The temples at Mahabalipuram are called as Ratha temples as they resemble the shape of rathas (chariots). These temples are known especially for their Rathas and "Mandapas" (an open pavilion or a hall). The total number of Rathas at Mahabalipuram is eight out of which five are named after the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi, the wife of Pandava brothers. The five Pandava rathas are the Dharma raja Ratha, the Bhima Ratha, the Arjuna Ratha, the Draupadi Ratha and the Nakul Sahadev Ratha. The Rathas at Mahabalipuram are constructed in the style of the Buddhist viharas and chaityas.
Another remarkable feature of the Ratha temples is that they were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill from front to back.
The unfinished Dharmaraja Ratha is three storied and the largest whereas the one-storied Draupadi Ratha is the smallest and has an interesting thatch-like roof. Base of the three-storey Dharmaraja Ratha is supported by figures of a lion, alternating with an elephant. The base of the Dharmaraja Ratha is square and it rises to 13 meters as a pyramid. The Arjuna and Draupadi Rathas are dedicated to Shiva and Durga respectively.
These 'Ratha' temples of Mahabalipuram are commonly called the Pancha Pandava Ratha. These temples are considered pioneer of the Dravidian monolith era and mark the point of transition between the earlier tradition of rock-carved temples and the later tradition of freestanding stone structures. There are actually eight Rathas at Mahabalipuram out of which five are named after the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi. The five rathas that can be seen are Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha.
The interesting features among all these Ratha temples are the fact that all of them are monolith and are based on the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas. The largest and the smallest among them are three-storied Dharmaraja Ratha and one-storied Draupadi Ratha respectively. The magnificent way in which these Monolithic Cave Temples were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill from front to back is a real treat for the eyes. |
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