Shore Temple
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The Shore Temple (700-728 CE) is so named because it over looks the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mamallapuram, a tiny village south of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The village was a busy port during the 7th and 8th century reign of the Pallava dynasty during the reign of Narasimhavarman II.[1]
As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2] It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.[1]
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[edit] Architecture
The Shore Temple is a five-storeyed structural Hindu temple rather than rock-cut as are the other monuments at the site. It is the earliest important structural temple in Southern India. Its pyramidal structure is 60 ft high and sits on a 50 ft square platform. There is a small temple in front which was the original porch.[3][4] It is made out of finely cut local granite.[5] the shore temple is also one of the most popular temples
Recent excavations have revealed new structures here under the sand.[4][6]
[edit] Shrines
The temple is a combination of three shrines. The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva as is the smaller second shrine. A small third shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a reclining Vishnu and may have had water channeled into the temple, entering the Vishnu shrine. The two Shiva shrines are orthogonal in configuration. The entrance is through a transverse barrel vault gopuram. The two shikharas have a pyramidal outline, each individual tier is distinct with overhanging eaves that cast dark shadows.[1] The outer wall of the shrine to Vishnu and the inner side of the boundary wall are extensively sculptured and topped by large sculptures of Nandi.[3] The temple's outer walls are divided by plasters into bays, the lower part being carved into a series of rearing lions.[7]
[edit] Deities
The temple has a garbhagriha in which the deity, Sivalinga, is enshrined, and a small mandapa surrounded by a heavy outer wall with little space between for circumambulation. At the rear are two shrines facing opposite directions. The inner shrine dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara is reached through a passage while the other, dedicated to Vishnu, faces the outside. The Durga is seated on her lion vahana. A small shrine may have been in the cavity in the lion's chest.[4]
[edit] Significance
The Shore Temples configuration of the two Shiva shrines with the small Vishnu shrine in between illustrates an attempt to balance the different, competing religious requirements.[1]
[edit] See also
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[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d Ching et al., Francis D.K. (2007). A Global History of Architecture. New York: John Wiley and Sons. pp. p. 274. ISBN 0-471-82451-3.
- ^ "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram". World Heritage. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b "Shore Temple". http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Shore_Temple.html. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b c "Shore Temple". http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/mamallapuram/st01.html. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
- ^ Thapar, Binda (2004). Introduction to Indian Architecture. Singapore: Periplus Editions. pp. p 51. ISBN 0794600115.
- ^ "The Shore Temple stands its ground". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123001602200.htm. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
- ^ Michael, George (1988). The Hindu Temple. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago. pp. pp 134-135. ISBN 0226532305.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 12°36′59″N 80°11′58″E / 12.616405508441435°N 80.19936382770538°E
