wow...! What a nice historical photo...! I am sso much lucky...! Thank you sso much...!

This is something! Thank you for sharing. I will share too. It is too beautiful to keep it for myself.

: The Mamallapuram temple complex has the finest specimen of Pallava sculpture. The main construction was completed by Narasimhavarman I. Though the main temples are named after the Pandava family of Mahabharata, it has nothing to do with it. The Yudhisthira Ratha is the biggest in size and is a Saiva temple. Draupadi Ratha is mainly dedicated to Goddess Durga . Beside this, the beauty of the Mahisasurmardini caves is most remarkable along with the 'Descend of the Ganges' . Mahisasurmardini caves has the portrayal of Durga as the slayer of Mahisasur. The aura of the sculpture is such that if the scene is enacted infront of you. But there is a controversy over the 'Descend of the Ganges' scene. It is argued that it can also be Arjuna's Penance. Beside there is an open air gallery where animals have beatufully portrayed with satire. Amongst the Vishnu fogures, Anantasayana Vishnu is remarkable.

: Regarding Shore Temple, it is the first Pallava architecture constructed out of lime, mortar and stone. It preludes the Kailashnath Temple at Kanchipuram. It is believed to be seven temple complex but only one remaining. During the 2004 Tsunami, two did appeared but that needs further research . Shore temples are much later Pallava constructions compared to the Mamallapuram Rathas.

Shore temple fascinates me.The entire plan of the shore temple remains somewhat mysterious. Firstly the plan layout is definitely very unique. It has three deities in the same premises with the garbhagraha facing both east and west which is rarely seen in Hindu temples.Secondly the positioning of the temple facing the sea raises many questions in our mind owing to its unusual position and also to the intention of its creators, the plan of the shore temple is not according to custom.. The underlying idea was the cell under the highest vimana opens directly on the sea, not only to permit the first eastern light of the sun to illuminate the cell but also, perhaps, to allow sailors to pay homage to the deity from their approaching boats.

Positioning of the temple by the sea may have served another purpose for the Pallava rulers. In addition to being artists and temple builders , the Pallava were also great seafarers, carrying trade and Hinduism across southest asia. Mammallapuram was said to have been a sea port right from the beginning of the Christian era. An 8th Century Tamil text written by Tirumangai Alwar who described this place as Kadal Mallai, ‘ where the ships rode at anchor bent to the point of breaking laden as they were wealth big trunked elephants and gems of nine varieties in heaps. The epigraphical sources also say that the Pallava kings had active overseas contact Ceylon (Srilanka), China and the Southeast Asian countries. A few roman coins of Theodasius(4th Century A.D.) were found which suggests that Mahabalipuram had trade contacts with the roman world around the Christian era.Pallava king Simhavarman led two ships from Mamallapuram –Pallava embassy and Vajradanti, the famous Buddhist monk sailed to china from Mamallapuram port. Thus the above discussion proves that Mamallapuram had been an important port and the shore temple positioned at a strategic point served as a landmark by day and a beacon by night, as out amongst the breakers still rises a stone pillar on which a lamp would be placed to shine across the waters and guide the mariner to his anchorage.

The builders of this temple should be complimented for their vision in building a temple facing the sea with eastern and western facing sanctum sanctorum. The symbolic representation is unique and praise worthy. Shows how were ancient builders had spiritual concept in building activity. It is amazing indeed, but we have ignored it because of our ignorance!

I AM LUCKY ,THAT I HAVE SEE THIS TEMPLE WITH MY WON EYES.