5/5 Aditya G. 4 years ago on Google
Ganesha
Ratha
is
a
temple
in
Kancheepuram
district,
Tamil
Nadu,
India.
It
is
one
of
ten
rathas
("chariots")
carved
out
of
pink
granite
within
the
group
of
monuments
of
the
Pallava
Period
at
Mahabalipuram,
a
UNESCO-inscribed
World
Heritage
Site
since
1984.
The
ratha
is
an
example
of
monolith
Indian
rock-cut
architecture
dating
from
the
late
seventh
century
during
the
reign
of
King
Mahendravarman
I
and
his
son
Narasimhavarman
I.
Initially
constructed
with
a
Shiva
Linga,
it
is
now
deified
with
a
Ganesha
deity
after
the
linga
was
removed.
The
Ganesha
Ratha
is
a
fully
completed
rock-cut
structure,
while
nearby
rathas
are
incomplete.
The
current
stone
ratha
is
a
replica
of
a
wooden
version
which
preceded
it.
Its
construction
is
credited
to
Narasimhavarman
I
who
reigned
630-688AD.
While
it
is
conjectured
that
this
ratha
was
built
prior
to
the
other
rathas
of
the
area,
there
is
no
historical
evidence
to
confirm
it.
The
temple
was
originally
dedicated
to
Lord
Shiva
but
in
the
1880s,
villagers
replaced
the
Shiva
Linga
with
an
image
of
Ganesha,
after
formally
seeking
permission
from
the
District
Collector,
and
may
have
been
attributed
to
George
V
of
England.[8]
The
original
Shiva
Linga
is
installed
under
a
tree
nearby.
Along
with
several
other
monuments,
this
temple
gained
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site
distinction
in
1984
as
"Group
of
Monuments
at
Mahabalipuram".
It
is
built
to
a
rectangular
plan
which
measures
20
by
11.5
feet
(6.1
m
×
3.5
m),
and
is
28
feet
(8.5
m)
in
height
on
the
exterior.
The
interior
rectangular
chamber
measures
7
by
4
feet
(2.1
m
×
1.2
m),
and
is
7
feet
(2.1
m)
in
height.
The
ratha
is
three
tiered
and
studded
with
images
and
other
architectural
features
which
are
found
in
other
South
Indian
temples.
The
facade
is
a
columned
verandah
flanked
by
sculptures
of
dwarapalakas
(guardians).
The
columns
are
mounted
on
seated
lions
which
are
the
typecast
design
of
Pallava
architecture.
There
are
also
two
pilasters,
which
are
also
lion
mounted,
and
they
face
each
other.
It
is
a
rock
cut
structure.
The
cornices
above
the
pillars
have
Kudu
(Horse-shoe
shaped
dormer
windows)
depictions
along
its
entire
length
and
these
kudus
are
also
depicted
at
the
gable
ends
of
the
roof.
Below
the
gabled
roofs,
on
both
long
ends
windows
are
carved
in
horseshoe
shape
with
three
doors,
the
central
door
has
a
sculpture
of
a
human
head
with
a
trident
akin
to
Shiva.
At
the
other
end
of
the
gable,
this
sculpture
is
missing.
In
the
back
wall
between
the
pilasters,
images
are
not
carved.
The
roof
covering
above
the
top
floor
is
large,
vaulted,
and
wagon-shaped,
with
arches
at
the
corners.
The
top
of
the
vaulted
roof
is
fitted
with
a
series
of
nine
vase-shaped
finials
each
consisting
of
a
pot
and
trident.
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