Shore Temple in Tamil Nadu is India’s first green energy archaeological site. - UPSC Preparation Made Easy

The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, has been designated as the India’s first Green Energy Archaeological Site.
This is an important accomplishment since it illustrates India’s commitment to sustainable development as well as its attempts to preserve its cultural legacy.

A Green Energy Archaeological Site is an archaeological site that runs on renewable energy sources. Solar energy, wind energy, and hydropower are all examples of renewable energy.
Green Energy Archaeological Sites are more environmentally friendly and sustainable than regular archaeological sites, which frequently rely on fossil fuels.

Green Energy Archaeological Sites have a lower environmental impact than standard archaeological sites since they emit fewer greenhouse gases and other pollutants. This contributes to environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
Increased energy security: Green Energy Archaeological Sites are not dependant on finite fossil fuels. This increases their energy security and makes them less subject to variations in energy prices.
Cost savings: Green Energy Archaeological Sites can save money on energy expenditures over time. This can free up resources for other vital things like conservation and research.

The Shore Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a renowned tourist site in India. It is also an important archaeological site with a long and illustrious history. The Shore Temple’s designation as a Green Energy Archaeological Site is a remarkable achievement for India, demonstrating the country’s commitment to sustainable development and efforts to safeguard its cultural legacy.

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, was an important port town in early Indian history and a centre of creative production under the patronage of the Pallava monarchs.
Nrasimhavarman I, also known as Mamalla, ruled for around 38 years beginning in 630 C.E. and commissioned the construction of various rock-cut monuments in Mamallapuram, including cave shrines, monolithic temples, and boulder sculptures.
While the Pallava kings predominantly worshipped Shiva, they also encouraged the construction of temples dedicated to other Hindu gods and goddesses, as well as religious traditions such as Jainism.
The Pallava kings were inspired by the rising personal devotional movement known as bhakti, in which believers approach the divine as if it were a cherished child or loved one.
The creative achievements of Mamallapuram show the Pallava kings’ wide religious and cultural influences, highlighting their encouragement of art and desire to establish sacred sanctuaries for many deities.

The Shore Temple is an 8th century AD structural temple built with granite blocks. It is a pyramidal construction that is 60 feet (18 metres) tall and sits on a 50 foot (15 metre) square platform. The original porch is marked by a tiny temple in front. It is crafted from precisely carved local granite. The Shore Temple is one of Mahabalipuram’s most popular temples.
The Shore Temple is a beautiful piece of Dravidian architecture. The Dravidian architectural style is distinguished by pyramidal towers (shikharas), ornate carvings, and the use of granite stones.
It is a combination of three shrines. The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva, as is the smaller second shrine. A small third shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a reclining Vishnu and may have had water channelled into the temple, entering the Vishnu shrine.

The temple complex consists of a main temple with a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) housing the deity Sivalinga, along with smaller shrines dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and Vishnu.
The roofs of the temples have decorative finials and are in the Dravidian architectural style.
The most distinctive feature of the temple is the Dharalinga, a Shivalinga carved out of black basalt stone, with sixteen faces and a damaged top. There is also a Somaskanda panel, depicting Shiva, Uma, and their son Skanda.
Behind the main temple, there is a smaller Shiva temple with a stepped pyramidal tower and a Somaskanda panel on the back wall. The external walls display two panels: one of Shiva with Brahma and Vishnu, and another of Nagaraja (king of serpents).
There is also a small rectangular shrine dedicated to Vishnu, with carvings depicting Krishna slaying the demon Kesi, dancing over Kaliya, and saving Gajendra from a crocodile. The compound wall surrounding the temples is adorned with sculptures of Nandi, Yalis, and Varahas (boars).

The Shore Temple was constructed in the 7th century AD during the rule of the Pallava dynasty. For several centuries, the Pallavas were a great dynasty that ruled over southern India. The Shore Temple is one of the Pallava dynasty’s most important monuments. It is a monument to the Pallava artists’ skill and craftsmanship.
The Shore Temple is a notable religious site as well. It is a well-known pilgrimage site for Hindus from all around India. The Shore Temple is another renowned tourist attraction. It is one of Tamil Nadu’s most popular archaeological sites.

QuizTime:

Answer is (d) Increasing tourism revenue

The Shore Temple’s designation as India’s first Green Energy Archaeological Site is notable for the following reasons:

It highlights India’s commitment to long-term development as well as its attempts to safeguard its cultural legacy.
It establishes a precedent for future archaeological sites in India.
It contributes to raising awareness about the significance of environmental conservation and sustainable development.
It raises awareness of India’s cultural heritage and tourism economy.
The Shore Temple’s designation as a Green Energy Archaeological Site is a positive step forward for India. It demonstrates the country’s growing commitment to sustainable development as well as its attempts to safeguard its cultural heritage.

The Shore Temple is an important topic on the UPSC exam. It is likely to appear in inquiries about the following subjects: