CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Siva Pancayatana, Abhapur (Polo)

Alambakkam came into prominence during the late Pallava and early Chola periods. It has temples of various religious sects and belief, village gods like Selliyamman and Ayyanar, Vishnu Varadaraja Perumal and Siva Kailasanatha. The Siva temple now called Kailasanatha was named in the past, according to the earliest inscriptions, Amaresvara Perumal temple. This is likely to have been a foundation of Pallava king Dantivarman (785 – 836 CE) rebuilt in the days of the early Cholas. The earliest Chola records on this temple are from the reign of Parantaka I (907 – 954 CE) and the temple also has inscriptions of later Cholas such as Rajendra I (1014 – 1044 CE). Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, p.103.

Siva temple complex , Kottayam, Kerala

Siva Temple, Abhapur (Polo)

Siva Temple, Adbhar, Chattisgarh

Dadapuram is a corruption of Rajarajapuram. The Siva temple (Ravikula-Manikka-Isvaram) and the Vishnu temple (Kundavvai Vinnagaram) in Dadapuram are buildings erected by sister of Rajaraja, Parantaken Kundavvi Pirattiyar during the reign of Rajaraja (985 - 1014 CE). According to an inscription, there was a third Jina temple which is not surviving. The two surviving Siva and Vishnu temples are almost identical. The superstructures (vimana) are covered with brick stucco. The two temples are important because they reveal for the first time in Tondaimandalam, an appreciation of the full potential of the Middle Colanadu architectural style. For example, base and elevation of the vimana are in likeness to monuments from metropolitan centres further south. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp. 231-232, D. Barrett, 1973, pp. 116-117.