Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.36

c2.36

All of the earlier Pallava cave-temples were excavated during the reign of Mahēndravarman I, in the early part of the seventh century and may, therefore, be said to belong to the Mahēndra period. Those belonging to the intermediate period were mostly cut out of the rock in the reign of Māmalia during the latter half of the seventh century and, therefore, belong to the Māmalia period. The structural monuments of the later period were started by Rājasimha at the beginning of the eighth century and thus belong to the style of Rājasimha. There is also a still later style than that of Rājasimha, dating from about 800 to 900 A. D., which may be called the style of Nandivarman. There are very few temples in this last-named style as at this period we find Pallava architecture losing its identity and merging into the Chōla style.