Question

Pancharathas are the temples constructed in Mahabalipuram during the reign of the .....................

• A. Chola king
• B. Pallava king
• C. Pandya king
• D. Chera king

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Pallava king

Medieval India: Art and literature

Temple architecture

• The Sun Temple in Konark, on the banks of the river Chandrabhaga (foundation stone laid in AD 1246). It is described in the novel Shilapadmam, written by Pratibha Ray, an Odiya novelist.

• Pancharathas are the temples constructed in Mahabalipuram during the reign of the Pallava king .

• The Pallavas were rulers based at Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram was their major port city. Each temple here is carved out of a single rock.

• The rock-cut cave temples at Ellora in Maharashtra were built during the period between 6th and the 12th century.

• Later, a new style of temple architecture (tall temples constructed using chiselled rocks) came into being.

• Eg: The Brihadiswara Temple in Tanjavoor, constructed during the reign of Rajaraja Chola and the Kamakhya Temple in Assam.

• The Khajuraho Temple in Madhya Pradesh is an example of the style of adorning temple walls with sculptures.