CHENNAI, INDIA, APRIL 9, 2005: The temple discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), a few hundred metres to the south of the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, near Chennai, must have been as big or even bigger than the Shore Temple, said archaeologists conducting the excavation there. The ASI had discovered massive remains of a temple on the shore, close to the Shore Temple during the excavations it had conducted in February and March. While continuing the excavation, it discovered a subsidiary shrine adjacent to the remains of a square garbha griham (sanctum sanctorum) of the newly-discovered temple. The garbha griham measures 2.6 meters by 2.6 meters. The sanctum sanctorum is surrounded by an open courtyard, which is encircled by a massive prakara (outer wall). A beautiful ring-well, made of terracotta; a sculpted capstone, a shikara stone; parts of a stupa; granite architectural members with sockets; and beautiful potsherds have been found within this temple complex. What has fascinated archaeologists is that mason’s marks (engravings) have been found on the granite architectural members of the square garbha griham. These mason’s marks depict a bird, a lamp, a bow and arrow, and two interconnected triangles. The bird occurs like a leitmotif on several stones. “We have found a lot of mason’s marks of those who built this temple. We have to compare these mason’s marks [with those found elsewhere] and find out whether the same group built the temples at Kancheepuram.
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