Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

3031 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Krishna Mandapam

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu · 12.6167°, 80.1917°

KrishnaPallavaPallava
Sacred since
600 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
mid-7th c. (Pallava); mandapa added 16th c.
Pallava

History & significance

A rock-cut relief panel at Mahabalipuram carved in the mid-7th century under the Pallavas, showing Krishna raising Govardhana amid scenes of cowherd village life. A pillared mandapa was built in front of it in the 16th century under the Vijayanagara empire.

Sthala katha — the traditional account

What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.

The relief depicts Krishna lifting the Govardhana hill on one finger to shelter the cowherds from the deluge sent by Indra.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Pallava