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This lesson describes the cave temples and rock structures like single-stone temple-cars and the sculptures seen on them. The lesson traces the Pallava period and their arts.

There are seven units besides introduction and summary. They describe sculptures and paintings, the various types of stone art, the periods of Mahendra Varman and Narasimha Varman the first, rock temples and sculptures, built during their period, the unique Pallava style in sculpturing and painting.

Nadukarkal are memorial stones raised in honour of those who died in a war or for a public cause. These memorial stones are the early stone structures found in Tamil Nadu. Later Pallavas started using stones for temples and sculptures. Mahendra Varman had political contact with the Chalukyas. Inspired by the cave arts in Vataapi, Mahendra Varman introduced the art in Tamil Nadu. From then on, temple sculptures and paintings developed in Tamil Nadu.
Only through literature we come to know of sculptures and paintings of the period before Pallavas such as Sangam and Sangam-transition Ages.

Along with the Tamil artists occupational experts from Magadha Nadu, goldsmiths of Maratiya Nadu, blacksmiths of Avanthi Nadu and carperters of Yavana Nadu worked in Tamil Nadu. Wall paintings of those period are described in literature as Sangam paintings.

The Pallavas introduced stone temples in Tamil Nadu. Cave temples, single-stone temple and storeyed temples and constructed temples are the three temple structures of the Pallava period.

The Pallavas are said to have build thirty-four cave temples of which 12 were raised during Mahendra Varman’s period.

Temples containing sculptures were also constructed by Raja simman. Seashore temples, Kanchi Kailasanatha temple sculptures and Vaikunthaperumal temple sculptures are examples.

On leaning this lesson you will understand the following:

1) evidence of the sculptures and paintings of Sangam and
Sangam Transition Ages are found in literature.

2) Memorial stones are the earliest stone structures in Tamil
Nadu.

3) The unique features of the cave temples and single stone temples of Mahendra Varman, Narasimha Pallavan and Rajasimhan.