Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.68

c2.68

(3) *Mandagapattu*.—The village of Mandagapattu is 6 miles south-west of Dalavānūr and 12 miles north-west of Villupuram railway station in the South Arcot district, Half a mile to the west of the village is a small granite hillock, in the northern face of which is excavated a Pallava temple with a facade similar in size and style to the Dalavānūr temple but with less ornamentation and with some difference as to plan. The facade faces the north and has two square cubical pillars of the usual type in the centre, dividing the facade into three openings of equal size. The pillars are free from ornament and the facade has no ornamental cornice. At the two ends of the facade are two large panels similar in shape and size to the three openings in the facade. The one at the western end contains a large crudely carved figure in high relief of a standing dvārapāla, or doorkeeper, guarding the entrance on this side. The figure has the usual lofty headdress and stands facing the spectator in a very aggressive attitude. The right arm rests on the hip and the left on a mighty club. The figure is shown wearing the usual ornaments including two serpents or nāgas. The doorkeeper on the eastern side of the facade is similar to the one just described, except that the pose is different. It faces towards the entrance and thus presents only a side view to the spectator. The floor of the temple stands about 4 feet above the natural level of the ground and, like so many of these early Pallava temples has no proper steps approaching the entrance. On plan the temple consists of a rectangular hall 22 feet in length, 24 feet in width and is 9 feet in height [Plate III (c)]. The ceiling is supported with four square pillars with corresponding side pilasters. In the back or south wall facing the north, are three large niches 4 feet deep. Cut in the floor and against the back wall of each niche, is a square socket-hole, indicating that a stone image once stood in each niche, forming three separate shrines. The position of the socket-holes clearly shows that images and not lingas stood in these shrines. A mutilated inscription on the outside of one of the pillars records that the temple was dedicated to the three gods Brahma, Siva and Vishnu. The serpent ornaments worn by the doorkeeper indicate that the leading deity enshrined in it was Siva, whose image occupied the central niche.