File:Kotikal Mandapa - 3.jpg

English: This project exploring MAMALLAI was undertaken as it holds a significant place in the history of Tamilazagam. Mamallai temples and sculptures can be considered as a prototype laboratory for the temple architecture of Dravidian style. Even much before the Mahendravarman (590-630 AD) of Pallava dynasty, temple worship was much in practice, however, he was one who initially introduced the STONE TEMPLE building to Tamilazagam.

Before his time, perishable materials was used for temple construction like bricks, clay, limestone and wood. Tamilians during Sangam and post sangam period used Stones to commemorate the valor of hero’s , who had sacrificed their life for their land . These “Hero Stones” ( “Veera Kallu” in Tamil)being built in the memory of the DEAD valorous ones, probably was the reason why stones were not used for the construction of temples. In fact cave temples and structural temples were in vogue with other contemporary rulers of north, namely Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas and the much earlier rulers of Gupta and Maurayas dating back to 2 to 3rd century BCE.

There is no unanimity among experts on the authorship and chronology of Mamallai Monuments. However in general the experts feel that these Monuments came in to existence over a period of almost a century, starting from Mahendra Pallava (630-668 AD), his son Narasimha pallava and then followed by Parameswara and Rajasimha (700-728AD) Mamallai achieves a unique position in India in temple architecture studies as it has the following temple style in one place.

- Cave Temples - Monolithic Temples( insitu single rock temples) - Structural Temples( where rocks are cut/sized and laid) - Open air Bas Relief.

Mamallai, a treasure house of Temple architecture , in a way was an inspiration to great Cholas, who had immortalized the temple construction by their creative energy.