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{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram temple
| image = சியமங்கலம் கோவில்.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Image of the temple complex
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|25|52|N|79|27|59|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]]
| location = [[Seeyamangalam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Stambeswarar([[Shiva]])
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Rock-cut architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram temple''' also called '''Stambeswarar Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located in the town of [[Seeyamangalam]], [[Tiruvannamalai district]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The temple is constructed in [[Rock-cut architecture]] by the [[Pallava]] king [[Mahendravarman I]] (600-630 CE) during the 7th century. The cave temple had later additions from the [[Chola]] and [[Vijayanagar Empire]].

One of the pillars has a sculpture of Nataraja, believed to be the earliest representation of the deity in South India. The temple has a small three-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'', the entrance tower. The temple is declared as a heritage monument and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] as a protected monument. The other side of the hillock houses the Jain beds established in the 9th century during the reign of [[Western Ganga Dynasty|Western Ganga]] King [[Rachamalla II|Rajamalla II]].

==History==
Stambeswarar temple was built during the reign of [[Pallava]] king [[Mahendravarman I]] (600-630 CE) during the 7th century. It is one of the earliest representations of Rock-cut architecture. The place is called Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram temple as Avani is one of the titles of King Mahendravarman.<ref name=business/><ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Civilization and Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KItocaxbibUC&dq=siyamangalam&pg=PA411|last=Chatterjee|first=Suhas|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|year=1998|isbn=9788175330832|page=411}}</ref> Though the image of the lions in the pillars lead to an assumption that the temple might have been possibly been initiated by [[Simhavishnu]], the father of Mahendravarman, the view is not accepted. The inscriptions, accounted in ''Epigrahia Indica'', is written in [[Sanskrit]] with Grantha-Pallava alphabet. The inscriptions indicate that it was dug out by Lalitankura, which is similar to that of cave temple in [[Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort]] indicating Mahendravarman.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Pallavas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6o9XCT3XiaMC&dq=siyamangalam&pg=PA31|page=35|last1=Jouveau-Dubreuil|first1=Gabriel |last2=Dikshitar|first2= V. S. Swaminadha|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1995|isbn=9788120605749}}</ref> The temple had later additions from the [[Chola]] and [[Vijayanagar Empire]]. The [[gopuram]], the gateway tower is believed to be an addition by the Vijayanagar kings.<ref name=business>{{cite news|title=The praying caves|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/the-praying-caves/article2834106.ece|publisher=Business Line|last=Sharath|first=Lakshmi|date=26 January 2012|accessdate=15 November 2015}}</ref> The other side of the hillock houses the Jain beds established in the 9th century during the reign of [[Western Ganga dynasty|Ganga King]] [[Rachamalla II|Rajamalla II]].<ref name=CPR/>

==Architecture==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
| total_width = 300
| width1 = 2235| height1 = 4311
| width2 = 2645 | height2 = 4608
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Seeyamangalam dvarapala1.JPG
|image2=Seeyamangalam dvarapala2.JPG
|footnotes=Image of [[Dvarapala]]s, the guardian deities
}}
The temple has a three-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'' a set of scattered shrines. The shrine of Stambeswarar is housed in the circular sanctum in a rock cut cave. There is a large pillared hall and narrow pillared Ardhmandapam leading to the cave sanctum. The shrine for [[Nandi (bull)|Nadi]] is located outside the pillared hall axial to the central shrine. The sanctum is guarded by two [[Dvarapalas]], the guardian deities. The sanctum houses the image of Shiva in the form of [[lingam]]. In the pillars, lotus is carved on the upper portion, while images of lion is seen in the lower half.<ref name=Pallava>{{cite book|title=Pallava Antiquities - 2 Vols.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QbYKPXQ3DaAC&dq=siyamangalam&pg=PA33|pages=33–35|publisher=Asian Educational Services|first=Gabriel|last=Jouveau-Dubreuil|year=1994|isbn=9788120605718}}</ref> The presiding deity is called Thoonandavar or Stambeswarar on account of the presence of two pillars in front of the temple.<ref name=CPR>{{cite web|title=Seeyamangalam|url=http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/Seeyamangalam_2921.aspx|publisher=C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre, Chennai|accessdate=16 November 2015|year=2011}}</ref> One of the pillars in the temple has one of the earliest representations of [[Nataraja]] (the dancing form of Shiva) in Ananda Thandava posture. There are two attendants of Shiva ganas of Nataraja, with one of them playing [[Miruthangam]] (a percussion instrument) and other in praying posture. The pillared hall has images of ''yalis'', the mythical creatures representative of Vijayanagar Art.<ref name=business/> The images of other attendant deities of Shiva are housed in smaller shrines around the sanctum.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QswOAAAAQAAJ&dq=siyamangalam&pg=PA170|page=170|last=Sewell|first=Robert |publisher=E. Keys|year=1882}}</ref>

==Natarja dance posture==
[[File:Seeyamangalam Natarajar.JPG|200x250px|thumb|Sculpture of Nataraja]]
[[Nataraja]] is the cosmic representation of Shiva's different dance forms. The temple has the earliest representation of Nataraja in sculpture. As per Hindu mythology, Shiva is a violent dancer and while he dances, a snake named Karkodaka winds in his legs, leading to Shiva performing the ''Bhujamgatrasa'', the snake fight posture. The sculpture of Nataraja in the temple depicts the posture.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Body of God : An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram|page=201|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMCxbOezDi4C&dq=siyamangalam&pg=PA656|last=D.|first=Dennis Hudson|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|year=2008|isbn=9780199709021}}</ref> Shiva is sported with four hands, with his one of the left hands showing ''dola hasta'' posture, ''parasu'' in the second left, ''Abhaya mudra'' (protecting posture) in the first right hand and fire in the second right hand. Archeologist Dr.R.Nagaswamy believes that the hooded snake at the foot of Nataraja is the proof of ''Bhujamgatrasa''. It is believed that all forms of dance are derived from ''[[Natya Sastra]]'' by sage Bharatha and Mahendravarma's knowledge of delicate postures are exemplified in the sculpture. He also affirms that by the image Mahendra shows the connection between ''bhujaṅga trāsita'' and that the dance of Nataraja, the cosmic form of Shiva leads to the Ananda.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Royal patronage to dance and music The pallava mārga|journal=Tamil Arts Academy|url=http://www.tamilartsacademy.com/journals/volume18/articles/article2.htm|last=Dr.R.|first=Nagaswamy|volume=18|accessdate=15 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190312/http://www.tamilartsacademy.com/journals/volume18/articles/article2.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Worship and religious practices==
The temple is declared as a heritage monument and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] as a protected monument.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Monuments and Sites: Vellore sub-circle|url=http://asichennai.gov.in/vellore_sub_circle.html|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|year=2011|accessdate=15 November 2015}}</ref> Though it is an archaeological monument, the temple is active in worship practices, where the temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are similar to that of other Shiva temples.<ref name=census>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu - Kancheepuram district|last=C.|first=Dr.Chandramouli|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu|year=2003|location=Chennai}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Tiruvannamalai district]]
[[Category:Hindu cave temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Rock-cut architecture of India]]

Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple - Revision history

ElijahCombs83 at 15:45, 22 December 2025