Draupadi-ratha
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Draupadi-ratha literally means ‘the chariot of Draupadī’.
Geographical Location[edit]
There are seven rock-cut temples in Māmallapuram or Mahābalipuram near Madras (or Chennai) on the east coast. They are generally called ‘Rathas’ since they resemble a ratha or a chariot in shape. The Draupadi-ratha is also one of them. It is the first on the northern side.
Construction[edit]
- It is a simple cell of 3.3 meters (11 ft.) square externally and with a curvilinear roof rising to a height of 5.4 meters (18 ft.).
- The cell inside measures 1.95 meters in depth and 1.35 meters across (6.5 ft. by 4.5 ft.).
Features[edit]
- On the back wall there is the figure of a female deity (with four arms) and her four attendants.
- There are also two dvārapālikās (gate-keepers) at the entrance.
- It is in Pallava style of architecture and belongs to the 7th cent. A. D.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore