Five Rathas of Mahabalipuram
TN
ArchaeologicalCommissioner
Narasimha Varman
Description Show more
The ratha temples, in southern Mahabalipuram, are carved in the shape of chariots. Their artists used naturally-occurring blocks of diorite and granite in sand, carving legends in stone. The best-known are the five monolithic structures projecting above the beach, known as the Five Rathas or the Pandava Rathas; in the Mahabharata, the Pandavas are five brothers and their common wife, Draupadi. Although the symbolism and grouping of the temples have led to these popular names, they are neither true rathas nor dedicated to the Pandavas; they are temples dedicated to deities and concepts of the Shaivi, (Shiva), Vaishnavi (Vishnu) and Shakti (Durga) traditions of Hinduism. These rathas are dated to the 7th century.
The ratha temples, in southern Mahabalipuram, are carved in the shape of chariots. Their artists used naturally-occurring blocks of diorite and granite in sand, carving legends in stone. The best-known are the five monolithic structures projecting above the beach, known as the Five Rathas or the Pandava Rathas; in the Mahabharata, the Pandavas are five brothers and their common wife, Draupadi. Although the symbolism and grouping of the temples have led to these popular names, they are neither true rathas nor dedicated to the Pandavas; they are temples dedicated to deities and concepts of the Shaivi, (Shiva), Vaishnavi (Vishnu) and Shakti (Durga) traditions of Hinduism. These rathas are dated to the 7th century.
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Nearby
| Cave Temple of Mahabalipuram | 159 feet |
| Descent of the Ganges and Arjuna's Penance | 598 feet |
| Shore Temples of Mamallapuram | 723 feet |
| Mamallapuram Historic District | 0.2 miles |
| St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica | 47.3 miles |
| Balaji Temple | 397.8 miles |
| The Ledge | 484.5 miles |
| St George Orthodox Church | 521.5 miles |
| Sienna Apartments | 567.9 miles |
