Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.79

c2.79

(8) Singavaram.—About one mile to the south of Mēlachēri is the village of Singavaram which contains a rock-cut temple which, in all probability, owes its origin to the Pallavas. It is known as the Ranganātha temple and contains a large rock-cut image of Anantaśayana resembling the one in the Shore Temple at Mahābalipuram. The image, however, has been recarved at a later period. The rock-cut hall in front of the shrine chamber has square monolithic pillars of the usual kind ornamented with conventional lotus flowers. At each end of the facade is an image of a doorkeeper which mostly resemble those found at the entrance to the shrine chamber of the Dalavānūr temple.