LizzieSugerman6 at 23:53, 28 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Dharmaraja Ratha
| image = Mamallapuram Dharmaraja Ratha.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Dharmaraja Ratha
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| devanagari =
| sanskrit_translit =
| tamil =
| marathi =
| bengali =
| country = India
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]],
| district = [[Kancheepuram district]]
| location = [[Mahabalipuram]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = {{circa}} 650<ref>{{cite book|title=The Culture of India |isbn=9780852297629 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |year=2010 |page=315 }}</ref> [[Common era]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Student Britannica India 7 Vols |page=5 |author=Indu Ramchandani |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2000 |isbn=9780852297629 }}</ref>
| creator =
| website =
}}
[[File:Dharmaraja's Ratha.png|thumb|Plan of Dharmaraja's Ratha]]
'''Dharmaraja Ratha''' is a monument in the [[Pancha Rathas]] complex at [[Mahabalipuram]], on the [[Coromandel Coast]] of the [[Bay of Bengal]], in the [[Kancheepuram district]] of the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. It is an example of [[monolithic architecture|monolith]] [[Indian rock-cut architecture]]. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King [[Mahendravarman I]] and his son [[Narasimhavarman I]] (630–680 AD; also called Mamalla, or "great warrior") of the [[Pallava Kingdom]]. The entire complex is under the auspices of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI). It is one of the [[Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram]] that were designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 1984.<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/|title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram|publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=2007-03-03}}</ref>

Resembling a chariot (''ratha''), it is carved out of a single, long stone of pink granite.<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name=Plaque>{{Cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Five_Rathas,_Mahabalipuram.jpg|title= File:Five Rathas, Mahabalipuram.jpg| accessdate=9 April 2013|publisher=Archarological Survey of India, Chennai Circle}}</ref><ref name=ASI>{{Cite web|url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/mamallapuram/mam01.html|title=Pancha Rathas, Mamallapuram |accessdate=23 October 2012|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India}}</ref> Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as a [[temple]], the structure was not consecrated because it was not completed<ref name="Marilyn Stokstad 2008 333">{{cite book|title=Art history |author=Marilyn Stokstad |year=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn=9780131577046 |page=333 }}</ref> following the death of Narasimhavarman I.<ref name=Plaque/><ref name=ASI/><ref name=architect>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Mahaba.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410000331/http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Mahaba.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2013|title= Mahabalipuram|accessdate=30 December 2012|publisher=UCLA Education, South Asia}}</ref> The structure is named after the eldest of the [[Pandava|Pancha Pandavas]], of epic [[Mahabharata]] fame,<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name=ASI/><ref name=Rathas>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/t/019pho0000472s1u00027000.html|title=The Rathas, monolithic [Mamallapuram]|accessdate=19 February 2013|publisher=Online Gallery of Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> though this nomenclature is not supported by its iconography.<ref name=Plaque/> It is dedicated to [[Shiva]].<ref name="Allen 1991">{{cite book|page=139 |title=Ornament in Indian Arch |author=Margaret Prosser Allen |year=1991 }}</ref>

==Geography==
The structure is located at Mahabalipuram (previously known as Mammallapuram) on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in Kancheepuram district. It is approximately {{convert|35|miles}} south of [[Chennai]] (previously known as Madras), the capital city,<ref name=Gunther>{{Cite web|url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/mamallapuram/mam01.html|title=Pancha Rathas, Mamallapuram |accessdate=23 October 2012|work=art-and-archaeology.com|author=Michael D. Gunther}}</ref> while [[Chengalpattu]] is about {{convert|20|miles}} away.<ref name="Ayyar1982">{{cite book|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA157|accessdate=7 February 2013|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0151-2|pages=157–}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Pancha Rathas}}
Like the other four Pancha Rathas, Dharmaraja ratha was built from stone, a replica of a wooden version which preceded it.<ref name="MoffettFazio2003">{{cite book|last1=Moffett|first1=Marian|last2=Fazio|first2=Michael W.|last3=Wodehouse|first3=Lawrence|title=World History of Architecture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IFMohetegAcC&pg=PT75|accessdate=9 January 2013|year=2003|publisher=Laurence King Publishing|isbn=978-1-85669-371-4|page=75}}</ref> Though the temple is named after the first of [[Pandava]] princes from [[Mahabharatha]], there is no history to ascertain the name. The temple was left incomplete and consecration was not performed due to the death of the king [[Narasimhavarman I]].<ref name="Rathas"/> Historians assign the date of construction to the period of two Pallava kings Narasimhavarman I (690-725) and [[Parameswaravarman I]]. The inscriptions of Parameswaravarman I are seen in the temple.<ref name=cave>{{cite book|title=Cave temples of India|year=2019|last1=Sharma|first1=Dr. K.K.|first2=Dr. Amit Rai|last2=Jain|isbn=978-93-85754-64-7|publisher=Kitabwale|location=New Delhi|page=83}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Elevation of Dharmaraja Ratha.png|thumb|Elevation of Dharmaraja's Ratha]]
[[File:Section of Dharmaraja Ratha.png|thumb|Section of Dharmaraja's Ratha]]
All the Pancha Rathas are aligned in a north–south direction and share a common plinth. They have no precedent in Indian architecture and have proved to be "templates" for building larger temples in both the South Indian tradition of Dravidian temple architecture, Central Indian tradition of Vesara temple architecture and North Indian tradition of Nagara temple architecture .<ref name="Rathas" /> Though cut out of monolithic rocks, they are carved in the form of structural temples in regular building form and hence termed as "quasimonolithic temple form.
[[File:Ratha mahabalipuram.JPG|thumb|Full reflection of the architectural complexity of the Dharmaraja Ratha]]

Dharmaraja Ratha is the most prominent architecturally of the five rathas and also the tallest and largest.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chennai |author=Rina Kamath |publisher=Orient Blackswan |page=121 |year=2000 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=History & Civics IX |page=127 |publisher=Rachnar Sagnar }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Concise Classified Dictionary of Hinduism |author=K. V. Soundara Rajan |publisher=Concept Publishing |year=2002 |page=260 }}</ref> The ratha faces west and is sculpturally very rich. It has three floors including the ground floor. The plan of the ground floor measure a square of {{Convert|28|ft}} and has a height of {{Convert|35|ft}} from ground level to the top of the roof. It is open on all four sides and the facade on all sides are supported by two pillars and two pilasters with the corners forming an integral part of the support system for the upper floors. Carved out from a single rock of pink granite,<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Railways |publisher=India Railway Board |volume=15 |year=1970 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Our Story So Far |volume=6 |isbn=9788131714942 |publisher=Pearson Education India |page=102}}</ref> along with other three rathas on a single block of stone oriented in a north–south direction,<ref name=ASI/> it is a [[trithala]] or three-story<ref>{{cite book|title=India: The Elephant's Blessing |author=Aline Dobbie |page=56 |publisher=Melrose Press |year=2006 |isbn=9781905226856 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths |author=Roshen Dalal |isbn=9780143415176 |year=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |page=279 }}</ref> vimana,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram |url=https://archive.org/details/bodygodemperorsp00huds_609 |url-access=limited |author= D. Dennis Hudson |year=2008 |isbn=9780195369229 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bodygodemperorsp00huds_609/page/n563 537] |publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref> square in plan, with open porches and a terraced pyramidal tower.<ref name="Singh2008">{{cite book|author=Upinder Singh|title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GW5Gx0HSXKUC&pg=PA636|accessdate=9 January 2013|year=2008|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-1677-9|page=636}}</ref> and an octagonal [[Sikhara|shikhara]] (pinnacle) at the top. Small-sized model shrines called ''[[Gavaksha|kudus]]'' make up the ornament of the upper part of the tower.<ref name="Allen 1991"/><ref>{{cite book|title=A World History of Art |author1=Hugh Honour |author2=John Fleming |year=2005 }}</ref> There are many sculptures on the corners of the sanctum, which depict Shiva;<ref>{{cite book|page=294 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |author=Roshen Dalal |isbn=9780143414216 |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=2011 }}</ref> [[Harihara]], [[Brahma-Sasta]], [[Murugan|Skanda]], [[Brahma]], [[Ardhanarisvara]] (half Shiva half [[Parvati]])<ref>{{cite book|title=India Baedeker Guide |author1=Karen Schreitmüller |author2=Mohan Dhamotharan |author3=Beate Szerelmy |year=2012 |page=589 }}</ref> and [[Krishna]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu |author=T. Padmaja |publisher=Abhinav Publishing |year=2002 |isbn=9788170173984 |page=110 }}</ref> are depicted alongside an inscribed portrait of a king, indicated to be [[Narasimhavarman I]],<ref name="Singh2008"/><ref name="asi">{{cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_mahabalipuram_monolithic.asp|title=World Heritage Sites – Mahabalipuram – Monolithic Temples|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=9 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312100940/http://www.asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_mahabalipuram_monolithic.asp|archive-date=12 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Dharmarāja ratha & its sculptures, Mahābalipuram |author=K. R. Srinivasan |year=1975 |publisher=Abhinav Publications }}</ref> who commissioned the temple.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pallava Antiquities – 2 Vols. |author=G. Jouveau-Dubreuil |year=1994 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=9788120605718 |page=63 }}</ref> The shafts of the pillars are supported by seated lions.<ref name="Singh2008"/>

The first floor contains twenty niches containing the images of Kankalamurthi, Vinadhara, dancing Shiva, Shiva with Candesha, Gangadhara, Vishnu, Kalari, Vrashabtikamurthi, Andhakasuramurthi, Krishna with figurines of women with offerings, Dvarapalas and priests of the temple.<ref name=cave/> The second floor contains rich imagery,<ref>{{cite book|title=Pallava rock architecture and sculpture |author=Elisabeth Beck |publisher=Sri Aurobindo Institute of Research in Social Sciences in association with East West Books (Madras) |year=2006 |isbn=9788188661466 |page=226 }}</ref> with further depictions of Shiva as [[Gangadara]] and [[Natesa]], and [[Vishnu]] resting on [[Garuda]] and [[Kaliya Mardhana]]. The second level contains a cell with the earliest of inscription of [[Somaskanda]].<ref name=cave/>

[[File:Ratha detail face.JPG|right|thumb|''[[gavaksha|Kudus]]'' (Horse-shoe shaped dormer windows) depicted on all side along the cornices]]

===Inscriptions===
On the Dharmaraja Rathas there are 16 inscriptions in [[Grantha script|Grantha]] and [[Nagari script]]s in [[Sanskrit]] inscriptions on which are royal [[cognomen]], single-word titles, most of them are attributed to Narasimhavarman I.<ref name=Front>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2023/stories/20031121000107100.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410195340/http://www.flonnet.com/fl2023/stories/20031121000107100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2013 |title=A monumental effort |accessdate=30 December 2012 |date=8 November 2003 |publisher=Front Line India's National Magazine from the publishers of [[The Hindu]] }}</ref> On the top tier of the temple is an inscription which refers to it as Atyantakama Pallavesvaram; Atyantakama was one of the known titles of [[Paramesvaravarman I]]. Other inscribed titles for the king are Shri Megha and Trailokiya–vardhana-vidhi.<ref name="asi"/>

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}
{{Portal|India|Hinduism|Religion}}

{{Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Mahabalipuram]]
[[Category:Pancha Rathas]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Dravidian architecture]]
[[Category:Pallava architecture]]

Dharmaraja Ratha - Revision history

LizzieSugerman6 at 23:53, 28 March 2026