History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c6.s1.10

c6.s1.10

During the last thirty years a large number of Pallava monuments have been discovered at Mahēndravāḍi, Daḷavānūr-Śīyamangalam, Pallāvaram, Trichinopoly, Kīḷmāvilangai, Śingavaram, Tirukkaḷukkuṉṟam, Vallam, Māmaṇḍūr, Maṇḍagapaṭṭu, Mēlachēri, Sittannavāsal and Mahābalipuram. Some of these consist of rock-cut caves and bear Pallava inscriptions. Others consist of structural temples such as the Kailāsanātha temple at Kāñchīpuram and the Shore temple at the Seven Pagodas. Many of these monuments were brought into existence by the Pallava kings and contain their inscriptions. The inscriptions on the Rathas of Mahābalipuram contain some specific references in the shape of the names and surnames of some of the kings. The most important of this class of epigraphs are those on the Dharmarājaratha and the Kailāsanātha temple at Mahābalipuram and Conjeevaram respectively. These temples are dedicated to the Hindu Triad; while the cave temples are dedicated to Śiva or Viṣṇu, the presence of representations of Brahma the other member of the Hindu Triad, forms a peculiar feature of these monuments which distinguishes them from later temples. The Ādivarāha temple at the Seven Pagodas contains statues of the celebrated kings Simhavishṇu and Mahēndravarman I in bas-relief. Similarly the rock-cut temple at the top of the Trichinopoly rock appears to have originally contained a statue of Mahēndravarman I, a fact which seems to be alluded to in the inscription discovered there.¹ But the statue is not to be found there now, and may have been destroyed subsequently. Recently Mr. Longhurst has been fortunate in discovering at Bhairavakonda ² (Nellore District) a large group of temples attributable to the Pallava age, all of them cut out of rock and closely resembling the Mahēndra caves. There are also a large number of Pallava monuments in South India without bearing any inscription. Further study and research may help in establishing their actual age.