Follow on

Trip to Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu on December 5, 2007

Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam


This is a unique mandapam in Mahabalipuram, for all the figures sculpted in this cave reflect the social life of those days. Wild animals - a few lion and monkey sculptures have been sculpted on the left wall. On the main wall one can see dance figures, a bull, a cow licking its calf as a cowherd is milking the cow, a woman holding a bundle of hay on her head and a uri in her right hand (three pots placed one on top of another tied to together with a rope) followed by a man, a woman with her child, a man playing the flute, a royal couple, Krishna lifting the Govardhana hill protecting the village folk from the heavy downpour of rain. All the gaps have been filled skillfully by sculpting heads of cows in different angles. On the right extreme is a Nandi figure resting high on the wall.

Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Three rows of pillars, with seated lion or square base
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Lion and monkey sculptures on the side wall to our left
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Pillar with sculpted square base
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Pillar with sculpted square base
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Dance figures, bull with a calf. Gaps have been filled skillfully by sculpting heads of cows in different angles
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
a woman holding a bundle of hay on her head and a uri in her right hand (three pots placed one on top of another tied to together with a rope) followed by a man, a cow licking its calf as a cowherd is milking the cow, a woman with her child, a man playing the flute, a royal couple
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Krishna lifting the Govardhana hill protecting the village folk from the heavy downpour of rain
Govardhana / Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
Nandi figure resting high on the wall to our right



Dr.Swaminathan, retired professor from IIT Delhi had organized a trip to Mahabalipuram to understand and appreciate better the great art treasures gifted to us by the Pallavas.

We visited only a few mandapams and caves, but at every spot Mr.Swaminathan shared with us details such as - the Pallava kings who had contributed, the structural variations / refinement that can be observed in the structures belonging to different periods. And sadly, also the vandalism - mostly broken noses, attempt to project a Siva temple as a Vishnu temple or vice versa and also an attempt by the kings to take credit without contributing. Since several Pallava rulers seem to have shared the same titles, that further adds to the confusion. Mr.Swaminathan first gave a general introduction to the temple architecture and sculpture - the different styles of rock architecture seen at Mahabalipuram - the monoliths, cave mandapams, structural temple, bas relief.