Seeyamangalam Kudavarai Stambeswarar Cave Temple | 7th Century Pallava Architecture ASI monument

Описание: Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram temple also called Stambeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Seeyamangalam, Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was constructed in Rock-cut architecture by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I (600-630 CE) during the 7th century. The cave temple had later additions from the Chola and Vijayanagar Empire.

One of the pillars has a sculpture of Nataraja, believed to be the earliest representation of the deity in South India. The temple has a small three-tiered rajagopuram, the entrance tower. The temple is declared as a heritage monument and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument. The other side of the hillock houses the Jain beds established in the 9th century during the reign of Western Ganga King Rajamalla II.

The presiding deity is called Thoonandavar or Stambeswarar on account of the presence of two pillars in front of the temple. One of the pillars in the temple has one of the earliest representations of Nataraja (the dancing form of Shiva) in Ananda Tandava posture. There are two attendants of Shiva ganas of Nataraja, with one of them playing Miruthangam (a percussion instrument) and another in praying posture. The pillared hall has images of yalis, the mythical creatures representative of Vijayanagar Art.

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