Draupadi Ratha - Mamallapuram

By Indian Columbus - December 26, 2021

If I miss the Five Ratha Complex and still claim to have visited Mamallapuram, people might literally laugh at me. Yes! It is one of the most picturesque and famous monuments of the heritage-rich town.

My previous post in this blog gives a detailed introduction to Five Rathas. As it is a series of articles, if you have not yet read that, please access this link and go through the content. - Five Rathas in Mamallapuram

This article exclusively covers Draupdai Ratha alone. I will continue to cover the other four Rathas in my subsequent posts.

(Note: I wrote about most of the monuments in Mamallapuram about ten years ago in my blog. This series of articles is my attempt to provide much detailed coverage on all aspects of Pandava Rathas.)

Draupadi Ratha is the smallest shrine in the Pancha Ratha Complex. The west-facing structure is the first temple on the premises and is located in the northern end.

Its superstructure (vimana) resembles a hut with a conical roof. This particular style of temple architecture was not followed in the later years, with a few exceptions like the golden vimana of Chidambaram Nataraja. Interestingly, a particular style of temple architecture named Char-chala, resembling this model, came up in the 17th century CE in Bengal.

This type of thatched-roofed huts would have been common in the earlier days in Tamil Nadu region. In ancient Tamil texts such as Silappadhikaram, there are references about a particular type of temple called "Kuchchara Kudikai". Possibly, these temples were in the form of huts. Some scholars like Sri Nagaswami believe that Draupadi Ratha might have been constructed based on that model.

The Unique Vimana

The temple is constructed on a high-rise platform supported on alternating elephant and lion heads frieze. It shares this platform with the neighboring Arjuna Ratha.

Frieze

A central cell (shrine) is constructed over a square platform measuring 11 feet on each side. Its curvilinear roof reaches the height of 18 feet. The foliage and creeper designs are found at the corners of the roof. The finial (stupi), placed above the top, was missing for several years. It was discovered a few years ago and is kept on the floor near the temple.

Stupi kept on the floor

The shrine facing the west side measures 6.5 feet by 4.5 feet. On the back wall, the image of Durga is found. She is also called Kottravai. Most of Mamallapuram temples had paintings or bas-relief images in the sanctums. Draupadi Ratha is an exception, where a life-sized sculpture is enshrined.

Here, Durga is found standing on a lotus pedestal in a samabhanga posture. (If the body is placed upright in perfect balance, it is samabhanga). She has four arms. She holds chakra (discus) and sankha (conch) in her upper arms. Her left upper arm and conch are completely damaged now. The discus is in Prayoga chakra form, meaning it is twisted and ready to get released. Her lower right arm is in abhaya mudra (gesture of protection). Her right arm is partly damaged now. Her lower left arm rests on her waist. She wears breast-band without halter strap.

Durga

Besides Durga, there are six other figures found inside the sanctum.

Four dwarf Ganas, two on each side, are found on the upper side. Two Ganas near her appear to have raised their hands in adornment. (The right arm of the Gana on her true left side is damaged.) The other two Ganas at the extreme ends sport moustaches and they hold wide swords in their arms. Two out of four Ganas wear yagnopavita thread.

On the lower side, two devotees are shown. The devotee on the true right side holds his long tresses to make his neck tight in order to cut it with a knife. (His right arm is broken.) The devotee on the other side is shown offering flowers to Durga.

(The practice of a soldier cutting himself in nine places and sacrificing his life in front of Durga's icon is called Navakandam. It was considered a patriotic act done for the welfare of the kingdom in ancient Tamilagam.)

Durga along with six sculptures

The soldier sacrificing his life

The devotee offering flower

Ganas on the true-right side of Durga

Ganas on the true-left side of Durga

The entrance to the cell, on the west, has a makara torana with two bends above its lintel. Two Dwarapalikas guard the entrance. (Dwarapalika is a female door-guard.) The female guardian on the true right side of the door holds a long sword in her right arm. Her left arm rests on her hip (known as Kati posture). She stands stylishly. The right-side guardian has a bow in her right arm and rests her left arm on her hip. The quiver with arrows is found on her backside. She stands in her left leg and has her right leg crossed with the former one.

Durga in the northern niche

(What is a makara torana? Makara is a mythical creature which has no defined form. It combines the features of various sea and land animals. The combination of animals varies in various icons. But, all the icons have two common features for sure; its long and probing snout and its spread out tail. There are many deities depicted as riding different forms of makaras. Makara torana is an ornamental arch adoring the doorways and niches.)

Durga in the western niche

The niches on three other sides are topped with makara torana. All three niches have the images of Durga standing on the buffalo head of Mahisasura. Durga has four arms; she holds chakra and sankha in her upper arms; her lower right arm is in abhaya mudra, and her left lower arm rests on her hip. Only the east-side image is complete. The north-side sculpture is incomplete and Mahisa's head is missing. The south-side sculpture is crude and the work was not started properly.

Durga in the southern niche

A six feet high lion is carved in front of the western entrance. Lion is the mount of Durga and undoubtedly, this sculpture is associated with this shrine.

Happy travelling.