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