There are about nine monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram. Those are the unique contribution of the Pallavas to Indian Art. The monolithic temples are known as locally as Ratha (Chariot) as they resemble the processional chariots of the temple. The Five rathas, the best of all monolithic temples, are hewn from a huge boulder.
Mahabalipuram Temple in india is so beautiful. Temples of different plan and elevation happen to be carved and the left over portions were intelligently accustomed to carve animals in a natural way. The naming of those ratha, after Pandavas and their wife, the heroes of epic Mahabharata, is only a local tradition. Among the Five rathas, Dharmaraja ratha is easily the most impressive and sculpturally rich. The tritala (three storeyed) vimana, square in the talas but octagonal in the griva sikhara region, faces west.
This temple is the great symbol of Indian culture. The sculptures around the sanctum within the corner blocks depict simple types of Siva, Harihara, Brahma-Sasta, Brahma, a delicately balanced representation of Ardhanarisvara besides a portrait of the king, possibly Narasimhavarman I himself above which his titles Sri Megha and Trailokiya -vardhana-vidhi are inscribed. Top of the floors, a veritable gallery of images, have excellently modelled images of Siva as Gangadara, the first representation of Siva as Natesa within the Tamil country, Vrishbantika, Kankalamurti, Vishnu resting on Garuda, and Kaliyamardhana. An inscription provides the name of the sanctum in the uppermost tier as Atyantakama Pallavesvaram, Atyantakama as being a title of Paramesvaravarman I.
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