Tri Murti Caves - Mamallapuram

There is no limitation to the euphoria of Pallava sculptors. Hence, there is no end to the riddles in the form of exceptional monuments in Mamallapuram. Tri Murti Caves is another example of their unique experiments. 

Being the most completed cave shrine among the Mamallapuram monuments, the west-facing Tri Murti Caves is one of the best creations of the Pallavas in the town. Architecturally, it differs from most of the other cave shrines. Unlike them, it does not have a pavilion in its front (Mukha mandapa). 

All three shrines follow the common platform. The central shrine is given importance as it is slightly projected forward. 

Tri Murti usually denotes three Supreme Deities, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. However, this temple has Subramanya instead of Brahma as the third deity.

Subramanya 

The northernmost shrine is dedicated to Subramanya. He is found in the form of Brahma Shasta. As per the legend, Subramanya took over the role of Brahma once. As he performed the task of creating the universe, he is called Brahma Shasta. In this form, he holds objects that Brahma typically has.

There are five relief images in the shrine. The central figure is Brahma Shasta. He is standing in a samabhanga posture on a lotus pedestal. He wears the conical kirita makuta as his crown. He has two large cylindrical ear-rings resembling palmyra leaves called Patra kundalas. The cross-chain called channa vira is found across his chest. Usually, the warriors wear this cross belt. He has four arms. His upper left arm holds aksha mala (rosary beads). What he holds in his right upper arm is not clear. It might be a lotus or kamandalu (pot). His lower right arm is in abhaya mudra. He rests his other lower arm on his waist. He wears kati bandha and another additional short cloth around his waist.

Additionally, a broad flat band called Udarabandha can also be seen around the abdomen. His wrists are adorned with bangles called kankanas. He wears kanthika around his neck and bahuvaalayas around his biceps of the upper parts of all his arms. A short dagger hangs down from his waist belt and touches his right thigh.

(Depending on how the body is bent or inflections, the posture can be classified into five types: Samabhanga, Abhanga, Dvibhanga, Tribhanga and Atibhanga. If the figure is in equipoise, the pose is called Samabhanga. Here, the icon's right and left sides are disposed of symmetrically.)

(Kirita makuta is a conical or cylindrical crown with a lot of ornamentation.)

(Abhaya mudra - It is the gesture of fearlessness and protection. Here, the hand is held up with an open palm.)

(The ornament worn around the waist like a belt is called Kati bandha.)

(Bahuvaalaya is an armlet or an armband of metal usually worn around the biceps of the upper arm.) 

Companions of Brahma Shasta

On top of either side of Subramanya, two flying dwarf Ganas are found. 

The Gana on the north side holds an object which looks like a stylus in his right arm and a leaf book under his armpit. His left hand is raised up in adoration. He wears a Rudraksha yagnopavita in Upavitam fashion.

The Gana on the south side also wears a similar yagnopavitam and has his right hand raised up in adoration. He carries a pot with offerings in his left arm.

(Rudraksha refers to a particular type of dried stone fruits, used by Shaivites as prayer beads.)

(Yagnopavitam is the sacred thread worn over the body. There are three positions in it. If it is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm, it is called Upavitam. If it is worn in the reverse order, it is called Prachinavitam. If it is worn around the neck and over the chest, it is called Nivitam.)

Two devotees are found kneeling down at the bottom of the shrine, on either side of Subramanya. Both have inner arms raised in adoration and the outer arm placed on the chest. They both wear jata makutas on their heads, patra kundalas on their ears, and vastra yagnopavita flat like a band over their chests.

(Jata makuta - Matted hair ornamentally coiled to form a tall crown.)

(Vastra - cloth)

Dwarapalas of Brahma Shasta

The characteristics of Dwarapalas (door-keepers) suggest that they are related to Brahma or someone performing the role of Brahma. Both are primarily identical sculptures. They sport a beard, have jata makutas, and wear vastra yagnopavitams of three strands, flat like a band, in upavitam fashion. Their lower garments extend up to their ankles. Both face the shrine holding flower in the inner arms and resting outer arms on the hip. The Dwarapala on the north additionally has a ladle in his right arm.

Shiva 

The central shrine is dedicated to Shiva, the central figure among the five relief images. He is standing in a samabhanga posture on a lotus pedestal. He has jata makuta as his headdress. He has two long ear-rings resembling the mythical animal makara called Makara kundalas. He has four arms. He has parasu (axe) in his upper right arm and aksha mala (rosary beads) in the upper left arm. His lower right arm is in abhaya mudra. He rests his other lower arm on his waist, called katyavalambita hasta. He wears kati bandhaaround his waist. His wrists are adorned with bangles called kankanas. He wears kanthika around his neck and a thick yagnopavitam in Upavitam fashion.  

Companions of Shiva

On top of either side of Shiva, two flying dwarf Ganas are found. Both have their inner arms raised up in adoration and the outer arms resting on their respective bent knees. Both have jata makutas as their headdress, patra kundalas on their ears, and wear yagnopavita in upavitam fashion.

There are two devotees found kneeling down at the bottom of the shrine, on either side of Shiva. Each one kneels in a unique pose. The devotee on the north holds a flower in his right arm and rests his other arm on his thigh. The other devotee has his both arms together, holding a bunch of flowers. They both wear jata makutas on their heads, patra kundalas on their ears, and yagnopavita over their chests. 

A Shiva Linga without base (aavudai) is additionally found in the shrine. It is definitely a later addition.

Dwarapalas of Shiva

The Dwarapalas (door-keepers) are different from each other. Both face the shrine. Both wear karanda makutas on their heads, patra kundalas in their ears, and yagnopavitams in upavitam fashion. But the yagnopavitams differ in materials and thickness. The Dwarapala on the north holds a tall lance and a small shield in his left arm. His right arm is on his hip, called kati hasta. The Dwarapala on the south rests his right arm on a mace and has his left arm in kati. 

(Karanda makuta - The basket or bowl-shaped crown.)

Vishnu

The southernmost shrine is dedicated to Vishnu, who is the central figure among five relief images. He is standing in a samabhanga posture atop a lotus pedestal. He wears the conical kirita makuta as his crown. He has two long makara kundalas. He has four arms. His upper left arm holds shankha (conch). He has prayoga chakra in his upper right arm. His lower right arm is in abhaya mudra. He rests his other lower arm on his waist. He wears yagnopavita in upavitam fashion. He wears kati bandha around his waist. His wrists are adorned with bangles called kankanas. He wears kanthika around his neck and bahuvaalayas around his biceps of the upper parts of all his arms. A short dagger hangs down from his waist belt and touches his left thigh. His garment touches his ankles and is tucked in between the legs with a central pleated fold. This style is called kachcha. 

(Prayoga chakra - Discus ready to be hurled, with its sharp edge pointed outwards)

Companions of Vishnu

On top of either side of Vishnu, two flying dwarf Ganas are found. Both have their inner arms raised up in adoration and the outer arms resting on their respective thighs. Both have kirita makutas as their headdress and patra kundalas on their ears. The Gana on the south wears yagnopavitam. The knot of their lower garments is clearly visible on their abdomens.

Two devotees are found kneeling down at the bottom of the shrine, on either side of Vishnu. Both have their inner arms raised up in adoration and the outer arms resting on their thighs. They both wear karanda makutas on their heads, patra kundalas on their ears, and yagnopavita over their chests.

Dwarapalas of Vishnu

The Dwarapalas (door-keepers) of Vishnu stand sidewise and face the shrine. Both wear kirita makutas on their heads, patra kundalas in their ears and yagnopavitams in upavitam fashion. They display suchi and vismaya mudras in their arms.

(Suchi mudra - It is a hand gesture, where the hand is in the fist, with the index finger extended and held upright and straight)

(Vismaya mudra - It is the hand gesture of surprise or wonder)

Durga

Besides the three shrines mentioned above, there is a Koshta (niche) in the south. It contains a beautiful sculpture of an eight-armed Durga. She is standing in samabhanga on the head of a deceased buffalo with large ears and horns. It represents Mahisasura.  

She holds prayoga chakra, shankha, khadga (large sword), dhanush (bow), ghanta (bell), and khetaka (shield) in her six arms. The remaining two arms are in abhaya and kati mudras.

She wears kirita makuta as her headdress and large patra kundalas on her two ears. She has a narrow kuchabandha (breast band) and channavira. Her garment that reaches down to her anklets is secured with a kati bandha. 

It is worth observing the differences between her channavira and Subramanya's channavira. The material and the wearing style are different.

Makara Torana

Durga's niche has two pilasters on either side. The rectangular flat plates on the top of the pilasters are called Phalakas. Over them, two mythical creatures called Makaras, with riders on top, are seen. Their floriated tails curl out and hang down on the sides. 

The floral designs are thrown up from the mouths of makaras, which result in the formation of two arches. There are figures carved inside these two arches. Both the arches meet in the mid-point, supported by a lotus-shaped bracket. Over the loop, there is a carving with a lion face. It is called simha-lalata. 

This decorative canopy set at the niche entrance, with the prominent presence of a couple of makaras, is called Makara torana.

Architecture

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the cave temple has no mandapa on the front side. Hence, it is an unusual architectural style. Among all the cave temples of Pallavas, only Kilmavilangai follows this style.

The cave shrine is excavated on the entire height of the rock, which was already vertical to a great extent. As explained in detail, there are three shrines and a niche on the south found. There was probably a plan to excavate another niche on the north side. 

The rock-cut stairs are provided to reach the shrines and niche, located slightly above the ground level.

All three shrines have two niches on either side at the entrance. Each niche is flanked by two pilasters. Over the beam and below the corbel, a frieze of hamsa (swan) birds with two lions towards the end is found. On the cornice, the kudus (horseshoe-shaped decorative motif) with human faces are seen. There are four kudus on the cornice of the central shrine and two kudus each on the adjacent shrines.

Above the cornice, we can find the frieze of Vyalas (called Vyalavari) and further above a series of sub-shrines. Atop the shrine of Subramanya, there are three oblong-shaped miniature shrines called Sala. However, the two mini shrines at the corners are not entirely sculpted. A Sala mini shrine is flanked by two square-shaped mini shrines called Kuta atop the central shrine. They are connected with a covered pathway called harantaras. Above the shrine of Vishnu, two Sala and one Kuta miniature shrines are found. The shrines on the corners are partially sculpted. 

Each sala shrine has a single stupi (pinnacle), and each kuta shrine has two stupis above. Also, the curved roofs of harantara (called salakara) carry stupis on top. All the mini shrines have kudu arches on their front faces.

Gopi's Churn

A circular-shaped well is found in front of the cave temple. It is called Gopi's Churn. Some people mistake it for Draupadi's Bath.

Inscriptions

On the steps of the shrine of Subramanya, it is inscribed as "Malla" in Pallava Grantha. It probably mentions the Pallava King who built the shrine.

There is another Pallava Grantha inscription on the well.

Happy travelling.