STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
TAMIL NADU
Mahabalipuram - Mandapams
There are eight
mandapams located at various spots - the Dharmaraja, Kotikal, Mahishasura,
Krishna, Pandava, Varaha, Ramanuja and Shiva mandapams. In these
rock cut mandapams, there are sculptural reliefs depicting various stories
from epics and mythology.
Krishna
Mandapam:.
In this mandapam,
the scene of child Krishna holding aloft the Govardhana hill to protect
the people of Gokulam from severe rains.
Mahishasuramardhini
Mandapam:
On one wall
is depicted the scene of Goddess Durga mounted on a lion, destroying the
evil asura with a buffalo head, Mahishasura. On the opposite wall
is the scene of Lord Vishnu in repose (ananthasayanam) on the serpent Adisesha.
Varaha Mandapam:
Two avatars
of Lord Vishnu can be seen in this mandapam. On one wall is the scene
of Lord Vishnu as Varaha (with a boar head), lifting Boomi Devi from under
the ocean. On the other wall is the scene from Vamana avataram (dwarf
brahmin boy).
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