Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.77

c2.77

(7) Mēlachēri.—At Mēlachēri, 3 miles north-west of the town of Gingee, in the South Arcot district, is a rock-cut shrine excavated in the western face of a small granite hill standing to the north of the village. It is known locally as the Maddilēśvara temple and is still in use as a place of worship. The rock-cut facade faces the west but is hidden from view by a modern brick and plaster mandapa attached to the front of it. In the centre are two square pillars, dividing the facade into three openings of equal size. Within is an entrance hall 19' 9" in length, 8' 9" in width and 6' 8" in height. Cut in the back or east wall, and facing the west is a small square shrine chamber containing a monolithic linga. This shrine measures 8' 4" × 8' 7" and is the same height as the entrance hall. The stone linga is cylindrical in form and together with its yoni pedestal stands 4' 9" above the floor level and is cut out of the solid rock. The temple contains no sculptures or ornamentation of any kind, but it does contain a Pallava inscription on one of the pillars which was discovered by Mr. Jouveau-Dubreuil in 1916 and published in his book "Pallava Antiquities, Volume I, page 66". This inscription records that the temple was excavated by king Chandrāditya but the date is not given. The name Chandrāditya is evidently a surname of one of the Pallava kings but we do not know which one bore this name.