Artist: Unknown
Title: So-called "Nakula-Sahadeva ratha"
Material: Granite outcroping
Site: Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Current Location:
Period/Date: Ca. 7th century, under the Pallava dynasty
Iconography/Iconology: As there is no sculptural decoration on the
walls of this shrine, little is known regarding its iconography and the
ways in which it relates to the other four shrines at the site (Huntington,
AOAI, 310).
Stylistic Comments: The tiered roof structure and the pilasters marking
the exterior walls is typical of South Indian style of temple architecture.
However, in this shrine the niches are left bare, with no sculptural panels
(Huntington, AOAI, 310).This view shows the pillared porch through
which one enters the small, square garbhagriha in which the main deity would
have been housed.
Huntington, Susan L.The Art of Ancient India, New
york, Tokyo: Weather Hill, 1985.
