Introduction
If we go back and see the history of tamizhan we thamizhans could see we are good architects and artists. Arts and sculptures were at its peak during the Pallavas and Cholas period. In this blog let us see the truth behind the seven pagodas of the south. Seven pagodas is the nickname to the coastal south Indian city of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram. The fact is that there were six other temples along with shore temple in Mahabalipuran built by the pallava king Narasimhavarman II which stands at the shore of bay of bengal.The Italian merchant Gasparo Balbi was the first to refer the term 'Seven Pagodas'. The other references were from Alexander Hamilton in 1744, Pierre Sonnerat. Pierre Sonnerat states that it would be the oldest temple on the coromandel coast. However there are no enough evidences to prove it. The reason behind the name seven pagodas was that there were seven temples including the Shore temple.But, due to erosion and floods it went inside the sea leaving the shore temple. The main Accounts about this temple were from William Chambers and Jacob Haafner.Mamallapuram was called Mallai, Kadal Mallai and Mamallai. The monuments there were built by pallavas who ruled parts of Tamil Nadu form 3rd Century AD to 8th Century AD. It is believed that these monuments were built by Narasimhavraman I, Paramesvarman and Narasimhavarman II.The monuments were based on Rathas.
Accounts of Europeans
1. Pierre Sonnerat
He is a french man who travelled to East Indies and China between 1774 and 1784 by the order of Louis XIV. When he visited Mahabalipuram he said about the temple named seven pagodas between Madras and Pondicherry.
2. William Chambers
A lead architect in Britian who wrote about the seven pagodas at Mamallapuram in the first volume of Asiatic Reasearches published from Calcutta. He visited the site in 1772 and 1776.
3. J.W. Coombes
A British writer who said that the seven pagodas stood at the edge of the shore and its dome was made of copper which reflected sunlight and acted as a nautical landmark.
4. John Goldingham
He says"A brahman about 50 years of age, a native of the place whom I had an opportunity of conversing with since my arrival at Madras, informed me, his grandfather had frequently mentioned having seen the gilt tops of the six temples in the surf which was now no longer visible"
Works of N.Ramaswami
Ramaswami in his book 'Seven Pagodas, The Art and History of Mahabalipuram ' compiles wrote about the accounts and references of the european travellers to seven Pagodas. He says that the name Seven Pagodas entered into the records of Fort Saint George, Madras in 1708.
Scientific Exploration Society, UK and National Institute of Oceanography(NIO)
Scientific Exploration Society, UK and National Institute of Oceanography(NIO), Goa carried out a joint water explorations, for three days and found out that there is a possibility of of Man-made structures in the sea shore of Mahabalipuram.
The report of NIO in 2003 Revealed,'many structural remains including a falling wall, with three courses, scattered dressed stone blocks, a few steps leading to a platform and remains of many more fallen wall sections. These apparently man-made structures are present in 5-8m water depth, about 800m from the shore'.
It suggested that the rate of erosion would be 55cm/year. It also said that, during 1770s, the shoreline would have extended to an extra 130m into the sea.
Archaeological Survey of India(ASI)
After the 2004 Indian ocean earthquake and tsunami it provided the opportunity for archaeologist to carry out further discoveries as the waves washed away beach sand further into the sea, exposing remains of various structures. In April 2005, the ASI and the Indian navy began searching the waters off the coast of mahabalipuram by boat using SONAR technology. They discovered 6 foot high, 70 meter long wall. It also discovered remins of two other submerged things and on ecave within 500 meters of the shore. ASI archaeologist Alok Tripathi told Times of India in a special interview that the structures found underwater is similar to the structures in shore temple, and matched a Pallava-Era painting of the Seven Pagodas complex.
Conclusion
Even though there were evidences from European travellers the main evidences were the findings of ASI and NIO. These monuments shows the Architectural skills of Pallavas. We should be proud that we are dravidians and tamizhans.
Dravidian, Tamil. What BS lol. Pallavas were Naga-lineage from Andhra. Dravidian is a Christian Colonial Construct.
ReplyDeleteThe term "Dravidian" is not a Christian colonial construct. The word has much older origins and a complex history.
DeleteThe term "Dravidian" derives from the Sanskrit word "Drāviḍa," which was used in ancient Indian texts. It originally referred to the Tamil people and their language. The term is found in ancient literature, such as the Sanskrit epic "Mahabharata" and other early texts.
The modern linguistic and ethnic concept of Dravidians was developed in the 19th century by European scholars, particularly those involved in the comparative study of languages. The term "Dravidian" was popularized by the British linguist Robert Caldwell in his 1856 work "A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages," where he grouped the languages of South India (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and others) under the term "Dravidian."
While European colonial scholars contributed to the formalization and study of Dravidian languages and cultures, the roots of the term itself predate colonialism and have been used within the Indian subcontinent for centuries.
The Pallavas were a significant dynasty in South India, particularly in the region corresponding to modern-day Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Their lineage and origins have been subjects of historical research and debate among scholars. Here are some key points about the Pallava lineage:
Origins and Early History
Indigenous Roots: Some historians believe that the Pallavas were of indigenous South Indian origin, possibly emerging from local chieftains or tribes in the region.
Connection to Satavahanas: Another theory suggests that the Pallavas might have been officials or feudatories of the Satavahana dynasty, who gained prominence and established their rule as the Satavahana power declined.
Migration Theory: There is also a theory that the Pallavas might have migrated from northern India, particularly from regions like the ancient Vanga (Bengal), but this theory is less widely accepted.
The Pallavas were a significant dynasty with complex origins. While the precise details of their early lineage are still debated, their contributions to South Indian culture, architecture, and history are well-recognized. - ChatGPT