PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping visit Mahabalipuram heritage marvels

Chinese President Xi Jinping was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu state of South India in the course of second informal India - China summit. In this video you can watch PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting following places: UNFINISHED ROCK-CUT CAVE TEMPLE NORTH OF KRISHNA MANDAPA Beyond Krishna mandapa is a large cave-temple known as Panchapandava mandapa.This cave-temple would have been the largest of all cave-temples of the Pallavas. On stylistic grounds, it may be placed later among the Mamalla style cave-temples in the period of Paramesvaravarman I (672-700 CE). This cave-temple has six lion pillars and similar pilasters at either end are finished. The brackets above the capitals of these pillars are decorated with lions and griffins with human riders. Even in its unfinished stage, this cave temple is unique. Its sanctum was designed to have a passage all around the exterior, so that it would be possible for circumambulation of the sanctum. ARJUNA’S PENANCE This magnificent bas- relief popularly called as ‘Arjuna’spenance’ suggestively depicts the story of ‘Kiratarjuna’, of the great epic Mahabhartha. The panoramic view of the life in the forest is aptly sculptured here in the two large boulders. The cleft between these two boulders is brilliantly utilized to show the flow of the river Ganga which is evinced by the presence of Nagas and Naginis. The great event of obtaining the weapon pasupatha from Lord Siva by Arjuna, one of the heroes of Mahabharatha is portrayed. This event witnessed by the three worlds reveals an overall view to visitors. A man with emaciated body and long beard engaged in severe penance standing on his right leg is identified with Arjuna. While Lord Siva with trident standing majestically above his right side appeared in front of him to bless Arjuna with the weapon. All Semi Gods and Goddess are rushing towards the central point to witness the great event. Below this scene on the same side, a small temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is shown. In front of the temple, sages are engaged in Yoga and Tapas and Brahmins are doing mid day rituals known from their paryanka granthi and suryapasthana (Madhiyana sandhi) posture respectively. The depiction of forest life is interestingly portrayed here. Some scholars identified this panel with the story of Bhagiratha bringing the Ganges to the earth ( Descents of Ganges). According to them, the representation here is that of Bhagiratha’s penance and Siva granting him the desired boon by agreeing to release Ganga from his locks, the scene representing the descent of the river from the jungle covered hills in the joyful presence of the gods. MONKEY-GROUP This is a tiny but realistic carving of a group of monkeys a family consisting of a father, mother and child. One of the parents is removing lice from the head of the other, while the little one is resting on the lap. An excellent example of mastery of Pallava sculptors over depicting animals. GANESHA RATHA This monolithic temple, dedicated to Siva, is known as “Atyantakama Pallavesvaram” from the inscription of this temple. The title “Atyantakama”is to be identified with Paramesvaravarman-I (672-700 CE) and some scholars believe that this ratha belongs to the period of Narasimhavaraman-I (630-668 CE) on stylistic basis. The former identification is more convincing as Paramesvaravarman-I continued the tradition of carving of monolithic temple initiated by Narasimhavarman-I at Mamallapuram. This monolithic temple isrectangular on plan and has a dvitala salavimana. The adhisthana is not defined. The walls are punctuated by plain Visnukanta pilasters. The gable- ends of the sikhara have miniature models of vimana as in the case of Bhima Ratha.The narrow mukhamandapahas two lion-pillars in the centre and two lion-pilasters and is flanked by two dvarapalas at either end.Since there is a Ganesha image inside the shrine, this monolithic templeis called asGanesha Ratha. KRISHNA’S BUTTERBALL More than an archaeological, Krishna’s butter ball is a natural monument. It is a gigantic granite boulder delicately balanced by nature on the slope of the hillock. The boulder is approximately 6 meters high and 5 meters wide and weighs around 250 tons. ____ PM Narendra Modi was dressed in South Indian traditional dress. PM Modi guided Chinese President through the walk covering the places listed above. Both leaders then visited Panch Rath and shore temple sites in Mahabalupuram. This group of Monuments at Mamallapuram was declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in the year 1984, in recognition of its outstanding universal value, contribution to humanity in the field of art and architecture. Name Mahabalipuram derived from Mamallapuram, “the city of Mamalla”, a title of Narashimavarman I (630 to 670 CE), the great Pallava ruler of the seventh century, who was responsible for most of the rock-cut temples and carvings at this place.