Mahabalipuram

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MAHABALIPURAM built largely during the reigns of
Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman,
showcase the movement from rock-cut architecture
to structural building. The mandapa or pavilions and
the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are
hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed
Shore Temple, erected half a century later, is built
from dressed stone. What makes Mamallapuram so
culturally resonant are the influences it absorbs and
disseminates. The Shore Temple includes many bas
reliefs, including one 100 ft. long and 45 ft. high,
carved out of granite.The modern city of
Mahabalipuram was established by the British in
1827ð
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The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic,
and constitute the early stages of Dravidian
architecture whereinBuddhist elements of design are
prominently visible. They are constituted by cave
temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs
and structural temples. The pillars are of the
Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent
examples of Pallava art.
It is believed by some that this area served as a
school for young sculptors. The different sculptures,
some half finished, may have been examples of
different styles of architecture, probably
demonstrated by instructors and practiced on by
young students. This can be seen in the Pancha
Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different
style.
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Arjuna's Penance - relief sculpture on a massive scale extolling
an episode from the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata.
Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the

7th century.
The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of

Bengal with the entrance from the western side away from the
sea. Recent excavations have revealed new structures here. The
temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after
being washed away in a cyclone.
Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal

structures named after
the Pandavas(Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva)
and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that,
despite their sizes they are not assembled ³ each of these is
carved from one single large piece of stone.
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The Ê (700-728 CE) is so named because
it over looks the Bay Of Bengal. It is a structural
temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the
8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking
out into the Bay of Bengal atMamallapuram, a village
south ofChennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
The village was a busy port during the 7th and 8th
century reign of the Pallava Dynasty during the reign
of Narasimhavarman.
It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut)
stone temples of South India.

The Shore Temple is a five-storeyed
structural HINDU temple rather than rock-
cut as are the other monuments at the site.
It is the earliest important structural temple
in Southern India. Its pyramidal structure is
60 ft high and sits on a 50 ft square
platform. There is a small temple in front
which was the original porch.It is made out of
finely cut local granite.The shore temple is
also one of the most popular temples. Recent
excavations have revealed new structures
here under the sand.

The Shore Temples configuration of the

two Shiva shrines with the small Vishnu
shrine in between illustrates an attempt
to balance the different, competing
religious requirements.
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There are various references to the
word Poduke, a port town on the coromandal
coast, in history.According to tradition, the
town was once upon a time an abode of
scholars well versed in the Vedas and hence
came to be known as Vedapuri. During the
days ofOttakoothar and Kambar in the 11th
and 12th centuries, Puducherry was known in
its shortened form as Puthuvai.
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Sri Aurobindo -British India freedom

fighter and religious reformer
The Mother-Sri Aurobindo`s close
spiritual collaborator, born
in Paris, France.
Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau -French
Governor General

Pondicherry still retains much evidence of its
history as a French colony. The design of the
city was based on the French grid pattern and
features neat sectors and perpendicular
streets. The entire town is divided into two
sections, the French Quarter and the Indian
quarter.
There is also French influence in the layout of
the city. The numbering of the houses is
unique compared to other cities in Tamil
Nadu, in that all with the even numbers are on
one side and the odd number are on the
opposite side of the road.

Y (
) is an "experimental"
township in Viluppuram district in the state
of Tamil Nadu, India
near Puducherry in South India. It was
founded in 1968 by Mirra Richard (since her
definitive settling in India called "[The]
Mother") and designed by architect Roger
Auger.Auroville is meant to be a universal
town where men and women of all countries
are able to live in peace and progressive
harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all
nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to
realize human unity.

Auroville was founded as a project of Sri Aurobindo
Society on Wednesday 28 February, 1968 by Mirra
Alfassa, "The Mother". She was an equal spiritual
collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who believed that "man
is a transitional being". The Mother expected that
this experimental "universal township" would
contribute significantly in the "progress of humanity
towards its splendid future by bringing together
people of goodwill and aspiration for a better world."
The Mother also believed that such a universal
township will contribute decisively to the Indian
renaissance.The Government of India endorsed the
township, and in 1966,UNESCO also endorsed it
inviting the member-states to participate in the
development of Auroville. UNESCO re-endorsed
Auroville four times more in the course of the last 40
years citation needed

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Although originally intended to house 50,000,
the actual population today is 2,007 (1,553
adults and 454 minors), coming from 44
nationalities, 836 of whom are of Indian
origin.The community is divided up into
neighborhoods with English, Sanskrit, French
and Tamil names like Aspiration, Arati, La
Ferme, andIsaiambalam.

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Auroville is composed of a cluster of
properties some 12 km north of Pondicherry.
It can be easily reached via the East Coast
Road (ECR) which connects Chennai and
Pondicherry. The visitor centre
andMatrimandir can be reached by travelling
eight kilometres westwards from the
signposted turnoff at the ECR. Turning east
leads directly to Auroville's private beach
called Repose, several hundred metres away

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Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the

The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of

Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal

The Shore Temples configuration of the

Sri Aurobindo -British India freedom

Main form used in Matrimandir is

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Mahabalipuram

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c 

 Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the

 The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of

 Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal

 The Shore Temples configuration of the

 Sri Aurobindo -British India freedom

 Main form used in Matrimandir is

You might also like

c

Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the

The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of

Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal

The Shore Temples configuration of the

Sri Aurobindo -British India freedom

Main form used in Matrimandir is