Varaha Cave Temple

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Varaha Cave Temple
Adivaraha Cave Temple
Varaha Mantapa
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Entrance to Varaha Cave Temple
Type Cultural
Criteria i, ii, iii, iv
Reference 249
UNESCO region Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1984 (8th Session)

Varaha Cave Temple (also Adivaraha Cave Temple) is a rock-cut cave temple located at Mamallapuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in Kancheepuram District in Tamil Nadu, India. It is part of the hill top village, which is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the north of the main Mahabalipurm sites of rathas and the Shore Temple.[1][2] It is an example of Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7th century. The temple is one of the finest testimonial to the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis, of rock-cur cave architecture, out of many such caves also called mandapas. Part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, the temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as inscribed in 1984 under criteria i, ii, iii and iv.[3] The most prominent sculpture in the cave is that of Lord Vishnu in the incarnated form of a Varaha or boar lifting Bhudevi, the mother earth goddess from the sea. Also carved are many mythical figures.[4]

Geography

Varaha Cave Temple is located on the hills of Mahabalipuram town, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the north of the main Mahabalipurm sites of rathas and Shore Temple, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. Now in the Kanchipuram district, it is approximately 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Chennai city (previously Madras) and about 20 miles (32 km) from Chingelpet.[5]

History

The cave reflects a transitional style of architecture in its columns mounted on seated lions and frescoes carved on the walls inside the cave which evolved during the rule of Pallava kings Mahendra Varman I and Rajasimha or Narasimhavarman I known as Mamalla. This style was continued by Mamalla's son Parameshvaravarman I.[6] Historical research has also confirmed that Mahabalipuram town came to be established only after it was named after Mamalla and the caves and rathas are all attributed to his reign during the year 650 AD.[7] It is the earliest known monument in Mahabalipuram though not the most visited due its hidden location.[8] The distinctive feature of the Pallava style is that the frontage of the cave has, without exception, finely carved columns mounted on lions in a sitting posture.[9] The structure is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984.

Architecture

Layout

Varsha Mandapa Entrance Facade

The cave is located on a hill which is obscured by another stone mandapa (pavilion) in front of it. The cave chamber, which faces west, is about 33 by 14 feet (10.1 m × 4.3 m) in width, and has a height of 11.5 feet (3.5 m). The entrance facade has four octagonal pillars and two octagonal shaped pilasters, the latter abutting the rock face on the sides.[8] The temple is a small monolithic rock-cut temple with a mandapa carved into the rock face of pink granite formations, dating from the 7th century.[10] The cave is of smaller dimension and has a simple plan. The fluted columns separating the openings have cushion-shaped capitals and seated lions at the base. Certain Greco-Roman architectural styles could also be discerned and the sitting statues are said to have likeness to the sitting styles seen in European architecture, as against the Indian cross legged style. The style thus created at Mahabalipuram became a forerunner for Dravidian style of architecture.[11] The walls inside the cave have several striking mythological scenes carved in relief. Vishnu rescuing the earth, Vishnu taking three strides, Gaja Laksmi and Durga are all impressive panels carved in the Adivaraha Cave.[11]

Sculptured side panels featuring Varaha lifting Bhu Devi, the mother earth

Features

At the centre of the rear wall of the mandapa, opposite to the entrance, guardian figures are carved on either side of a shrine. Inside the mandapa, the walls have four large sculptured panels, good examples of naturalistic Pallava art. The side walls have carved sculpture panels of Vishnu as Trivikrama and northern panel, which is very large, depicts Vishnu in the huge incarnated form of Varaha, the boar, lifting Bhudevi, the earth goddess symbolically representing removal of ignorance of human beings. In this panel, Varaha has four hands, two arms carrying shankha and chakra, which are shown towards the back and in one of the arms in the front he is carrying Bhudevi. There are no attendants fawning on him. However, the original panel has been plastered and painted.[1][8][4][12] fresco panel of Durga sitting on a lotus and another panel of Vamana, another incarnation of Vishnu, is also seen in the cave.[13]

The Gajalakshmi panel is on the rear wall which represents Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. The religious significance of Gajalakshmi is well brought out in the panel. She is shown with her hand holding lotus flowers, fawned by four attendants, and carved in "perfect beauty and gracious countenance". Two royal elephants are filling the water vessels held by the attendants and one elephant is pouring water from the vessel on Lakshmi and the other is about to take the vessel from the maiden's hand to pour water over Lakshmi. The Durga panel, also on the rear wall, is indicative of victory over ignorance. The Trivikrama panel depicts Vishnu as the Lord of the three worlds. Another strikingly impressive panel is of Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura who is in an anthropomorphic form of a human with a buffalo head; the scene is reminiscent of a battle between good and evil forces, with the side of Durga represented by the confident looking ganas advancing and the other side of Mahishasura with his army of asuras (demons) retreating. This scene is a new architectural depiction which is appreciated as to "enhance the drama and realism of the subject." The Brahma panel is carved with Brahma having three heads in sambhaga or standing posture.[14]

A fresco panel of Krishna lifting the Govardhana Hill in the Varaha Cave

The panel of Shiva as Gangadhara is shown on the north wall of the cave temple. He is depicted with four hands and is in standing tribhanga pose; the lower left hand is placed over his thighs, a style called the katyabalambita. The right lower hand is in a blessing posture of varada-hasta. The upper left hand is holding an akshamala and right upper hand is "holding one of the tresses of his hair to hold Ganga" which is a scene of Ganga in a human form descending from heaven to be held in the tied up hair of Shiva.[8]

Bas relief inside the Varaha Cave

Also seen in the cave are panels with carvings of two images of Pallava kings with their queens. One panel located to the right of the Gajalakshmi panel seated on his throne in his regal costumes and crown fanned by his queens standing behind him. The inscription below this panel is titled "The Glorious Adhiraja Simhavinna-Pottra (Simhavishnu Potta)’. In another panel opposite to the first one another Pallava King in his royal splendour is standing with his two queens, in a reverential posture below which the title inscribed is "The Glorious Adhiraja Mahendra-Potta." These inscriptions have been interpreted as representing Rajasimha, titled Narasimha Vishnu in the first panel and the second figure (of standing king) of his son Mahendravarman III.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "General view of the entrance to the Varaha Cave Temple, Mamallapuram". British Library. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  2. ↑ George Michell (1977). The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms. University of Chicago Press. pp. 81–. ISBN 978-0-226-53230-1. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "UNESCO Site 249 – Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram" (PDF). UNESCO World Heritage Site. 1983-10-15. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  4. 1 2 "General view of the entrance to the Varaha Cave Temple, Mamallapuram 10032213". Online Gallery of British Library. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  5. ↑ P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar (1982). South Indian Shrines: Illustrated. Asian Educational Services. pp. 157–. ISBN 978-81-206-0151-2. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  6. ↑ G. Jouveau-Dubreuil (1 December 1994). Pallava Antiquities – 2 Vols. Asian Educational Services. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-81-206-0571-8. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Trudy Ring; Robert M. Salkin; Sharon La Boda (1995). Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Taylor & Francis. pp. 912–. ISBN 978-1-884964-04-6. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mahabalipuram – The Workshop of Pallavas – Part II". Adi-Varaha Perumal Cave Temple. Puratatva.in. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Two drawings of sculpture at Mamallapuram". Online Gallery of British Library. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Mahabalipuram". Art and Archaeology. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  11. 1 2 Trudy Ring; Noelle Watson; Paul Schellinger (12 November 2012). Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Taylor & Francis. pp. 554–555, 912–. ISBN 978-1-884964-04-6. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  12. ↑ V. Subburaj (1 December 2006). Tourist Guide to Chennai. Sura Books. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7478-040-9. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  13. ↑ Rina Kamath (1 September 2000). Chennai. Orient Blackswan. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-81-250-1378-5. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Varaha Cave Temple". Frontline, India's National Magazine, the publishers of The Hindu. Retrieved 23 February 2013.

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Coordinates: 12°37′00″N 80°01′30″E / 12.6167°N 80.0250°E / 12.6167; 80.0250

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