Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.91

c2.91

The origin of these temples is obscure and there is no actual proof that they are the work of the Pallavas, but their architectural style seems to denote that they were excavated by the latter and they represent their earliest attempts in this direction before the Pallavas were driven south by the Chālukyas and executed similar but better works in the Tamil country. They possess no ancient inscriptions regarding their origin, but the style of the sculptures and mouldings and similarity of plan between some of these rock-cut temples of the Telugu country and those of the South indicate that they are both the work of the same race of people. The Telugu names appearing in some of the earliest Pallava inscriptions found in some of the rock-cut temples in the Tamil country excavated during the reign of Mahēndravarman I show that he originally came from the Telugu country and that it was there where he must have first got his taste for excavating temples of the living rock. That it was Mahēndra himself who personally introduced the idea of excavating Hindu temples out of the natural rock instead of building them with bricks in the usual manner there cannot be any shadow of doubt. This has been conclusively proved by Mr. Jouveau-Dubreuil in his paper on the “Conjeeveram Inscription of Mahēndravarman I,” published in 1919. In this paper he gives an account of the inscription found in the triple-shrined Pallava temple at Mandagapattu in the South Arcot district which is particularly interesting and valuable. He states that the tenor of the inscription as translated into English is as follows :—“This is the temple caused to be constructed by the (king) Vichitrachitta for (the images of) Brahmā, Isvara and Vishnu, without (using) bricks, timber, metals or mortar.”