https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mandagapattu_TempleMandagapattu Temple - Revision history2026-07-31T06:42:48ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Mandagapattu_Temple&diff=232928&oldid=prev->Ms Sarah Welch at 09:39, 7 September 20212021-09-07T09:39:43Z<p></p>
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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}<br />
[[File:N-TN-C235 Mandagapattu Villupuram.jpg|thumb|Early 7th-century Mandagapattu temple is dedicated to Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu.]]<br />
'''Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] situated in the village of [[Mandagapattu]] in the [[Viluppuram district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Hewn from rock by the [[Pallava]] ruler [[Mahendravarman I]] in honour of the trinity Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu, the rock-cut cave temple is the oldest stone shrine discovered and dated in Tamil Nadu.<ref name="sastrip690">[[#Sastri|Sastri]], p 690</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Karen Pechilis Prentiss|title=The Embodiment of Bhakti|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vu95WgeUBfEC&pg=PA81|year=2000|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-535190-3|pages=81–82}}</ref> The temple is notable for the earliest known rock-cut [[Sanskrit]] inscription written in [[Grantha script]]. It is attributed to the Pallava king [[Mahendravarman I]] (600–630 CE).<ref>{{cite book|author=N. S. Ramaswami|title=Indian Monuments|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAZc4KLSYjIC&pg=PA18|year=1971|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-0-89684-091-1|page=18}}</ref><br />
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The inscription reads:<br />
:''EtadanishTamadrumamalOhamasudham vichitra chitEna nirmA pitanrupENabrahmEsharaviShNulakSitAyanam''<br />
Transliteration into Devanagari script:<br />
:अतद्निष्टकंद्रुं(मलो)-<br />
:हमसुधं (विचित्रचि)त्तेन<br />
:निम्मर्पितन्न्रपे(ण) ब्रह्मो –<br />
:श्वरविष्णुल(क्षि)तायनं<br />
Translation:<br />
:"The temple dedicated to Brahma, Siva and Vishnu was excavated by Vichitrachitta without using brick, timber, metal and mortar".<br />
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==Gallery==<br />
<gallery><br />
File:Brahma VIsnu Mahesvara rock-cut temple, Mandagapattu Tamil Nadu.jpg|Floor plan of the Mandagapattu temple<br />
File:7th century Mandagapattu Trimurti Hindu temple, rock cut cave, Grantha script Sanskrit inscription.jpg|Sanskrit inscription<br />
File:Mandakapattu Inscription.jpg|Inscription, 2-D print<br />
File:7th century Mandagapattu Trimurti Hindu temple, rock cut cave, bays and pillars.jpg|The mukya and ardha mandapas<br />
File:7th century Mandagapattu Trimurti Hindu temple, rock cut cave, middle sanctum 2.jpg|One of three sanctums<br />
</gallery><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
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* {{cite book | first= K.A| last=K.A. Nilakanta Sastri| author-link=K.A. Nilakanta Sastri| orig-year= 1935| year= 2000| title= The CōĻas| publisher= University of Madras | location= Madras|ref=Sastri}}<br />
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{{Coord|12|6|27.8|N|79|27|23.9|E|display=title}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu temples in Viluppuram district]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu cave temples in Tamil Nadu]]</div>->Ms Sarah Welch