Thursday 10 August 2017

Panchapandava Cave at Pallavaram, a Pallava Period Rock Cut Cave, now as Mosque / Dargah, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The Pallavaram has the prehistoric connection, in which Robert Bruce Foote had discovered a Paleolithic  tool ( Hand axe ) in Pallavaram Hills during 1863 AD. A 5 cell rock cut cave temple was excavated by the Pallava King  Mahendravarman-I, during 7th century AD, like Mamandur, Mahabalipuram, Trichy  and Mandagapattu.  Through this the area was named as Pallavapuram which latter turned to Pallavaram. The rock cut Cave temple  was dedicated to Brahma, Shiva,  Vishnu and deities installed in the other two cells are not known.  The central cell is projecting in the  front compared to other five cells.  How this hill has got Panchapandavar malai and cave as Pancha Pandava cave temple, do not know and there is no evidence or record is available. The Cave temple had huge pillars and Pilasters.  The beam has the inscription of Mahendravarman–I.

If any body goes through these details, tries to locate and visit, definitely will get  disappointed.  The cave has been taken over the Muslims, a Mogul architecture Dargah (ASTHANA-E-MOULA ALI (A.S) DARGAH (WAKF) has been constructed abutting the cave temple. Floors and walls has been fixed with tiles and the front elevation looks like a Mosque or Dargah. The road leading to the cave temple also has been changed as Dargah Road.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

The old drawing of the cave 
The present dargah 
The present dargah interior 





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