Talagirisvara Temple is aHindu temple located in the village ofPanamalai in theViluppuram district ofTamil Nadu,India.
Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha is credited with constructing structural temples ofPallava dynasty namely theShore Temple at Mamallapuram,Kailasanathar Temple and Talagirisvara temple at Panamalai. The temple is built on a small hillock overlooking the Panamalai lake.[1] This 7th Century structure has aVimana which resembles that of Kailasanatha temple ofKanchipuram. Thegarbhagriha houses aDharalingam and as in Pallava temples of that time, there is aSomaskanda panel on rear wall of the sanctum. There is anArdhamandapam (halfMandapam). On the walls of theArdhamandapam one can see panels of deities such asBrahma withSaraswati andVishnu withLakshmi on either side. The shrine faces east and the garbhagriha is surrounded on all the three sides by sub-shrines (Anga Kovil or Limb Shrines - which are attached to the main shrine).[2] A few more sub-shrines and aMahamandapam (a big Mandapam) have been added to the structure at much later period. The Vimana is three tiered and the top tier has been reconstructed. The pillars with squatting lions, a typical Pallava signature can also be found.[citation needed]
The sub-shrine to the north, has a small section of mural painting which has survived over the years, bears testimony to the Pallavas mastery of the art.[3]
The painting of Shiva as "Nataraja" on the walls of the cave is the earliest Nataraja representation of Shiva.[4]
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