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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Olakkannesvara Temple
| image = Olakkanesvara Temple.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Olakkannesvara Temple
| map_type = Tamil Nadu
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|12.6167|80.1917|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| state = Tamil Nadu
| district = Kancheepuram district
| location = Mamallapuram
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian Architecture]]
| temple_quantity = 1
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = Early 8th century
| creator = [[Pallava Kingdom]]
| website =
}}
The '''Olakkannesvara Temple''' ("flame eye";<ref name="Sivaramamurti1978">{{cite book|last=Sivaramamurti|first=C.|title=Mahābalipuram|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=818dAAAAMAAJ|access-date=18 March 2013|year=1978|publisher=Director General, Archaeological Survey of India|page=18}}</ref> commonly '''Olakkanatha'''; also known as, "the Old Lighthouse")<ref name=byu.edu /> is in [[Mahabalipuram]] town, overlooking the [[Coromandel Coast]] of the [[Bay of Bengal]] in [[Kancheepuram District]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Like the [[Shore Temple]], the Olakkannesvara Temple is a structural temple.<ref>{{cite web|title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:UGpx4rvtvhgJ:unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0005/000582/058298EB.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiclT43K4pYesu2RTwN8K-W3pBjgRG8Z3gTVT32lrcwyrPefQ08QYQTFpWVa2d5kejg13B3fMvNQ1AjyrQS5EsSwNv0uwc1RcSrvrbULm72YEL3t8KEt3DQ7PtpT2bmhuUEihIB&sig=AHIEtbT56F8JyYBsbx9WXcS6n6TNxwRlrw|publisher=UNESCO|page=3|date=15 October 1982}}</ref> Built in the 8th century,<ref name=byu.edu>{{cite web|title=Olakkannesvara Temple|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/Saskia/id/9633|publisher=Brigham Young University}}</ref> it is situated directly above the [[Mahishasuramardini mandapa]] on a hillock which provides scenic views of the town. As the area is within a high security zone because of a nuclear power station a few kilometres to its south, photography is prohibited.<ref name="SinghKarafin2009">{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Sarina|last2=Karafin|first2=Amy|last3=Mahapatra|first3=Anirban|title=South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8KnLFpjEHpUC&pg=PA411|access-date=18 March 2013|date=1 September 2009|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74179-155-6|pages=411–}}</ref> The Olakkannesvara Temple is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a Mahishasura temple. It is dedicated to an incarnation of [[Shiva]].<ref name="Ward1991">{{cite book|last=Ward|first=Philip|title=South India: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa : a travel guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9NJAAAAAMAAJ|access-date=18 March 2013|year=1991|publisher=Oleander|isbn=978-0-900891-31-1|page=37}}</ref> It is one of the [[Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram]] that were designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 1984.<ref name="Unesco">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/|title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=2007-03-03
}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Durga temple or Olakkanneshvara Temple above the Mahshasuramardhhini Cave temple.jpg|left|thumb|Durga temple or Olakkanneshvara Temple above the [[Mahishasuramardhhini mantapa|Mahishasuramardhhini Cave temple]], [[Mahabalipuram]].]]
Commonly, the building has been known as the "Olakkanatha Temple". Its original name, however, was Olakkannesvara, a corruption of "Ulaikkannisvaram" (meaning: the temple of Siva whose forehead contains the crescent moon or eye of wisdom).<ref name="Mārg̲1969">{{cite book|title=Mārg̲|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A1jrAAAAMAAJ|access-date=18 March 2013|year=1969|publisher=Marg Publications|page=77}}</ref> Olakkannesvara is mistakenly called a Mahishasura temple as it is situated above the Mahishasuramardini mandapa (cave temple).

==Geography==
Olakkannesvara Temple is located in Mahabalipuram town. Facing east, the temple is accessed only be a series of cut steps on exposed rock. It is situated on the top of a hill, above the [[Mahishasuramardini mandapa]] near the modern lighthouse. It is approximately {{convert|58|km}} from Chennai city (previously, Madras) and about {{convert|20|miles}} from [[Chengalpet]].<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|access-date=7 February 2013|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0151-2|pages=157–}}</ref><ref name=Olak>{{Cite web|url=http://puratattva.in/2010/09/14/mahabalipuram-the-workshop-of-pallavas-part-v-41.html|title=Mahabalipuram – The Workshop of Pallavas – Part V – Structural Temples|work=Olakkanneshvara Temple|access-date=23 February 2013|publisher=Puratattva.in|date=4 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123031909/http://puratattva.in/2010/09/14/mahabalipuram-the-workshop-of-pallavas-part-v-41.html|archive-date=23 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The area is a high security zone as there is a nuclear power station about a few kilometers to its south.<ref name=SinghKarafin2009 />

==History==
Like the Shore Temple, the Olakkannesvara Temple was built during the reign of the [[Pallava dynasty]] king Rajasimha during the early 8th century.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cave temples of India|year=2019|last1=Sharma|first1=Dr. K.K.|first2=Dr. Amit Rai|last2=Jain|isbn=978-93-85754-64-7|publisher=Kitabwale|location=New Delhi|page=122-3}}</ref> Archaeologist [[Albert Longhurst]] observed that prior to the construction of the present lighthouse at this site in 1900, the roof of the Olakkannesvara Temple served as the lighthouse with perhaps a wooden shed structure on the roof.<ref name=Olak/><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=Olakkanneshvara Temple|access-date=23 February 2013|date=4 August 2010|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> Worship was offered in this temple till the nineteenth century.<ref name=Olak/><ref name=Mahishi/>

==Features==
[[File:Mahishamardini Rock Cut Mandapa.jpg|left|thumb|Olakkannesvara Temple]]
The structure is built of grey-white granite.<ref name="Tömöry1982">{{cite book|last=Tömöry|first=Edith|title=A history of fine arts in India and the West|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RTqAAAAMAAJ|access-date=18 March 2013|date=1 June 1982|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=9780861313211 }}</ref> The ''[[Sikhara|shikhara]]'' or tower of the temple is interpreted to have been built originally to the same style as the Shore Temple tower in [[Dravidian Architecture|Dravidian Architectural style]] but is now non-existent. A small ''ardha-mandapa'' (half hall) leads into a rectangular shrine. An unusual feature is that of the carving of ''dvarpalas'' (guards) of the main shrine, which are in half-profile though the space available could have used to make a full-face profile as per traditional practice of the front facing style. This is typical of Mahabalipuram Pallava style and a similar profile of ''dvarpalas'' is noted in the [[Trimurti Cave Temple]]. This is interpreted as a transition from the Mahendra style of architecture to the Rajasimha style; the transformation was from a full front facing to three-fourths and then to half profile facing each other. However, the guardians carved on the back wall of the temple are in full frontal profile.<ref name=Olak/><ref name=Mahishi/> The building was formerly lined with brick masonry.<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://books.google.com/books?id=PfkEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA120|access-date=18 March 2013|edition=Public domain|year=1881|page=120}}</ref>

On the exterior walls, there are two sculpted images in the niches of the ''ardha-mandapa''. Enclosed within pilasters, these images of Shiva as [[Kalantaka]] killing "Kaala" ([[Yama]]) are later additions, not attributable to the Pallavas. On external walls of the main shrine, there are other niches or ''devkoshtas''; on the south wall the sculpture is of Shiva as [[Dakshinamurti]] under a tree in seated posture, on the west face an image of [[Ravananugraha|Shiva and Parvati seated on Kailash Mountain with Ravana trying to shake the mountain]], and an image on the north wall is of Shiva in the posture of [[Nataraja]]. The sculptures are much ruined, and were plastered and painted over hence the originality is much less visible. There are a large number of lion pilasters on the walls. There are no images of any deity inside the temple.<ref name=Olak/><ref name=Mahishi/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Mahabalipuram]]
[[Category:Indian architectural history]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:7th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:7th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Dravidian architecture]]
[[Category:Pallava architecture]]

Olakkannesvara Temple - Revision history

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