What is the myth about Mahabalipuram?
According to a myth that has circulated around India and Europe for over 11 centuries, seven temples once stood along Mahabalipuram’s shore. Local legend suggests that the god Indra became jealous of this earthly city and sank it during a great storm, leaving only the Shore Temple above sea level.
Who built the Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram why this temple is named so?
king Rajasimha/Narasimhavarman II
The Shore Temple of Mamallapuram was built during the reign of the Pallavan king Rajasimha/Narasimhavarman II, and it is the oldest structural temple of significance in South India. The two temples hold three sanctums, of which two are dedicated to Shiva and one to Vishnu.
Who built the shore temples at Mahabalipuram?
Rajasimha
This view shows the Shore Temple, built in the late 7th century by Rajasimha and is orientated east, towards the ocean. The temple consists of two spires; one contains a shrine for Vishnu and one for Shiva.
What is special about Shore Temple?
As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.
Who built 7 Pagoda?
Narasimhavarman I
Pallava dynasty: the reign of Narasimhavarman I : constructed five rath temples at the port town of Mamllapuram (Mahabalipuram) These are now known as seven raths or Pagodas.
What is White Pagoda?
The White Pagoda is also called Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda (meaning ten-thousand-volume Huayan Scripture Tower). Built in the Liao Dynasty (916 – 1125), the pagoda was a stupa for sutra storage in a Buddhist temple. It was originally a tower of Buddhist temple where the Buddhist scripture was collected and preserved.
What is the importance of Mahabalipuram?
Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site in Tamil Nadu, India. During the reign of the Pallava dynasty, between the 3rd century CE and 7th century CE, it became an important centre of art, architecture and literature.
Why is the Shore Temple named so?
Mahabalipuram (also called Mamallapuram) shore temple. The Shore Temple is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. This monolithic granite rock found in Mahabalipuram India, is over 20 feet in height.
How many shore temples are there?
Three Temples Shore temple is a complex of 3 temples. One big temple and two small temples.
Why is Mahabalipuram famous?
Mahabalipuram is a place that is famous for its temples and monuments, especially the very famous Shore Temple. It consists of three temples built in one single complex, that was constructed way back in the 8th century. Another famous temple is the Pancha Rathas.
How many architecture are there in Mahabalipuram?
Mid-20th-century archaeologist A. H. Longhurst described Pallava architecture, including those found at Mahabalipuram, into four chronological styles: Mahendra (610-640), Mamalla (640-670, under Narsimha Varman I), Rajasimha (674-800) and Nandivarman (800-900).
Are pagodas Chinese or Japanese?
A pagoda is an Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taoist, and were often located in or near viharas.
What is the significance of the Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram?
The actual name of the temple is not known, but given the close proximity to the sea, it is called the Shore Temple. The fascinating fact is that the existing temple is the only one remaining of a complex of seven shrines. The others are considered to be the submerged temples of Mahabalipuram.
Why is Mahabalipuram called the Seven Pagodas?
Shore Temple was named as ‘Seven Pagodas’ due to its pyramidal structure. The name ‘Seven Pagodas’ indicate to the existence of 7 temples in the past. Now only Shore temple remains to tell the tales of the past. In the time of Pallava dynasty, Mahabalipuram was popular trading port.
What are the best places to visit in Mahabalipuram?
The Shore Temple which is on the banks of the Bay of Bengal is one of the main attractions of Mahabalipuram. Its beautiful structure is an architectural marvel, which depicts the ancient finesse of art. The Shore Temple which was built during 700 – 728 AD has stood the test of times.
What are the sunken ruins of Mahabalipuram?
The sunken ruins of Mahabalipuram lie between 6–8 meters below the current sea level off the coast of South Eastern India. Local folklore long spoke of the existence of ancient ruins, although was mainly confined to fishermen’s tales and thought of as myth.