Mahendravadi Rock Cut Cave Temple, Vellore
Mahendravadi
Rock Cut Cave Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at
Mahendravadi Village in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. This Rock Cut Cave
Temple was constructed by Mahendravarman
I. The cave temple is formed by completely scooping out a large free-standing
boulder. The sanctum sanctorum houses an image of Lord Narsimha. Among the
seven rock cut caves accompanying the inscriptions of Mahendravarman I,
Mahendra-Vishnugriha, is the lone rock cut cave temple dedicated to Vishnu
(Murari). The inscription in the Mahendra – Vishnugriha (Mahendravadi) mentions
about the presence of Mahendra-Thataka (Mahendra Lake) around
Mahendravadi.
History
This
cave temple is maintained by Archeological Society of India, belongs to the
period of Pallava King, Mahendra Varman I (AD 580-630). According to the
inscriptions, this was excavated by Gunabhara on the bund of a large tank
called Mahendra Thataka in the city of Mahendrapura. This village, erstwhile a
big town was established by a Pallava King, Mahendra
Varman I, who was ruling the great Pallava kingdom. It was considered that the historical town extended
its boundary from the existing Mahendravadi as Mela Veedhi (West Street) and
Keezh Veedhi (East Street). Kilvidhi is a village located at the distance of
4.5 km from Mahendravadi.
The
Parpana street and Big Street shows evidence of a very old house system in
culture and towards worship of Lakshmi Narayan and Siva. There are two old
temples, namely Siva Temple and Lakshmi Narayanan Temple, which define the
history of the village. It was believed that these temples were from the
Pallava Period. There was a huge tank and fort in this village in the olden
days.
The Rock
Cut Cave Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Connectivity
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brief details, please refer below link;
