva on the wall and a lingam is installed in front of it, which could
be a later addition. Siva has four arms. The main right hand
is in abaya mudra, the main left hand is on his hips.
The dwara-palakas in the Vishnu
shrine are also in three-fourth profile. On the rear wall of the
garbagriha is a Vishnu idol. He has changu & chakra in his arms,
while the main right arm is in abhaya mudra & the left on his hips.
In all three shrines, there are
two ganas on either side of the Lord at the top and two devotees seated
on either side on the floor. As a rare feature the ganas have been
carved in the Vishnu shrine too.
There is a Durgai panel on the wall
to the left of the Vishnu shrine - Vishnu Durgai sporting changu and chakram
in the back arms. She is standing on Mahisha’s severed head. Out
of her eight arms, the main right arm is in abhaya mudra and the left is
on her hip. She has weapons in the other 4 arms. The sthapathi, Mr.Umapathi
pointed out the makara thoranam above Devi's head.
Makaram is the combination of animal
forms - Elephant's trunk, tusk, monkey's eyes,crocodile posture (bhava),
fish body, lion's legs, pig's ear and bunch of creepers (tail portion).
This animal form is symmetrically represented on either side.
The roof of the Mandapam is more
ornamental than most mandapams with the usual kudus and salas.
There are several boulders lying in
front of the mandapam and a water tank at a raised level just opposite
the mandapam.
On the other side of this mandapam,
is a beautiful carving of a group of elephants with a baby elephant playing
under the adult. A damaged baby elephant can be seen between the
adult’s front legs and trunk. The head of a second elephant is visible
at the back with its trunk outstretched. A monkey and a peacock are
seen perched on ledges.
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Lord Subramanya as Brahma Sastha - dwara-palakas are two rishis
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Lord Subramanya as Brahma Sastha, two ganas and two devotees
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Slightly protruding Siva's shrine - a lingam is installed - two dwarapalakas at the entrance
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Siva's shrine - a lingam is installed - relief panel on the rear
wall showing Siva, his two ganas and two devotees - two dwarapalakas at
the entrance
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Vishnu's shrine - relief panel on the rear wall showing Vishnu, two ganas and two devotees - two dwarapalakas at the entrance
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Vishnu's shrine - relief panel on the rear wall showing Vishnu, two
ganas and two devotees (ganas are a rare sight in a Vishnu shrine)
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Durga relief panel on the wall - Vishnu Durga standing on Mahisha's head
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Durga relief panel on the wall - Makara thoranam at the top
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
water tank at the front of the mandapam at a raised level
Trimurti Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
a beautiful carving of a group of elephants on the other side of the Trimurti mandapam
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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