page_title: Pandyan art and architecture
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Pandyan art and architecture / History
caption_attribution_description: Four Armed Vishnu, Pandya Dynasty, 8-9th Century
context_page_description: Rock cut and structural temples are significant part of Pandyan art and architecture. The vimana and mandapa are some of the features of the early Pandyan temples. Groups of small temples are seen at Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu. The Shiva temples have a Nandi bull sculpture in front of the maha mandapa. In the later stages of Pandyas rule, finely sculptured idols, gopurams on the vimanas were developed. Gopurams are the rectangular entrance and portals of the temples.
caption: Four-armed Vishnu, Pandya Dynasty, 8th–9th century CE.
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