Posted on: 30 July 2012

The Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram - 1825

Watercolour of the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, by John Gantz, c. 1825. Inscribed: 'N W View of two ancient Temples by the Seaside. Mahabilipoorum. J. Gantz'.

John Gantz and his son Justinian ran a lithographic press, but are remembered best for their watercolours of flat-top houses and public buildings in and around Chennai (Madras), dating to the first half of the 19th century. Though not British-born, they both lived and died in India, in the service of the East India Company. Mamallapuram, a tiny village south of Chennai, was a flourishing port of the Pallava dynasty from the 5th - 8th centuries. The site is famous for a group of temples, a series of rock-cut caves and some monolithic sculptures created in the 7th century. 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.

Copyright © The British Library Board


 View Post on Facebook

Comments from Facebook

Informative painting

Thank you for sharing an important information...

nice temple of ancient period

drool...

Rajasimha built Shore Temple during ( 700 – 728 ) AD.It is the first structural temple made from stone, lime and mortar. It has three sanctuaries dedicated to Siva and Vishnu and is the earliest important structural temple in Southern India. The temple had a number of sculptures which are now damaged due to wear and tear of weather and the super plaster applied on the sculptures leading to original works being shadowed. The figures on the enclosure is so much eroded that it cannot be recognised. An interesting scene is carved on the north side of the enclosure wall. Six ascetics appear in a group in the upper panel. One ascetic is standing on one leg in an act of penance and below is a cat, a monkey and two deer are present which seems to be inspired from the open air composition of Narasimhavarman , the first. To the west, is a human size image of Durga’s lion where Durga is shown sitting astride the lion’s right thigh. This depicts the control of Durga over the lion. There is a small niche seen on the chest of the lion which is said to be small receptacle where an image of Durga is also carved. There are three Somaskanda panel having four armed Siva on a rectangular seat in Sukhasana having two armed Parvati at his left in Umasahita. Skanda being seated in between is enjoying parental affection. Kiritas are long in this relief where surfaces are flat and figures are somewhat short. Brahma and Vishnu being shown standing behind Siva depicting that though Brahma generates the universe and Vishnu operates it, it is Siva who is maintaining the equilibrium of the cosmos who can either destroy or create . So the importance of Siva is more within the Trinity. On the back wall , the image of Durga with her ganas are carved . The posture of the ganas with weapons in hand indicates they are waiting for her orders looks in the manner of the Mahisasurmardini panel. The attitude of Durga is relaxed though dynamic who is resting one leg upon lion holding a long bow.

Ms.Amita Roy - Thanks for the narration. Did visit this place about 2 years back, but it was Arjun's Penance that fascinated me the most - the largest bas reliefs in the world, carved during mid 7th century and carved on the two adjoining monolithic rocks. The total length of Arjuna's Penance is around 96 feet. But I fear that in the near future Kalpakkam Nuclear Power will be the centrestage of Mahabalipuram's history.

which place ?