Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.74

c2.74

On plan [Plate IV (c)] the temple consists of a rectangular hall measuring 18' 0" long, 13' 6" wide and 9' 0" in height. The roof is supported by two pillars similar to and in line with those of the facade. Cut in the west wall and facing the east, is a small oblong shrine cell flanked by two doorkeepers. The shrine contains a modern image of Narasimha. The doorkeepers stand with their hands on their hips and face the front like those at Dalavānūr. These figures are much decayed by the weathering of the rock. The temple contains an important Pallava inscription engraved on the north face of the first pillar from the left of the facade. Dr. E. Hultzsch has given an account of this inscription in the *Epigraphia Indica*, Volume IV, pages 152 and 153. It records that "Gunabhara" excavated the temple which bore the name of Mahendra-Vishnugriha (the Vishnu temple of Mahendra) and that it stood on the bank of the Mahendra-tataka (the tank of Mahendra), situated in Mahendrapura (the city of Mahendra). The temple, the tank and the city were thus named after Mahendra. The same name occurs in the Trichinopoly inscription, and Dr. E. Hultzsch is of opinion that the Pallava king who bore the surname of Gunabhara (the bearer of virtues) was Mahendravarman I. The other princes named Mahendra and particularly Mahendravarman II seem to have reigned for a very short time or not to have reigned at all. Therefore, the Mahendravadi temple may be attributed to Mahendravarman I. The large tank near the village is no doubt the same as the one mentioned in the inscription and, if so, this too owes its origin to the Pallavas. This is one of the few Pallava temples dedicated to Vishnu.