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[Full title: (B) The Southern or Dravidian Phase; (ii) The Pallava Phase (c. 600-900 A.D.)]

The structural temples of the Pallava phase fall into two groups (i) Rajasimaha group A. D. 690 to c. 800 and (ii) Nandivarman group c. A. D. 800 to c. 900 A. D. With the rule of king Rajsimaha, the rock-cut method of architecture ceased in South India. Instead of it, the art of structural building was taken up. The production of the first group of temples of this phase called Rajsimha group began towards the end of the seventh century and occupied the whole of the eighth century, during this period several notable buildings were erected. Of the Rajasimha mode there are some six examples, comprising the 'Shore', Isvara, and Makunda temples at Mamallapuram; a temple at Panamalai in South Arcot district; and the temples of Kailasnatha and of Vaikuntha Perumal at Conjeevaram. The first Pallva building to be constructed of dressed stone was the 鈥� Shore Temple' so named in modern times as it stands on the external foreshore of the ancient port 36 with the underlying idea that cell should face eastwards overlooking the sea, so that the shrine might be illuminated by the first rays of the rising sun, the plan of the shrine left no room for a forecourt or assembly hall, and not even for an entrance gateway and so the shrine was left entirely open to the sea. 37 Not long after the erection of the shore temple at Mamallapuram, a Siva temple, the Kailasnatha 鈥� was begun at Conjeevaram, the capital seat of the Pallavas. The most 35. IABH p. p. 84. 36. IABH p. plt. Lii, Figs. 2 & 3 37. IABH p. p. 98-99 鈥爈bid, plt. LVII

The Development of the Regional Phases of the Temple 63 interesting feature of this temple is the pyramidal tower or Sikhara for it is in the distinctive treatment of this feature that the development of the Dravidian style may be best observed. Apart from the main structure of this temple, in a place of what should have been the main gateway a larger subsidiary chapel has been introduced with cella, vestibule and stairway approach, suggesting the beginning of the Gopuram, or entrance pylon. In the temple of Vaikuntha Perumal at Conjeevaram the Pallava style is seen in its most mature form. 38 The second group i. e. Nandivarman group (c. A. D. 800- 900 A. D.) marks the decay of this dynasty. No building of any note were erected at this time, but there are few small temples which show the direction of movement. The principal examples at Conjeevaram and Tiruttani are mere reproductions of the previous manifestations.39