182 SEVEN PAGODAS
Seven ;Pagodas.-Village in the District and tal4k :of Chingleput;
Madras, situated in z2° 37'; N. And 86" rz' E., 35 miles south of
Madras city, on the Buckingham Canal, between it and the sea.
Population (t9o1), 1,229. The vernacular name is variously spelt
as Mahabalipur, Mahavellipur, Mavallipur, Mamalaipur, Mamallapur,
and Mallaptir. ' The disputations regarding its form are discussed in
Major M. W. Carr's book regarding it and in Mr. Crole's Manual of
the District. `
The village itself is insignificant, but neat it are 'some of the most
interesting and, to archaeologists, the most important architectural
remains in Southern India. These antiquities may be divided into
three groups: the five so-called raths (monolithic temples) to the
south of the village, belonging perhaps to the latest Buddhist period
the cave-temples, monolithic :figures, carvings; and sculptures; west
of the village; perhaps of the sixth or seventh century, which contain
some marvellous reliefs, ranking with those of Ellora and Elephanta
the more modern temples of Vishnu and Siva, the latter being washed
by the sea. To these last two, with five other pagodas buried (accord
ing to tradition) under the sea, the place owes its English name. Who
were the authors of the older of these constructions is a question which
,cannot be considered `to be definitely set at rest. Mr. Sewell, after
examining the question in its different aspects, concludes by observing
that exactly at the period when, according to the style of architecture,
as judged by the best authorities, we find a northern race temporarily
residing at or near this place, sculpturing these wonderful relies and
suddenly departing, leaving 'them unfinished, inscriptions give: us the
CbAlukyas from the north conquering the Pallava 'dynasty of Kanchi,
temporarily residing there and then driven out of the country, after
a struggle,; permanently and for ever. Everything, therefore,' would
seem to point to the Chalukyas of Kalyknapura as being the sculp
tors of the Seven, Pagodas. Mr. Crole -describes the antiquities as
follows:-
. The best, and by far the most important, of its class is the pastoral
group in -the Krishna` mdntapam, as it" is called. The fact is, that it
represents Indra, the god of the sky, supporting the clouds l with his
left-hand, to protect the cattle of Bala from the fury of the Maruts or .
tempest.demons. Near him, the cattle are being tended and milked.
To the right, a young bull is seen, with head slightly turned and_ fore-
foot extended, as if suddenly startled. This is one of the most, spirited
and lifelike pieces of sculpture to be seen anywhere.
A little to the north of this is the great bas-relief which goes -by the
name of ce Arjuna's Penance." It covers a mass of rock 96' feet in
length and 43 feet in height, and is described by Fergusson as " he
most remarkable thing of its class in India." "Now," says he, '~ tat
1 More.correetly, Krishna supporting'a hill; see. GIRT Rnd•
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