The Pallavaram has a prehistoric connection, in which Robert Bruce
Foote discovered a Palaeolithic tool (Hand axe) in Pallavaram Hills in 1863 CE.
A 5-cell rock-cut cave temple was excavated by the Pallava King
Mahendravarman-I, during the 7th century CE, like Mamandur, Mahabalipuram,
Trichy, and Mandagapattu. Through this, the area was named Pallavapuram,
which later turned into Pallavaram. The rock-cut Cave temple was dedicated to
Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, and the deities installed in the other two cells are
not known. The central cell is projecting in the front compared to the
other five cells. How this hill has got Panchapandavar Malai and a cave as
Pancha Pandava cave temple, I do not know, and there is no evidence or record
available. The Cave temple had huge pillars and Pilasters. The beam has the
inscription of Mahendravarman I.
INSCRIPTIONS
The Pallava king Mahendravarman I’s reign
inscription on the beams of the upper and lower varandahs in the rock-cut cave, now used as a Darga. The following epithets (of the king) are mentioned:
Mahendravikrama, Mattavilāsa, Ceththakāri,
Vicitracitta, Cilundu, Ceruļuccemprūru, Aluptakama, Vițemāya, Darppavisa, Lokavaśya, Davāgni, Kalahapriya, Laļitānkura, Mayamakkāru, Citrakārappuli, Nivambu,
Nilvulene-yyambu, Vampu, Vuka, Vamkampu, Kaththu, Kathumpu, Katumkțāyum, Vileyāla, Palapāți, Ventulavittu, Alarvale,
Asitti, Arkkapāsumbu,
Dandikkalla, Vāyivēnți, Yamuku, Sankīrņņajāti, Eththu, Itukari, Pisugu
Pițuvāri, Perinthi, Prakāraņa, Pravṛttamātra, Pukāpiduku, Pasarambu Ananya,
Pavithu, Pakali, Kāku, Bujjanakanthu, Bhrānta, Oththu, Otha, Uddhati,
Upamāna, Ummām-kudu, Kāmārjjava, Katuh Krāmka, Kațuntērambu, Gunabhara, Teppu, Talvi, Tathudanda,
Tanumpunomi, Tukānu, Tōththu, Tōta, Teththa, Śrīdridha-bhakti, Dunuvāryya, Udukasitti, dhdharmmapālaka, satyasandha, Lakşita, Işţaduştabhrstacarita, Naihikāmutrika, Nayambu, Nathuku,
Mahā-mēgha, Manprāvu, Mathumatha,
Vethirucutho, Mukhavajja, Mögga...śōļacūri, Cumbu, Patusiddha, Caļisappuruttu, Vesāri, Vusātha, Vambara, Vāverați, ...vamkiru, Vlāşu, Vērasa, Vyavasthita,
Vyavasaya, Anityarāga, Avanibhājana, Anumāna, Abhimukha, Ākara, Aharyyabuddhi
and Ayata...
References:
ARE,
1908, no. 369; SII, xii, no. 13 and Plate.South Indian Inscription Volume - XII
The inscriptions of Pallavas by T V Mahalingam.
If
anybody goes through these details, tries to locate and visit, definitely be disappointed. The cave has been taken over by the Muslims, and a Mogul
architecture Dargah (ASTHANA-E-MOULA ALI (A.S) DARGAH (WAKF)
has been constructed abutting the cave temple. Floors and walls have been fixed
with tiles, and the front elevation looks like a Mosque or Dargah. The road
leading to the cave temple has also been changed to Dargah Road.
LOCATION OF THE PALLAVA ROCK CUT CAVE: CLICK HERE
The
old drawing of the cave
The
present dargah
The
present dargah interior
The
entrance
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
Wonderful pictures and nice place.
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