Saturday, October 10, 2015

Trimurti Cave Temple, Mamallapuram

Trimurti Cave Temple, Mamallapuram
Trimurti Cave Temple is a fine example for Pallava architecture. It is located in Mamallapuram, the city of sculptures and monuments. Although it is a well known monument, it is not regularly visited by all the tourists. It is located slightly away from the Krishna's butter ball. 
The cave temple is dedicated to Trimurties of Hinduism - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Although it is obviously Pallava architecture, it is clearly not known which Pallava king built this monument. Few scholars claim that it was the work of Parameshvaravarman I, whereas the others claim it might be the work of Rajasimha or Mamalla.


The cave temple is different from the other cave temples of Mamallapuram; it doesn't have pillared mandapa. It straight away has the three shrines. The middle shrine has prominence and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. All the three shrines have deities. The right most shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the left most shrine is dedicated to Lord Subramanya (ideally, it should be Brahma; however, according to the scholars it is the idol of Subramanya.
All the shrines have two dwarf ganas and two devotees at the feet of main deities. Similarly, all the shrines have Dwarapalakas at the entrance. The shape of Dwarapalakas, devotees and ganas in each shrine is different depending upon who is the main deity. 
There is an independent niche where the Goddess Durga in the form of Mahishasuramardhini with eight hands is excavated. She is standing on the head of buffalo (demon Mahisa).
The back side of Trimurti cave has a beautiful bas relief panel where two elephants and their cubs along with a monkey and peacock are found.
Trimurti cave temple is definitely an exceptionally great Pallava period monument. Do not miss this place when you visit Mamallapuram.


Trimurti Cave Temple is a 7th century ancient rock-cut temple, which is built on a 100 ft high cliff. The temple is located towards the north of Ganesha Ratha. In close vicinity to the temple, a rock-cut zoo is constructed. This zoo has sculptures of elephant and other animals.
Location
It is located at a distance of 1.5 kms from bus stand, Mahabalipuram. It is Located in the same 'park' area as Krishna's Butterball and the Arjuna Penance carvings. It is located slightly away from the Krishna's butter ball. Hence it is easy to access and the entry is free to all. 
History
The cave temple is dedicated to Trimurties of Hindu pantheon - Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Scholars have different opinion about the Pallava king who carved this cave temple and few claims point to Parameshvaravarman I and few others ascertain as Rajasimha or Mamalla.
Layout
This cave is unique and differs from other Pallava rock cut caves; there is no front courtyard (ardha mandapam) supported pillars and pilasters. The cave opens with three chambers or sanctums and there are three icons present in all the three sanctums - the right most sanctum dedicated to Lord Vishnu; the left most chamber devoted to Lord Brahma (however some scholars hold the view that the idol present is only Lord Subramanya and not Lord Brahma). The middle shrine has the Shiva Linga. All the chambers show the presence of Dwarapalakas; two dwarf sized Deva Ganas and two devotees (at the feet of main deities). The cave temple has separate niche for bas relief panels:


Durga Panel: Goddess Durga in the form of Mahishasuramardhini with eight hands is excavated. She is standing on the head of buffalo (demon Mahisa).
Elephants Panel: At the rear side wall bears the exquisite bas relief panel where two elephants and their cubs along with a monkey and peacock are found.
Architecture
This cave temple is little different from the others as this does not have any pillared hall. The artists have excavated the cells directly into the cave face which is almost vertical. This west-facing cave is a triple-celled shrine, dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the Hindu Trimurti (Trinity). The central prominent cell is projected little forward, housing a Shiva image, which suggests that the cave was dedicated to Shiva as the main deity among the trinity. All the cells are flanked with Dvarapalas on either sides. Above the cells, on the cornice, is a row of horse-shoe shaped (kudus) windows. Above this is shown a row of shrines connected with a cloister. The shrine above the central cell is largest suggesting the prominence of the central cell among the others. These shrines are topped with a stupid.
The leftmost shrine is believed to be for Brahma. The Dvarapalas of this cell are shown with beard. They are shown with side-views, facing the shrine, due to space constraint. Both are shown wearing a yajnopavita andjata-mukuta and holding a flower in one of their hands. The other hand of both the Dvarapalas is resting on their waist, however left side Dvarapalas is also holding a sruk (ladle) in his hand.



The image inside the cell does not seem to be of Brahma. A H Longhurst identified this image as of Brahma however Dubreuil and R Nagaswamy identifies this with that of Subramanya. As per R Nagaswamy, the cross-band is a feature of a warrior hence this image should be of Subramanya. K R Srinivasan says that surely this is not of Brahma as the image is shown with one head and also shown wearing a cross-band on its chest (channavira style) and agrees with T A Gopinath Rao in accepting it as Subramanya in Brahmasasta fashion.
As per T A Gopinath Rao, Subramanya put down the pride of Brahma over the knowledge of Vedas by exposing his ignorance in this field. In such a representation, Subramanya should be shown with four hands, one hand and two eyes. In his four hands he should carry akshamala and kamandalu in his rear hands and his front hands should be in varada and abhaya mudra. The image in this cell is shown with one head and four hands. Rear hands are shown carrying lotus and akshamala; one lower arm is in abhaya and another on the waist. There are two ganas (goblins) on the top, on either side of Subramanya, one on left is holding adanda/flag-post while having a pustaka in his arm-pit while that on right is shown holding a bowl of offerings. There are two devotees sitting on ground, with one hand raised in adoration and another placed on their chests. Both are shown in jata-mukutas and wearing yajnopavita.
There is an inscription, found by Dubreuil, on the floor, in Pallava-Grantha script reading ‘Malla’, which is a local tribe name and usually suffix of Pallavas. However Dubreuil suggests that this could be ‘Mamalla’ suggesting that this cave was excavated in the reign of Narasimhavarman I Mamalla.
The central shrine is little projected forward in comparison to the other subsidiary shrines. The Dvarapalas are shown in side-views, wearing yajnopavita and karanda-mukuta. The left one is holding a lance in one hand and other hand is on his waist, while the right one’s one arm is resting on a club and another is on his waist. Inside the cell is an image of Shiva who is shown standing in sambhaga posture.
He is shown with four arms, in his upper hand he is holding a parasu (axe) and akshamala (rosary of beads) and his one lower hand is in abhaya mudra and another resting on his thigh (katyavalambita). Tow ganas (goblins) on top are shown with one hand raised in adoration and another on their bent knees. Two devotes are shown below, one squatting on the ground and holding a flower in one hand and other hand on his knee, while the other one is shown holding flowers in both the hands in anjali mudra. There is a lingam inserted into the base, however this is a later addition.
The rightmost cell is dedicated to Vishnu. The Dvarapalas are shown in side-views, wearing kirita mukutas and yajnopavita. One hand of theirs is in suchi mudra and other is in vismaya mudra. Inside the cell is an image of Vishnu, standing in sambhaga posture. He is shown with four hands, in upper hands holding asankha and chakra while one lower hand is in abhaya and another is resting on his thigh in Katyavalambitamudra. Two ganas (goblins) are shown on top with one hand raised in adoration. Below are shown two devotees, bent in similar fashion in adoration to the Lord.
There is a niche on southern most part of the rock where an image of Durga is carved under a makara-torana. Durga is shown standing over a buffalo-head, representing demon Mahishasura. She is shown with eight hands; in her right hands she holds chakra (discus), khadga (sword) and ghanta (bell) while in her left hands she holds shankha (conch), dhanush (bow) and khetka (shield). Her remaining one left hand is inabhaya mudra and one right hand is on her thigh.

K R Srinivasan puts this shrine to the early period of Parameshvaravarman I on the basis of its architectural style. R Nagaswamy puts this to Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha as he suggested that all the monuments at Mahabalipuram are the construction of this king. G J Dubreuil suggested that this belongs to Narasimhavarman I Mamalla due to presence of the inscription reading ‘Malla’. A H Longhurst seems to agree with Dubreuil on this.

References