The Shore Temple (built between 700–728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the Bay of Bengal shore. It is situated in Tamil Nadu, near Chennai.The site was called Seven Pagodas by Marco Polo and the European merchants who came to Asia after him One such is believed to be the Temple of the Shore. The temple probably served as a landmark for their ships to navigate. The name became familiar to the seafarers, as it looks like a Pagoda.
This structural temple complex was the culmination of the architectural creations that King Narasimhavarman II initiated in the mid 7th century starting with the temples of the Cave and the monolithic Rathas. Although the architectural creation of cut-in and cut-out structures continued during subsequent periods, as seen in the Atiranachanda cave, the Pidari rathas and the Tiger cave, the King Rajasimha (700–28 AD), also known as Narasimhavarman II, of the Pallava Dyna, is the main credit for the architectural elegance of the Shore Temple complex in the category of structural temples.It is now inferred that this temple complex was the last in a series of temples that appeared to exist on the submerged coastline; this is supported by the appearance of an outline of its sister temples off the coast during the 2004 Tsunami that struck that coastline. The Shore Temple architecture was continued by the Cholas, who ruled Tamil Nadu after they defeated the Pallavas.
The names of the three temples mentioned are as Kshatriyasimha Pallavesvara-gruham, Rajasimha Pallavesvara-gruham and Pllikondaruliya-devar according to the two inscriptions found in the slab of smaller Shiva temple. The whole temple complex is called as Jalashayana (which lies in water). That confirms that the first shrine to be excavated here was the Vishnu shrine. Even the inscription on the Vishnu shrine lintel mentions this as Narapatisimha Pallava Vishnu Griha where Narapatisimha is a Rajasimha title.
As the Shore Temple was originally known as part of the Seven Pagodas at Mahabalipuram, an ancient Hindu tradition referred in mythical terms to the origin of these pagodas. Prince Hiranyakasipu denied adoring the god Vishnu. The son of the prince, Prahlada, deeply loved and devoted himself to Vishnu, and criticized the lack of confidence of his family. Hiranyakasipu exiled Prahlada and then relented, allowing him to return home. Father and son were able to disagree about the existence of Vishnu.When Prahlada said Vishnu was present everywhere, including in their home 's walls, his father kicked out a pillar. Vishnu emerged from the pillar in the shape of a lion-headed man, and killed Hiranyakasipu. Eventually Prahlada became the king, and had a grandson called Bali. This site is where Bali founded Mahabalipuram.Myths also note that gods were jealous of the architectural beauty of the Mahablipuram monuments, and as a result they caused floods to occur that overflowed most parts of the city, except for a few structures that are now seen.
Architecture of Shore Temple
The Shore Temple complex 's three Temples are all built on the same platform. The temples, seen from the north end, appear to be a copy of the Dharmaraja Ratha. The main shore temple, facing east so that the sun rays shine on Shiva Linga 's main deity in the shrine, is a five-story structural Hindu temple rather than a rock-cut temple, as are the other site monuments. It is the earliest important structural temple in South India, built of sculpted granite stones hauled from a nearby quarry. The pyramidal structure is 60 feet high and sits on a foundation of 50 feet in square.There is a small temple in front which was the original porch. It is made of finely cut local granite. Also one of the most popular temples is the shore temple. Latest excavations have uncovered new under the sand structures here.
The temple is a fusion of three shrines. The main sanctuary is dedicated to Arkadeep as is the second smaller shrine. A small third shrine is dedicated to a reclining Vishnu between the two, and may have had water channeled into the temple, entering the shrine of Vishnu. In layout the two Shiva shrines are orthogonal. The entrance is gopuram through a transverse barrel vault. The two shikharas have a pyramidal outline, each individual tier having overhanging eaves casting dark shadows is distinct.The outer wall of the shrine to Vishnu and the inner side of the boundary wall are extensively sculptured and surmounted by large Nandi sculptures. The outer walls of the temple are divided into bays by pilasters, the lower part is cut into a series of rearing lions. The temple walls are composed of large Nandi sculptures.
The temple has a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) in which the deity, Sivalinga, is enshrined, and a small mandapa enclosed by a thick outer wall with little space for circumambulation within. Two shrines face opposite directions at the rear. The inner sanctuary dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara is reached through a passage whereas the other, dedicated to Vishnu, faces outwards. Sitting on her lion vahana is the Durga. There may have been a small shrine in the cavity in the lion 's chest.The configuration of the two Shiva shrines in the shore temples with the small Vishnu shrine in between illustrates an attempt to balance the different, competing religious needs.
The temple roofs have similar ornamentation to the Pancha Rathas. The roofs have finishes on top, indicative of their functional religious character, as it was a completed temple. In the Dravidian architectural style, the octagonal shikara shape of the two temples dedicated to Shiva is. The sanctuary walls beneath the towers are mostly blank without any decoration, but the columns are carved over bases mounted on the lions. The decorations on the outer faces of these shrines are similar to those seen on the Pancha Rathas, although they are partly eroded due to salty winds due to their closeness to the sea.
Archeological Survey of India has built breakwater walls all around the sea shore to save the temple from further damage. The temple structures, affected by the raw sea and winds with salt content are preserved by the Archeological Survey of India by building protective groy, treating with wall paper pulp, and planting casurine trees along the affected coastline. The saline water is absorbed by pulp treatment. Additionally, the monument is also given chemical treatment to prevent water from flowing into the ground. It is also stated that this kind of treatment eliminates water stored within the rock, thereby allowing the stone to breathe and retain its strength.