Shore Mandir, Tamil Nadu, IN

Deities: Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu
Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil NaduBuilt in: 7th centuryAttraction: One of the earliest structural temples in South India
Significance: Listed as World Heritage Site

The Shore Temple (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 build on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mamallapuram, a tiny village south of Chennai 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 II. Mamallapuram was its original name. It was changed in course of time to Mahabalipuram.

The shrines have a square lower storey and a pyraidal superstructure. The tower is more tapering than the monolithic structures. A sixteen sided polished Siva Linga - in the bigger shrine. There are Somaskanda panels in the rear walls of the Siva shrines.

The site is famous for the rock-cut caves and the sculptured rock that line a granite hill, including one depicting Arjuna's Penance as well as for other temples in the area. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India. A few years ago and they are probably the most photographed monuments in India.

The main shrine faces the sea on the east and the gateway, the forecourt and the assembly hall of the Shore Temple lie behind the sanctum. The temple has shrines to both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The main sanctum and one of the two lesser ones on the west are dedicated to the Shiva. The enclosing wall has a series of Nandi bulls on it.

Interconnected cisterns around the temple meant that the sea could be let in to transform the temple into a water shrine. A stone wall as been added to protect the shrine from the rising seas and further erosion in the recent times. There are three temples of which two Shiva Temples face east and west respectively. The other one is the Vishnu Temple. The Vishnu temples were built by Narasimha Varman I and the other two were built by Narasimha Varman II. One can find the beautifully carved twin Dwarka Palaks (gate keepers) at the entrance of the east facing Shiva Temples. On both sides of the temple inside are the marvelous sculptures of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu with their better halves. The top part of the Shivalinga figure inside the temple is found damaged. There are sculptures of Somaskanda - lord Shiva with his better half, Parvati, and his sons, Skanda and Ganesha are found on the near wall. Apart from Lord Shiva’s sculpture, one can find the sculptures of Narasimha and Goddess Durgha also.

The central shrine is in the form of a rectangle. It has a magnificent statue of lord Vishnu which is known as Sthala Shayana Perumal or Ananthasayana which means sleeping Vishnu. The peculiarity about this particular temple is - Vishnu reclines on the floor listening silently the sounds of names. The figure of Vishnu is found in segments which are to be looked through various doors. The other sculpture is portrayed in such a may that Lord Vishnu seated in mount Garuda helping Gajendra, the elephant, found in the southern wall and the northern wall is the portrayals from the life of lord Krishna. The grand temple is surrounded by mandapas and compound walls. There is a rock-cut of a lion rode by two young women. The lion has a small cut, a square shaped cut in its belly. A Huge rock near by the temple has been the target of the waves to touch it from the ancient days. There is also a carving of a buffalo demon running with a stick in his hand, located in the northern side. The temple looks beautiful due to the lights during weekend evenings.

Architecture:
The shrines have a square lower storey and a pyraidal superstructure. The tower is more tapering than the monolithic structures. A sixteen sided polished Siva Linga - in the bigger shrine. There are Somaskanda panels in the rear walls of the Siva shrines. These temples are refreshingly uncluttered, unlike later grandiose Dravidian architecture. The enclosure features two shrines that honor Shiva, facing Eastern and Western directions; superimposed between these two is a third shrine that honors Vishnu, as preserver of the Universe. He is depicted reclining on the serpent Sesha, a Hindu symbol for consciousness. The art in the sculpted panels of the temple laid emphasis on robust earthly beauties, imbibed with life. The sculptures are breathtakingly real and artistic. The Shore temple is not a living temple. It is speculated that this edifice was constructed essentially as a work of art rather than as a place of worship. The Pallavas who built this temple were great patrons of the arts and were very influential in their distinctive character of temple architecture. The lion was a prominent symbol of their regime. Shore Temple generates an exclusive combination of history and natural splendor. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset. In the words of Percy Brown, Shore Temple served as "a landmark by day and a beacon by night".

The Pallavas were followers of Jainism but the conversion of Mahendra Varman to Shaivism had drastic consequences on the future of Jainism and it also explains the Shiva and the Vishnu temple at Mamallapuram.

How to reach:
One can easily reach Shore Temple by taking regular Buses or by hiring Taxis from anywhere in Tamil Nadu.

Visit www.eTirth.com for more information on Temples, Ashrams, Gurus, Festival and Daily Panchangam (Hindu ephemeris).

If you love to read visit www.KathaVarta.org for Religious stories.

Last but not least, if you want to visit above Holy Pilgrimage, please contact and visit our associate partner www.YatraKhoj.com and e-mail at yatrakhoj@yahoo.com.