Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the village of Mandagapattu in the Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. Hewn from rock by the Pallava ruler Mahendravarman I in honour of the trinity Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu, the rock-cut cave temple is the oldest stone shrine discovered and dated in Tamil Nadu.[1][2] The temple is notable for the earliest known rock-cut Sanskrit inscription written in Grantha script. It is attributed to the Pallava king Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE).[3]
The inscription reads:
- EtadanishTamadrumamalOhamasudham vichitra chitEna nirmA pitanrupENabrahmEsharaviShNulakSitAyanam
Transliteration into Devanagari script:
- अतद्निष्टकंद्रुं(मलो)-
- हमसुधं (विचित्रचि)त्तेन
- निम्मर्पितन्न्रपे(ण) ब्रह्मो –
- श्वरविष्णुल(क्षि)तायनं
Translation:
- "The temple dedicated to Brahma, Siva and Vishnu was excavated by Vichitrachitta without using brick, timber, metal and mortar".
Gallery
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Floor plan of the Mandagapattu temple -
Sanskrit inscription -
Inscription, 2-D print -
The mukya and ardha mandapas -
One of three sanctums
References
- ↑ Sastri, p 690
- ↑ Karen Pechilis Prentiss (2000). The Embodiment of Bhakti. Oxford University Press. pp. 81–82. ISBN 978-0-19-535190-3.
- ↑ N. S. Ramaswami (1971). Indian Monuments. Abhinav Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-89684-091-1.
Bibliography
- K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, K.A (2000) [1935]. The CōĻas. Madras: University of Madras.