The Oldest Lighthouse

Which is the oldest lighthouse in India? The Olakannesvara temple, an 8th century Siva temple in Mamallapuram, is one contender for the title. According to local legend, this structure served as a beacon guiding sailors over 1200 years ago.
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Image attributions:
1. Pagodas at Mahabalipuram
John Landseer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
2. Lithograph of Olakkanesvara temple from James Fergusson's 'Illustrations of the Rock Cut Temples of India'
Dibdin, Thomas Colman (1810-1893), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
3. Olakkanneshvara Temple above the Mahishasuramardhini Cave temple, Mahabalipuram
Nicholas and Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
4. The Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
Tanay Agarwal, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
5. Aerial view of Olakkanesvara Temple, Mahabalipuram
Preeti Prajapati, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...

[@tharun541]

0:24 It is called vimana, not gopuram. Both are different. The former refers to one directly over the garbagriha and the latter serves as the entrance to the temple complex

[@vamosabv]

Another brilliant video! Keep it coming

[@KrishnaKumar-bn7vv]

Excellent

[@umashankarvaithiyanathan5613]

So true

[@srirambalakrishnan1990]

There can be another interpretation as well.. In Tamil , Vilaku Ennai ( Lamp oil ) could have morphed in to this name as well. Per the scriptures there ,it is the duty of the villages to donate Lamp Oil and keep the flame burning for the sailors . Hence the name Vilaku Ennai Ishwara temple..

[@tharun541]

Can you please mention sources where I could learn this stuff? The inscriptions and history of this temple

[@anmoldesai6022]

The idols were probably not "lost". It was stolen or destroyed on purpose

[@tharun541]

Might be destroyed during Malik Kafur/ Mughal invasion. Might be stolen during British era

[@shyamraa]

Ulai kann means internal eye 👁 right?

[@Ordinaryperson-77]

Tamilnadu is a treasure of ancient monuments

[@alberttanner408]

Archeological evidence only gives an interpretation not the truth.

[@alberttanner408]

Idols legends shows the type of corrupt mindset we’re listening too.