Mandagapattu Temple

Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the village of Mandagapattu in the Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. Hewn from rock by the Pallava ruler Mahendravarman I in honour of the trinity Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu, the rock-cut cave temple is the oldest stone shrine discovered and dated in Tamil Nadu. The temple is notable for the earliest known rock-cut Sanskrit inscription written in Grantha script. It is attributed to the Pallava king Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE).

The inscription reads:

atadniṣṭakaṃdruṃ[malo]- hamasudhaṃ [vicitraci]ttena nimmarpitannrape[ṇa] brahmo – śvaraviṣṇula[kṣi]tāyanaṃ

Transliteration into Devanagari:

अतद्निष्टकंद्रुं[मलो]-

हमसुधं [विचित्रचि]त्तेन

निम्मर्पितन्न्रपे[ण] ब्रह्मो –

श्वरविष्णुल[क्षि]तायनं

Translation:

"The temple dedicated to Brahma, Siva and Vishnu was excavated by Vichitrachitta without using brick, timber, metal and mortar".