Pidari Ratha & Mukunda Nayanar Temple, Mamallapuram
Pidari Ratha
The Pidari Rathas are two incomplete rathas and
similar in style with Pancha Pandava Ratha group, hence could be
assigned to the same period. Both are two storeys design where the upper part
of the ratha is complete but the lower portion is very little done.
Both of them are carved in different profile, one has a square roof and another
has an octagonal roof. On the ridges of the roofs are seen floral creepers,
similar to Draupadi Ratha. Regular arrangement of mini shrines over the
cornice is also found here. In one of the ratha we also see pilasters
supporting the cornice; however the other one has not still reached to that
state of completion.
Pidari Rathas are located on the other side of the town, almost at
the border of the town. Most of the monuments are located at the heart of the
town and on the hill. Only Pidari Rathas and Valayankuttai Ratha are located at
the remote location.
Pidari Rathas are two incomplete rathas; one ratha faces east direction
whereas the other one face north. Both the rathas have two storeys. The shoe
faced windows with human faces carved within are found on the cornice. In one
of the rathas, the makara torana is carved in the niche in the side wall. It
clearly shows an early Southern Type Hindu temple with a Shikara on the top.
Mukunda Nayanar Temple
This temple was buried under 12 feet of sand and was excavated at
the same time when Saluvankuppam excavations were carried out. This lies
little far from town, on the way towards Saluvankuppam.
This is a small temple which is very similar to Dharmaraja Ratha in its
architecture and design. This east facing double storey temple, thought
assigned to Rajasimha’s period, does not have rampant lion pillars, which
are very characteristic features of his style and are found in all the temples
attributed to him. The temple has ardha-mandapa supported on two pillars
and two pilasters.
The pillars are circular in shape with diminishing diameter
towards the upper end. Above the cornice is seen regular arrangement of mini
shrines interconnected via cloisters. The corner shrines are with square roof
however the middle one is with oblong roof.
These mini shrines separate the first storey with the ground one.
On the first storey are seen niches on all four sides, however all are empty.
The ardha-mandapa leads into a square garbha-griham. On the back
wall of this sanctum is
a Somaskanda panel.
Shiva is shown seated with Uma and
baby Skanda, while Vishnu and Brahma are shown standing
behind them. Skanda is shown seated in Parvati’s lap. The style is very
similar to the other such panels of Rajasimha’s time. The presence of this
panel supports the theory of its assignment to Rajasimha. There is
a Shivalingam installed in front of this panel, however it seems to be a
later addition.
