Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram
View of Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram
Mahabalipuram Location of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and India
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Kancheepuram
Population	12,049 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 12 m (39 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 603104 • Telephone • +91-44 • Vehicle • TN-21

Mahabalipuram (Tamil: மகாபலிபுரம்) also known as Mamallapuram (Tamil: மாமல்லபுரம்) is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet).

Mahabalipuram was a 7^th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have been named after the Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7^th and the 9^th century, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

Rock Carvings

The temples of Mamallapuram, built largely during the reigns of Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman, showcase the movement from rock-cut architecture to structural building. The mandapa or pavilions and the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed Shore Temple, erected half a century later, is built from dressed what makes Mamallapuram so culturally resonant are the influences it absorbs and disseminates. The Shore Temple includes many bas reliefs including one 100 ft. long and 45 ft. high carved out of granite. ^[1]

All but one of the rathas from the first phase of Pallava architecture are modelled on the Budhist viharas or monasteries and chaitya halls with several cells arranged around a courtyard. Art historian Percy Brown, in fact, traces the possible roots of the Pallava Mandapa to the similar rock-cut caves of Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. Referring to Narasimhavarman's victory in AD 642 over the Chalukyan king Pulakesin II, Brown says the Pallava king may have brought the sculptors and artisans back to Kanchi and Mamallapuram as 'spoils of war'.^[2]

Landmarks

A rock sculpture at Mamallapuram

The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava art.

It is believed by some that this area served as a school for young sculptors. The different sculptures, some half finished, may have been examples of different styles of architecture, probably demonstrated by instructors and practiced on by young students. This can be seen in the Pancha Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different style. These five Rathas were all carved out of a single piece of granite in situ. ^[3] While excavating Khajuraho Alex Evans a stone mason and sculptor recreated a stone sculpture made out of sandsstone, which is softer than granite, under 4 feet that took about 60 days to carve. the carving at Mahabalipuram must have required hundreds of highly skilled sculptors. ^[4]

Some important structures include:

• Thirukadalmallai, the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was also built by Pallava King in order to safeguard the sculptures from the ocean. It is told that after building this temple, the remaining architecture was preserved and was not corroded by sea.
• Descent of the Ganges - a giant open-air bas relief
• Arjuna's Penance - relief sculpture on a massive scale extolling an episode from the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata.
• Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the 7^th century.
• The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the western side away from the sea. Recent excavations have revealed new structures here. The temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after being washed away in a cyclone.
• Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled — each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.

Underwater city

Seashore at Mamallapuram with the Shore Temple in the background

According to descriptions by early travel writers from Britain, the area near Mahabalipuram had seven pagodas by the sea. Accounts of Mahabalipuram were first written down by British traveller John Goldingham who was told of the "Seven Pagodas" when he visited in 1798.

An ancient port city and parts of a temple built in the 7^th century may have been uncovered by the tsunami that resulted from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. As the waves gradually receded, the force of the water removed sand deposits that had covered various rocky structures and revealed carvings of animals, which included an elaborately carved head of an elephant and a horse in flight. A small square-shaped niche with a carved statue of a deity could be seen above the head of the elephant. In another structure, there was a sculpture of a reclining lion. The use of these animal sculptures as decorations is consistent with other decorated walls and temples from the Pallava period in the 7^th and 8^th centuries.

The Archaeological Survey of India sent divers to begin underwater excavations of the area on 17 February 2005.

Demography

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[5] Mahabalipuram had a population of 12,049. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Mahabalipuram has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 66%. In Mahabalipuram, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Mahabalipuram is known for its many orphanages which often invite tourists to visit them (and donate).

Gallery

Shore Temple	A view of the 'Five Rathas' at Mahabalipuram	Varaha cave temple	Arjuna's penance
Bas-relief carving at the Mahishasuramarthini cave	Draupadi and Arjuna rathas	Sculpture of Nandi at Pancha Rathas site	Elephant scuplture made out of single rock
Krishna's butter ball - a balancing rock	Lighthouse	Rock formations near Mamallapuram	Seashore at Mamallapuram

Mahabali

Mahabali was an asura king ruled the Kerala region, in vedic period. Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.

It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.

Bus Routes

Apart from private bus operators, TNSTC and MTC Chennai operate buses to and from Mahabalipuram

See also

• Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram
• List Of Colossal Sculpture In Situ

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mahabalipuram

This article's external links may not follow Wikipedia's content policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links. (October 2009)

• Mahabalipuram
• Mahabalipuram travel guide from Wikitravel
• Mahabalipuram in UNESCO List
• National Institute of Oceanography: Mahabalipuram and Poompuhar
• ASI site on Mahabalipuram
• Inscriptions of India -- Complete listing of historical inscriptions from Indian temples and monuments
• `I show you Mahabalipuram'
• Pillars with inscriptions of Pallava, Chola kings found
• The Shore Temple stands its ground T.S. Subramanian in The Hindu, 30 December 2004
• Newly-discovered Mahabalipuramtemple fascinates archaeologists T.S. Subramanian in The Hindu, 10 April 2005
• BBC News: India finds more 'tsunami gifts'
• Mahabalipuram Temple Architecture
• Tsunami's might opens way for science (The Globe and Mail; 18 February, 2005)
• Photographs of Mahabalipuram and other sites in Tamil Nadu
• Mahabalipuram Photo Viewer
• First Amateur-Ham Radio Operation from Mahabalipuram Lighthouse on occasion of International Lighthouse & Lightship Week
• Living Rocks, Frontline, Volume 24 - Issue 25 :: Dec. 22, 2007-Jan. 04, 200
• Mahabalipuram tour packages information
• A 360degree walk-through [Virtual tour of Mamallapuram]

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in India Agra Fort · Ajanta Caves · Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi · Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park · Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus · Churches and convents of Goa · Elephanta Caves · Ellora Caves · Fatehpur Sikri · Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram · Group of Monuments at Hampi · Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram · Group of Monuments at Pattadakal · Humayun's Tomb · Kaziranga National Park · Keoladeo National Park · Khajuraho Group of Monuments · Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya · Manas Wildlife Sanctuary · Mountain railways of India · Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks · Qutub Minar and its Monuments · The Red Fort complex · Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka · Sun Temple at Konark · Sundarbans National Park · Taj Mahal