History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c11.s1.60

c11.s1.60

*Pallava Painting.*—A vestige of Pallava painting has also been discovered in recent times in the Pudukkotta State, at Śittannavāśal. The style of the rock-cut temple at Śittannavāśal is identical with that of Māmandūr cave built by Mahēndravarman I. This cave temple seems to have been at one time fully painted but the painting on the upper part of the edifice is alone visible now, namely, the painting on the ceiling, the capitals and the upper parts of the pillars. ‘The principal subject that is preserved is a grand fresco which adorns the whole extent of the ceiling and the verandah. This fresco represents a tank covered with lotuses. In the midst of the flowers are found fishes, geese, buffaloes, elephants and three men who surely are Jains holding lotuses in their hands. Their pose, their colouring and the sweetness of their countenance are indeed charming. . . . Therefore the decoration of the capitals of the pillars in the facade is well preserved. It consists of lotuses whose blooming stems intertwine with elegance. The two pillars in the passage are adorned with the figures of dancing girls.¹ It is presumable, as Jouveau-Dubreuil suggests that the art of dancing was encouraged by Mahēndravarman I who probably wrote a treatise on the subject. The Māmanḍūr inscription² of this king alludes to the work *Dakshinachitra* probably a treatise on painting and other works on music composed by him.