Mahendravadi
| Mahendravadi | |||
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| State : |
 India
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| State : | Tamil Nadu | ||
| District : | Vellore | ||
| Sub-district : | Arakkonam | ||
| Location : | 12 ° 59 ′ N , 79 ° 33 ′ E | ||
| Height : | 110 m | ||
| Area : | 5.34 km² | ||
| Residents : | 2,503 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 469 inhabitants / km² | ||
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Mahendravadi is a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu with around 2,500 inhabitants . A little outside the village there is a monolithic rock temple from the Pallava period.
location
Mahendravadi is at a height of 110 m above sea level. d. M. approx. 25 km (driving distance) southwest of Arakkonam or almost 60 km northeast of the district capital Vellore . The climate is tropical and warm; Rain falls mainly in the monsoon months June to December.
population
The inhabitants of the place are predominantly Hindus ; other religious communities hardly play a role among the rural population of southern India. The female population is around 2% higher than the male.
economy
In the area around the village there is farming and some cattle breeding (chickens); There are small traders, craftsmen and day laborers in the village.
history
With interruptions mainly caused by the Chola , the dynasties of the Pandyas (capital Madurai ) and Pallavas (capital Kanchipuram ) ruled the region from the early Middle Ages , but they often delegated the actual power to regional vassals. In the 14th century, Muslim rulers briefly occupied power, which then passed to the Hindu Vijayanagar empire, which in turn had to make way for the Nawabs of Karnatik (approx. 1690–1801). In the meantime, however, the British and French fought for supremacy in the region in the Carnatic Wars (1744–1763).
Attractions
- The most important attraction of the place is the monolithic rock temple, which can be attributed to the Pallava period (around 600/650) and is consecrated to the god Vishnu . The two central pillars of the entrance leading to a rectangular vestibule are block-like at the top and bottom and decorated with rosette reliefs, whereas the middle section is carved in an octagonal manner, but otherwise has no decorative elements. Left and right of the entrance to the square cella ( garbhagriha ) are two almost life-size guardian figures ( dvarapalas ). An inscription refers to the temple as Mahendra Vishnu Graha .
- A newer temple ( Madhagu Kattha Amman Temple ) , dedicated to the mother goddess Mariyamman , is located above the approx. 1.5 km to the west and man-made lake .
See also
The rock temples of Mandagapattu and Mamallapuram are also attributed to the Pallava period. In Mamallapuram, however, the structural structure and the figural decorations are much more developed and detailed.
Web links
- Mahendravadi, Vishnu rock temple - photos + information (English)
- Rock temple of the Pallava period Photos + brief information (English)