House, Palace and Fort (of the Pallavas)

In the sculptural art of this period, only very rarely is found representation of the houses of the common people. It is regarded that the common people lived in simple dwellings consisting of thatched or tiled roofing and walls made of either sun-dried or burnt bricks. Even though the inscription of Mahendravarman I, in the Lakshitayatana cave temple at Mandagapattu is related to religious architecture, yet it gives a glimpse into the various materials used for constructing and it may apply for domestic architecture as well. Thus, it is known from the inscription that the most commonly used materials are brick, stucco, wood and metal. An indirect insight into the simplest form of dwelling can be known from the Draupadi-ratha (fig. 88) at Mamallapuram, which was modeled in the form of a hut (kuta-ghara). Similarly the various rock-cut temples executed during this period can also be regarded as reflecting the dwelling places of the people, comprising of a front pillared porch (i.e. mukha-mandapa), followed by a antechamber (i.e. ardha-mandapa) with private rooms attached on its rear and sides. Perhaps, incase of a house, the porch and antechamber was also separated by a wall for the purpose of privacy, instead of the mere pillars and difference in floor level as seen in the cave temples. The entire house could have been built on a raised platform (adhisthana) with flight of steps leading into it. The panels in the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram give much insight into the form of a palace and fortress. Houses of common people are very rarely depicted in these panels. In a panel (upper row) on the northern cloister wall, a man and a woman are seen seated perhaps in the pillared portico of their house and witnessing the marching of elephants and horses. From this, it can be assumed that a typical house of this period had portico at its entrance (fig. 89).

Fine example of a palace can be known from the depictions in the panels adorning the cloister walls of the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram. The depictions in many cases are not complete representation of a palace, but gives brief insight into its elevation, plan and composition. A panel (lower row) on the northern cloister wall, gives a picture of two palatial buildings having sala type of sikhara (fig. 90). An elephant can be seen entering into it. It is not possible to identify the exact nature of the building. Perhaps it may be the entrance of a palace. A panel (upper row) on the eastern cloister wall gives a vivid representation of interiors of a palace (fig. 91). It portrays the coronation scene of a king, seated on a throne in the lower register. In the upper register can be seen a three storied mansion with a gopura type of gate-way, built with massive pillars. Courtiers can be seen seated in the balconies of this mansion and witnessing the coronation scene. Perhaps the coronation ceremony was held in a central hall, surrounded by such storied balconies. From the thematic context, this mansion can be regarded as the king’s palace. Similar type of balconies of a mansion can be seen in another panel on the same wall. In one such panel can be seen depiction of gates of a palace (fig. 92), which according to C. Minakshi^[1] represents those of the Chalukyan palace. Portrayal of fort in Pallava art can also be seen for the first time in these panels. A panel (lower row) on the eastern cloister wall, depicts a battalion of foot-soldiers standing on the walls of a fortress and defending it from the attack of the enemy army of elephantry (fig. 93). Another panel (lower row) on the southern cloister wall similarly depicts the scene of attacking a fort, which is surrounded by high ramparts (fig. 94). Minakshi^[2] identified it as the capture of Kalidurga fort by the army of Nandivarman II.