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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Mahishasuramardini Mandapa<br>Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple
| image = Mahabalipuram Mahishasura 2.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Mahishamardini Rock Cut Mandapam
| coordinates = {{coord|12.6167|80.1917|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = India
| state = Tamil Nadu
| district = Kancheepuram district
| location =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vishnu, Durga and Somaskanda
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture =
| temple_quantity = 1
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions = Inscribed in 1984 under [[List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia|Asia-Pacific]] of UNESCO
| year_completed = Mid-7th century
| creator = [[Pallava dynasty]]
| website =
}}
'''Mahishasuramardhini Mandapa''' (Cave Temple; also known as '''Yampuri''')<ref name="Morris1881">{{cite book|author=Madras literary society|editor=J.C. Morris|title=The Journal (afterw.) The Madras journal of literature and science|url=https://archive.org/details/journalafterwma00unkngoog|accessdate=18 March 2013|edition=Public domain|year=1881|page=[https://archive.org/details/journalafterwma00unkngoog/page/n110 98]}}</ref> is an example of [[Indian rock-cut architecture]] dating from the late 7th century, of the [[Pallava dynasty]]. It is a rock-cut cave temple located on a hill, near a lighthouse, along with other caves in [[Mamallapuram]]. Mamallapuram, also popularly known as Mahabalipuram, is a small village to the south of [[Chennai]], in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref name="library">{{cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho000001003u02213000.html|title=General view of the entrance to the Varaha Cave Temple, Mamallapuram|publisher=British Library|accessdate=2008-11-18|archive-date=21 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521183718/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho000001003u02213000.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The temple is part of the [[Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] inscribed in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/|title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram|publisher=World Heritage|accessdate=2007-02-08}}</ref> 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 [[Vishnu]] reclining on the seven hooded serpent, [[Adisesha|Adishesha]], another of Durga, the main deity of the cave temple [[Durga]] slaying the [[Water Buffalo|buffalo]] headed demon [[Mahishasura]], and the third sanctum has a sculpture of [[Shiva]].<ref name="Gupta2003">{{cite book|author=Shobhna Gupta|title=Monuments Of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4r5iLMVGkAC&pg=PA35%7Caccessdate%3D7+February+2013%7Cyear%3D2003%7Cpublisher%3DHar-Anand+Publications%7Cisbn%3D978-81-241-0926-7%7Cpages%3D35%E2%80%93%7D%7D%3C%2Fref%3E|accessdate=7 February 2013|year=2003|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=978-81-241-0926-7|pages=35–}}</ref><ref name="Kamath2000">{{cite book|author=Rina Kamath|title=Chennai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bw2vDg2fTrMC&pg=PA124|accessdate=7 February 2013|date=1 September 2000|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-250-1378-5|pages=124–}}</ref>

==History==
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.<ref name=View>{{Cite web|url= http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho000001003u02214000.html|title= General view of the façade of the Yamapuri or Mahishasuramardhini Cave Temple, Mamallapuram|accessdate= 23 October 2012|publisher= Online Gallery of British Library|archive-date= 18 October 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221018134628/https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho000001003u02214000.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> The cave architecture is also said to be a continuation of the great religious themes that were carved in [[Western India]]. 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 [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] kings Mahendra Varman I and Rajasimha or Narasimhavarman I known as Mamalla. This style was continued by Mamalla's son Parameshvaravarman I.<ref name="Jouveau-Dubreuil1994">{{cite book|author=G. Jouveau-Dubreuil|title=Pallava Antiquities – 2 Vols.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=itsryymCeLgC&pg=PA30|accessdate=3 January 2013|date=1 December 1994|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0571-8|pages=30–}}</ref> 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 attributed to his reign during the year 650 AD.<ref name="RingSalkin1995">{{cite book|author1=Trudy Ring|author2=Robert M. Salkin|author3=Sharon La Boda|title=Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vWLRxJEU49EC&pg=PA912|accessdate=7 February 2013|year=1995|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-884964-04-6|pages=912–}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram}}
Mahishasura Mardhini Cave or Mantapa is situated on the top of a hill range along with other caves in Mahabalipuram town, on the [[Coromandel Coast]] of the [[Bay of Bengal]] of the [[Indian Ocean]]. Now in the [[Kanchipuram district]], it is approximately {{convert|58|km}} from Chennai city (previously, Madras) and about {{convert|20|miles}} from [[Chengalpattu|Chingelpet]].<ref name="Ayyar1982">{{cite book|first=P. V. Jagadisa |last=Ayyar|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA157|accessdate=7 February 2013|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0151-2|pages=157–}}</ref>

==Layout==
The cave shrine faces east and has three chambers. Its internal dimensions are {{convert|32|ft}} in length, {{convert|15|ft}} in width, and {{convert|12.5|ft}} in height. There is frontal projection of the main central chamber when compared to the two chambers which flank it. In the front façade of the cave are 10 horseshoe-shaped windows which are ''[[gavaksha|kudus]]'' 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 chamber is fronted by a small ''mukhamandapa'' (entrance porch), which has two carved pillars with lion bases in the Pallava style.<ref name=Mahishi>{{Cite web|url= http://puratattva.in/2010/08/04/mahabalipuram-the-workshop-of-pallavas-part-ii-44.html|title= Mahabalipuram – The Workshop of Pallavas – Part II|work= Mahishasurmardini Cave Temple|accessdate= 23 February 2013|publisher= puratattva.in|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120421061449/http://puratattva.in/2010/08/04/mahabalipuram-the-workshop-of-pallavas-part-ii-44.html|archive-date= 21 April 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Mahabalipuram Mahishasura 5.jpg|right|thumb|The Somaskhanda Panel of Shiva Parvati and their son Skanda]]
The mandapa is one of the most important caves in Mahabalipuram. It is dedicated to the goddess [[Mahishasuramardini]], who is considered an incarnation of the goddess Durga. The mandapa is carved into the [[granite]] rock face of a hill. The verandah cut at the cave entrance, long and calumniated, has a composition of three chambers;<ref name=View/> 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 images of Shiva and his consort [[Parvathi]] in their regal dress, each wearing a crown known as ''kirita-mukuta'' and other ornamentation, with their son [[Murugan|Skanda]] seated between them. This panel also shows the carving of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] (bull), Shiva's mount (Vahana). [[Chandeshvara Nayanar]], an ardent devotee of Shiva, is carved to the left of the carved images of the [[Triple deity#Eastern religions|trinity gods]] 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 hands, with the upper hands holding a water vessel and ''[[akshamala]]''; 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; [[chakra]] and [[shankha]] 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 ''kataka mudra''. The image of [[Surya]] (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 [[Vaishnavism]] to [[Shivaism|Shavisim]].<ref name=Mahishi/> 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.<ref name="Mahishi" />

[[File:Anantasayi Panel Mahishasuramardini Temple Mahabalipuram Sep22 D72 24966.jpg|thumb|centre|700px|Front View of the Ananthashayani Pannel]]

On the southern face of the cave, there is a panel of [[Vishnu|Maha Vishnu]] in an [[Anantashayana Vishnu|Anantasayana]] ''[[mudra]]'', (a reclining posture), lying on the bed of a [[serpent (symbolism)|serpent]]. He is shown with two hands, one is patting the coil of the Thousand-headed serpent known as ''[[Adisesha]]'' to pacify him, which forms a cover over Vishnu's head and the other hand with [[Nelumbo nucifera|Lotus]]. [[Madhu-Kaitabha]], the two demons, are carved near Vishnu's feet in an attacking mode, armed with a ''[[Gada (mace)]]''. The demons are in a position of retreat, as ''Adisesha'' hisses at them with flames emerging from its hoods attack the demons. [[Vishnu]] who is unconcerned, is patting [[Shesha|Adisesha]] to pacify him. Also shown in the panel are the two ''ganas'' (dwarfs). The Dwarfs are Vishnu's ''[[ayudhapurusha]]s'' (his personified weapons); the male ''gana'' is known as ''[[Panchajanya|Shanka]]'', and the female ''gana'' is Vishnu's ''[[Kaumodaki|gada]]''. The other scene in the panel, is at its lower end, where three figures; his ''[[Sudarshana|chakra]]'' (discus) in ''ayudha-purusha'' form, ''[[Nandaka|Khadga]]'' (Vishnu's sword) on the right and the female figure is [[Bhudevi]].<ref name=Mahishi/> This carving explains the legend mentioned in the [[Bhagavata Purana]], It states that during the creation, the asuras Madhu and Kaitabha stole the [[Vedas]] from [[Brahma]], and deposited them deep inside the waters of the primeval ocean. [[Vishnu]] was the only god who could save the [[Vedas]] so they wanted to attack him, [[Sesha]] gets enraged and hisses flames at them emerging from its hoods and attacks the demons. [[Maha Vishnu]] Pacifies Sesha and takes the [[Hayagriva]] Avatharam. He killed the demons and retrieved the Vedas to [[Brahma]]. This led to Vishnu being offered the epithets [[Madhusudana]] - the killer of Madhu, and Kaitabhajit - the victor of Kaitabha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-09-24 |title=Kaitabha, Kaiṭabha: 17 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kaitabha#purana |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> 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.
[[File:06 MahishamardiniMandapa 02 P1190239 MahishasuraMardini.jpg|alt=Mahishasura Mardini panel|center|thumb|700x700px|Mahishasura Mardini panel]]
The north wall in the cave contains a relief depicting the battle scene of the two adversaries, goddess Durga and the demon [[Water buffalo|buffalo]]-headed [[Mahishasura]]. 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 ''khadga'' (sword), ''dhanush'' (bow), ''bana'' (arrows), ''ghanta'' (bell) in her four right hands; her four left hands display ''pasa'', ''sankha'', and dagger. An attendant holds a ''chatra'' ([[parasol]]) over Durga's head. She is in the battlefield with her army of female warriors and [[ganas]] (dwarfs). She is shown attacking, with arrows, the demon Mahisha, causing him to retreat with his followers. Mahishasura is armed with a ''gada'' (club).<ref name="Mahishi" /> Mahishasura's legend is told in the major texts of the [[Shaktism]] traditions known as the [[Devi Mahatmya]], 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 [[Markandeya Purana]], the story of Mahishasura was narrated in the second [[Manvantara]] (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.<ref name="Fuller2004p108">{{cite book|first=Christopher John|last=Fuller|title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=To6XSeBUW3oC&pg=PA108 |year=2004|publisher= Princeton University Press|isbn=0-691-12048-X|pages=108–109}}</ref><ref name="amazzone96" /> 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.<ref>{{cite book|first=Heinrich|last=Zimmer|title=Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jJmFDPkwj50C&pg=PA195|year=1990|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0751-8|pages=195–198}}</ref><ref name="amazzone96">{{cite book|first=Laura|last=Amazzone|title=Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PM_TNDu8NHUC|year=2012|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=978-0-7618-5314-5|pages=96–97}}</ref>

==References==
{{commons category|Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple}}
{{Reflist|35em}}

{{Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Mahabalipuram]]
[[Category:Mahabalipuram]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindu cave temples in India]]
[[Category:7th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:7th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Caves of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Architecture of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Pallava architecture]]

Mahishasuramardini Mandapa - Revision history

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