History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c11.s1.42

c11.s1.42

A Relief of Simhavishṇu.—One of the most interesting discoveries of the Epigraphy Department in recent years has been the identification of royal sculptures at the Ādivarāhasvāmi temple at Mahābalipuram.¹ These reliefs relate to two kings cut in bas-relief in the Varāha cave in the village of Mahābalipuram and were noticed as early as 1913,² by Mr. Krishna Sastri in his report although no identification had been then attempted by him. This was due to the failure to notice the inscriptional label that is put over the bas-reliefs which have now been copied and read. From these it is now clear that the representations are those of Simhavishṇupōtaraya and Mahēndravarman I. These kings are here represented with their queens in an attitude of adoration. The Archæological Superintendent's Report for 1922–23 says on page 94, ‘No. 661 of 1922, is engraved on the portal of the north niche in the Varāha cave, and consists of the name Śrī Simmaviṇṇu-Potādhirājan in the Pallava-Grantha characters. The niche below this inscription contains the seated figure of a king with a high crown (*kiriṭa*), and chest and ear ornaments flanked on either side by a standing female figure representing, by their crowns, his queens . . . No. 662 of 1922 cut on the top of the corresponding niche on the south side of the main cave, and opposite to the image of Simhavishnu referred to above, consists only of the name Śrī-Mahēndra-potādhirāja. The niche contains the standing image of a king distinguished by his crown and ornaments. His half-raised hand points towards the shrine of the God evidently—whither he appears to be leading the nearer queen by her right hand. The above two inscriptions serve as labels to show whom the images represent. . . .’