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662:(approximately 1.3 billion years ago, as per the Vishnu Purana) by Maharishi Medha to a king named Soorut, as an incident which occurred in times ancient for even the 2nd Manvantara. Mahishasura is described as an evil being who can change his outer form, but never his demonic goals. According to Christopher Fuller, Mahishasura represents the forces of ignorance and chaos hidden by outer appearances. The symbolism is carried in Hindu art found in South Asia and South-East Asia (e.g., Javanese art), where Durga is shown as a serene, calm, collected and graceful symbol of good as she pierces the heart and kills the scared, overwhelmed and outwitted Mahishasura.
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436:(Sun) is carved on the top part of the panel, between Brahma and Vishnu. A separate Brahma panel carving appears on the back wall of the left chamber, while the right chamber is repeated with a panel of Shiva that, according to the opinion of archaeologists, wasoriginally meant to host a panel of Vishnu. Another interpretation mooted for the dominance of Shiva panels in this cave is that the religious leaning of the Kings who ruled at that time changed from
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Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu, who are shown standing behind the main image of Shiva and
Parvathi. The carving of the trinity gods gives the impression that they are pleased with the seated couple of Shiva, his consort and their son. In the individual depiction, Brahma is carved with four heads and four
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rock face of a hill. The verandah cut at the cave entrance, long and calumniated, has a composition of three chambers; the central chamber entrance depicts guardians (dwarapalas) on the flanks. The back wall of the central chamber features a carving of a
Somaskanda panel; this panel is carved with
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The cave shrine faces east and has three chambers. Its internal dimensions are 32 feet (9.8 m) in length, 15 feet (4.6 m) in width, and 12.5 feet (3.8 m) in height. There is frontal projection of the main central chamber when compared to the two chambers which flank it. In the front
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kings
Mahendra Varman I and Rajasimha or Narasimhavarman I known as Mamalla. This style was continued by Mamalla's son Parameshvaravarman I. Historical research has also confirmed that Mahabalipuram town came to be established only after it was named after Mamalla and the caves and rathas are all
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on the cornice; these are unfinished carvings. The cornice also depicts carvings of five gable-roofed semi-complete shrines. The façade has four carved pillars and two pilasters at the ends, which are part of the façade and are carved in the traditional
Pallava architectural style. The central
594:- the killer of Madhu, and Kaitabhajit - the victor of Kaitabha. The bodies of Madhu and Kaitabha disintegrated into 2 times 6 — which is twelve pieces (two heads, two torsos, four arms and four legs). These are considered to represent the twelve seismic plates of the Earth.
344:(mistakenly called a Mahishasura temple) is situated near this cave at a vantage location which provides scenic views of Mamallapuram. The area is a high security zone as there is a nuclear power station a few kilometers to the south; hence, photography is prohibited.
444:. Additionally, the Somaskanda panel in this cave is of a different architectural composition than similar panels carved in Dharmaraja Ratha, the Shore Temple, and the Atiranachanda Cave. Archeologists suggest the panel here was created during the reign of Rajasimha.
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The cave is dated to the period of king
Narasimhavarman Mahamalla (630–668 AD) of the Pallava dynasty, after whom the town is also named. The cave architecture is also said to be a continuation of the great religious themes that were carved in
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606:. This panel symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The carving is considered one of the best creations of the Pallava period. In the war scene, Durga appears with eight hands riding a fierce-looking lion. She is holding a
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inscribed in 1984. This Cave Temple has many interesting architectural features of which three exquisitely carved reliefs on the cave walls of three sanctums are prominent. One is of
301:. The cave reflects a transitional style of architecture in its columns mounted on seated lions and frescoes carved on the walls inside the cave which evolved during the rule of
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420:; the lower right hand is shown raised in an appreciative gesture to Shiva, while the left hand is in a kataka mudra. Vishnu's carving is also depicted with four hands;
654:, which is part of Markandeya Purana. The story of Mahishasura is told in the chapter where Markandeya is narrating the story of the birth of Savarnika Manu. Per the
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642:(dwarfs). She is shown attacking, with arrows, the demon Mahisha, causing him to retreat with his followers. Mahishasura is armed with a
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are held in his upper hands, with the lower left hand showing a gesture of appreciation to Shiva, and the lower right hand held up in a
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Mahishasura
Mardhini Cave or Mantapa is situated on the top of a hill range along with other caves in Mahabalipuram town, on the
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336:, it is approximately 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Chennai city (previously, Madras) and about 20 miles (32 km) from
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The north wall in the cave contains a relief depicting the battle scene of the two adversaries, goddess Durga and the demon
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The mandapa is one of the most important caves in
Mahabalipuram. It is dedicated to the goddess
237:. It is a rock-cut cave temple located on a hill, near a lighthouse, along with other caves in
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822:"General view of the façade of the Yamapuri or Mahishasuramardhini Cave Temple, Mamallapuram"
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241:. Mamallapuram, also popularly known as Mahabalipuram, is a small village to the south of
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gets enraged and hisses flames at them emerging from its hoods and attacks the demons.
384:, who is considered an incarnation of the goddess Durga. The mandapa is carved into the
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340:. A lighthouse is located beside it. A structural temple of the 8th century called the
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364:(entrance porch), which has two carved pillars with lion bases in the Pallava style.
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638:) over Durga's head. She is in the battlefield with her army of female warriors and
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558:, It states that during the creation, the asuras Madhu and Kaitabha stole the
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534:. The other scene in the panel, is at its lower end, where three figures; his
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to pacify him, which forms a cover over Vishnu's head and the other hand with
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hisses at them with flames emerging from its hoods attack the demons.
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707:"General view of the entrance to the Varaha Cave Temple, Mamallapuram"
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The
Journal (afterw.) The Madras journal of literature and science
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646:(club). Mahishasura's legend is told in the major texts of the
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Asia and
Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places
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façade of the cave are 10 horseshoe-shaped windows which are
622:(bell) in her four right hands; her four left hands display
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Avatharam. He killed the demons and retrieved the Vedas to
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The
Somaskhanda Panel of Shiva Parvati and their son Skanda
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seated between them. This panel also shows the carving of
1035:
The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India
550:(Vishnu's sword) on the right and the female figure is
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hands, with the upper hands holding a water vessel and
272:, another of Durga, the main deity of the cave temple
658:, the story of Mahishasura was narrated in the second
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On the southern face of the cave, there is a panel of
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Trudy Ring; Robert M. Salkin; Sharon La Boda (1995).
977:"Mahabalipuram – The Workshop of Pallavas – Part II"
554:. This carving explains the legend mentioned in the
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in their regal dress, each wearing a crown known as
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678:Madras literary society (1881). J.C. Morris (ed.).
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1092:Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization
1038:. Princeton University Press. pp. 108–109.
590:. This led to Vishnu being offered the epithets
306:attributed to his reign during the year 650 AD.
1068:. University Press of America. pp. 96–97.
468:, (a reclining posture), lying on the bed of a
492:. The demons are in a position of retreat, as
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917:. Asian Educational Services. pp. 157–.
8:
849:. Asian Educational Services. pp. 30–.
284:, and the third sanctum has a sculpture of
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1095:. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 195–198.
233:dating from the late 7th century, of the
756:. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 35–.
397:and other ornamentation, with their son
1006:www.wisdomlib.org (24 September 2017).
883:. Taylor & Francis. pp. 912–.
843:G. Jouveau-Dubreuil (1 December 1994).
670:
451:Front View of the Ananthashayani Pannel
268:reclining on the seven hooded serpent,
1297:Archaeological monuments in Tamil Nadu
816:
814:
1065:Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power
729:"Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram"
7:
1008:"Kaitabha, Kaiṭabha: 17 definitions"
570:was the only god who could save the
514:(his personified weapons); the male
1312:7th-century establishments in India
1143:Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
824:. Online Gallery of British Library
790:. Orient Blackswan. pp. 124–.
630:, and dagger. An attendant holds a
316:Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
255:Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
684:(Public domain ed.). p.
508:(dwarfs). The Dwarfs are Vishnu's
25:
1032:Fuller, Christopher John (2004).
914:South Indian Shrines: Illustrated
29:Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India
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784:Rina Kamath (1 September 2000).
405:(bull), Shiva's mount (Vahana).
389:images of Shiva and his consort
121:
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48:Mahishamardini Rock Cut Mandapam
983:. puratattva.in. Archived from
500:who is unconcerned, is patting
57:
1287:Hindu temples in Mahabalipuram
911:Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1982).
574:so they wanted to attack him,
360:chamber is fronted by a small
37:Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple
1:
981:Mahishasurmardini Cave Temple
582:Pacifies Sesha and takes the
846:Pallava Antiquities – 2 Vols
253:. The temple is part of the
231:Indian rock-cut architecture
225:(Cave Temple; also known as
84:Vishnu, Durga and Somaskanda
1302:Hindu cave temples in India
223:Mahishasuramardhini Mandapa
1343:
1219:Mahishasuramardini Mandapa
313:
35:Mahishasuramardini Mandapa
18:Mahishasuramardini mandapa
1307:7th-century Hindu temples
1224:Panchapandava Cave Temple
1195:
1089:Zimmer, Heinrich (1990).
109:
41:
1062:Amazzone, Laura (2012).
650:traditions known as the
212:Inscribed in 1984 under
130:Shown within Tamil Nadu
750:Shobhna Gupta (2003).
452:
377:
140:Geographic coordinates
1261:Olakkannesvara Temple
1240:Descent of the Ganges
1177:Nakula Sahadeva Ratha
450:
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342:Olakkannesvara Temple
74:Kancheepuram district
1327:Pallava architecture
407:Chandeshvara Nayanar
334:Kanchipuram district
1317:Caves of Tamil Nadu
262:World Heritage Site
229:) is an example of
162:12.6167°N 80.1917°E
158: /
1322:Tamil architecture
1254:Structural temples
1214:Varaha Cave Temple
946:"Arjuna's Penance"
753:Monuments Of India
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382:Mahishasuramardini
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1102:978-81-208-0751-8
1075:978-0-7618-5314-5
1012:www.wisdomlib.org
924:978-81-206-0151-2
890:978-1-884964-04-6
856:978-81-206-0571-8
797:978-81-250-1378-5
763:978-81-241-0926-7
709:. British Library
656:Markandeya Purana
524:, and the female
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461:Anantasayana
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430:kataka mudra
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368:Architecture
362:mukhamandapa
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330:Indian Ocean
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276:slaying the
239:Mamallapuram
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214:Asia-Pacific
209:Inscriptions
178:Architecture
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1233:Rock relief
1172:Bhima Ratha
991:23 February
952:30 December
713:18 November
604:Mahishasura
592:Madhusudana
580:Maha Vishnu
489:Gada (mace)
457:Maha Vishnu
438:Vaishnavism
282:Mahishasura
165: /
60:Affiliation
1281:Categories
1017:21 October
930:7 February
896:7 February
828:23 October
803:7 February
769:7 February
735:8 February
666:References
660:Manvantara
618:(arrows),
338:Chingelpet
247:Tamil Nadu
153:80°11′30″E
150:12°37′00″N
97:Tamil Nadu
862:3 January
610:(sword),
584:Hayagriva
417:akshamala
310:Geography
270:Adishesha
216:of UNESCO
201:Temple(s)
193:Completed
691:18 March
648:Shaktism
602:-headed
502:Adisesha
494:Adisesha
475:Adisesha
442:Shavisim
391:Parvathi
89:Location
71:District
65:Hinduism
54:Religion
787:Chennai
636:parasol
614:(bow),
612:dhanush
600:buffalo
552:Bhudevi
470:serpent
426:shankha
386:granite
328:of the
324:of the
303:Pallava
292:History
278:buffalo
243:Chennai
227:Yampuri
183:Creator
102:Country
1150:Rathas
1099:
1072:
1042:
921:
887:
853:
794:
760:
632:chatra
628:sankha
620:ghanta
608:khadga
588:Brahma
568:Vishnu
564:Brahma
547:Khadga
544:form,
537:chakra
521:Shanka
498:Vishnu
459:in an
422:chakra
399:Skanda
348:Layout
266:Vishnu
259:UNESCO
640:ganas
576:Sesha
572:Vedas
562:from
560:Vedas
506:ganas
480:Lotus
465:mudra
434:Surya
403:Nandi
356:kudus
286:Shiva
274:Durga
251:India
105:India
94:State
80:Deity
1097:ISBN
1070:ISBN
1040:ISBN
1019:2022
993:2013
954:2012
932:2013
919:ISBN
898:2013
885:ISBN
864:2013
851:ISBN
830:2012
805:2013
792:ISBN
771:2013
758:ISBN
737:2007
715:2008
693:2013
644:gada
624:pasa
616:bana
531:gada
526:gana
516:gana
424:and
257:, a
440:to
1283::
1054:^
1010:.
979:.
962:^
813:^
686:98
626:,
482:.
288:.
249:,
1135:e
1128:t
1121:v
1105:.
1078:.
1048:.
1021:.
995:.
956:.
934:.
900:.
866:.
832:.
807:.
773:.
739:.
717:.
695:.
634:(
204:1
20:)
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