
Contents: Acknowledgements. Introductory note. Mahendravarman and his time: I. Historical background: 1. The Mauryas. 2. The Satavahanas. 3. The Ikshvakus. II. The Pallavas: 4. Historical origin. 5. Mythological origin: the Kasakudi plates. III. Mahendravarman and his time: 6. Inscriptions. 7. Contemporary places of worship. 8. Rock architecture. 9. Mahendra's rock architecture. 10. King Mahendravarman I (580-630 AD). IV. Cave temples of the Mahendra time: 11. The Lakshitayatana of Mandagapattu. 12. The Pallavaram Cave temple. 13. Mamandur II: Rudravalisvaram Cave Temple. 14. Kuranganilmuttam: The Kal Mandakam Cave Temple. 15. Vallam: The Vasantesvaran Cave Temple. 16. Mahendra's Cave Temple at Mahendravadi. 17. Mamandur I: The Northern Cave Temple. 18. The Satrumallesvara Cave Temple of Dalavanur. 19. The Lalitankura Cave Temple at Tiruchirapalli. 20. Siyamangalam: Avanibhajana Pallavesvaram Cave Temple. 21. Vilappakam: The Panchapandava cave Temple. Narasimha Mahamalla and his time: I. Historical Background: 1. Narasimhavarman Mahamalla (630-668 AD). 2. Mahendravarman II (668-672 AD). 3. Paramesvaravarman I. II. Pallava Sculpture: 4. Relief sculpture -- landmark of the era. 5. Dresses and ornaments. 6. Animal sculpture. III. Pallava Rock Architecture: 7. Mamallapuram. 8. Cave Temples and Rathas -- General features. III. Cave temples of the Mammalla period: 9. Koneri Mandapam Cave Temple. 10. Mahisasuramardini Mandapam Cave Temple. 11. Varaha Mandapam Cave Temple. 12. Adi Varaha Mandapam Cave Temple. 13. Ramanuja Mandapam Cave Temple. 14. Trimurthi Cave temple. 15. Panchapandava Mandapam Cave Temple. 16. Yali Mandapam of Saluvankuppam. IV. The lost architecture. V. The Rathas: 17. Dharmaraja Ratha. 18. Bhima Ratha. 19. Arjuna Ratha. 20. Draupadi Ratha. 21. Nakula and Sahadeva Ratha. 22. Ganesha Ratha. 23. Valayankuttai Ratha and Pidari Rathas. VI. The open air reliefs: 24. The descent of the Ganga. 25. Krishna lifting mount Govardhana. References. Glossary.
"Naturally formed caves under piled up boulders or in the steep rock faces of the mountains as refuge for rishis and monks were known in India since very ancient times. In the second century BC Buddhists began to carve planned temples and monasteries into the rocks and gave them the shape of their structural architecture their chaityas, viharas and stupas. Soon the Hindus followed and carved temples with pillared halls and rectangular sanctuaries into the mountains. This fascination for worshipping God in the heart of the mountains inspired men to extraordinary architectural achievements.
'Pallava Rock Architecture and Sculpture' follows the development of Pallava cave temples in Tamil Nadu from their austere beginnings to a more and more developed stage which would finally culminate in the rich and intricate rock architecture and sculpture of Mamallapuram."