Adi Varaha Temple,
Mamallapuram – The Temple
This temple is one of the best preserved and most
complete specimens of the rock cut architecture at Mamallapuram. The temple has
been modified with extra structures, most probably during the sixteenth century
CE when the town witnessed resurgence during the Vijayanagara period. A modern
structure, in front of the temple, restrict the view to its original shrine. The
original edifice is a west facing cave temple, measuring 30 feet x 14 feet x
11.5 feet. The cave is excavated into a hall consisting of two bays. This is
supported on four pillars and two pilasters. The pillars are of lion-base
variety with octagonal shafts.
The sanctum is adorned with a mandapa in front, flanked
with dvarapalas on either side. One of the dvarapala has shankha and one has
chakra carved on his head, which suggests that the shrine was dedicated to
Vishnu. The shrine cut in the centre at the back wall of cave is dedicated to
Lord Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The original idol is
completely plastered, painted and covered with stucco.
Varaha is shown with four arms and carrying Bhu Devi
(the mother Earth). He is facing west and in standing posture. Presiding Deity
is sculpted on the rock with his left leg placed on a Naga King and Queen and
with his left hand on Thayar’s lap. Mother is called as Agilavalli Thayar and
Utsavar is Gnana Piran. There are also stone idols of Rudra, Brahma, Goddess
Lakshmi and Durga inside this cave temple.
Gangadhara:
Shiva is represented as Gangadhara in one of the panels.
Gangadhara seems to be a famous and frequented icon during the Pallava period. He
is shown with four hands, in one of his hand, he is holding his tresses to
accommodate Ganga. Ganga, in her female form, is shown in one corner,
descending towards the held tresses. There are no attendants, devotees, mounts
or other figures in this panel such as the god and the lady are left alone to
carry out their business.
Brahma:
There is a Panel for Brahma opposite to Gangadhara Panel.
He is shown with four hands, carrying rosary in one hand, placed one hand on
his waist and one hand in abhaya-mudra. He is standing alone, with no companion
or devotes.
Gaja
Lakshmi:
The north side wall also has another panel of
Gajalakshmi. The panel of Gaja Lakshmi is similar to that in the other Varaha Cave.
Lakshmi is found seated on a lotus flower and holds flower in her arms. She is
accompanied with four attendants. Two attendants on either side of her carrying
flowers and the other two attendants were with vessels carrying water. One
elephant is pouring water on the Goddess whereas another elephant is trying to
pick the vessel from one attendant.
Vishnu:
There is a panel for Lord Vishnu in the south side of
the wall to the left of the sanctum. Lord Vishnu is with four arms. Two
devotees are shown kneeling near his feet. It is notable as Lord Vishnu is
generally found lying on the serpent. Here, Adi Sesha is found in a separate
panel standing next to Vishnu.
Adi
Sesha:
There is a panel for Adi Sesha next to Lord Vishnu in
the south side of the wall to the left of the sanctum. The idol of Adi Sesha,
the divine serpent is found in the human form. He is shown with seven hooded in
the panel.
Hari
Haran:
There is a panel for Hari Haran (a form of Shiva and
Vishnu) on the right side of the entrance of the sanctum. He is shown with four
hands carrying Parasu (axe) and chakra (discus). He is shown standing below an
umbrella or parasol. Two devotees, one on either side, are shown near his feet.
Mahishamardini:
There is a majestic panel depicting Mahishamardini
opposite to Gaja Lakshmi Panel. She is shown with eight hands, carrying shankha
(conch), chakra (discus), bow, sword, shield and a bell. A parrot is perched on
her lower left arm wrist and it seems to be looking at what she is holding in
her lower right hand. She holds a blood-bowl as held by Chamunda or Kali. She
stands in a tribhanga posture above a severed buffalo head. The buffalo would
be representing the demon Mahishasura.
Behind Durga is a standard top of which is in form of a
trishula (trident). A lion and a deer, both are mounts of Durga, are shown in
the upper corners. Near these animals are ganas, one on either side of Durga.
She is accompanied with two female guardians, one bearing a bow and one sword
and shield. There are two devotees near her feet. One of the devotees is in the
process of cutting flesh from his arm.
Portrait
Sculptures:
There are the portraits sculptures of
the Pallava kings and also bear inscriptions however the identity of these
kings has not yet reached consensus among the scholar community. A King seated
in sukhasana posture on a seat with two of his queens standing beside him can
be seen in one of the panels. One of his hand shows Chin Mudra. He is shown
with minimal jewellery. The inscription above this panel reads, “the glorious Athiraja Simhavinna-Potrra (Simhavishnu-Pota)”.
This Pallava king has been identified with the Pallava king Simhavishnu.
There is another panel
displaying another Pallava king opposite to the above panel. The king is shown
standing with his two queens, and he has raised one hand pointing towards the
Durga panel. He is holding hand of one of his queens, who might be the senior
or chief queen. The inscription above the panel reads “the glorious Athiraja
Mahendra-Pottra”. This king has been identified with the Pallava king
Mahendravarman I. These label inscriptions were engraved above the two
portraits panels more than century after the creation of the temple.
There are two other
important sculptures found in this cave shrine. A king with two of his queens
following him can be found in one of the sculptures. All are found in the
standing posture. Another sculpture has the king in the sitting posture whereas
his queens are standing on his either sides. As per the inscriptions, the kings
are identified as Simhavishnu and Mahendravarman.
Secret
Tunnel:
An interesting feature at the temple is the entrance to
a secret 15 Kms long tunnel (now shut) that was once an underground route to
the Nithya Kalyana Perumal temple in Thiru Vidanthai. One also finds such a
secret passage at Parameswara Vinnagaram (Vaikunda Perumal) Divya Desam in
Kanchipuram which once led to Mamallapuram almost 70 Kms east.
