MAHABALIPURAM BEFORE PALLAVA?

Mahabalipuram is a town south of Chennai. In my previous writing about the port and some evidence that exists in and around Mahabalipuram, I had mentioned some questions that arise to the followers of Mahabalipuram's history.

Most of the people had heard about south Indian history which classified into three parts, that are

•  Historical Era (BCE)
• Black age  (3rd to 6th CE)
• Medival age (from 6CE) 

1. The Historical era (BCE) was ruled by Early Cholas, Pandiya & in the north by Ashoka.
2. During the black age, there is no specific king name has been identified. In Tamil, they will mention it as kalapirargal kaalam, and there is uncertainty in the history.
3. After the black age, The medieval age has some clearance of king's names and history. At this age, Pallava & Chalukyas had been concentrated in South India.

Most of them had been believed that Pallava kings were developed Mahabalipuram. They built several monuments and Temples. But Mahabalipuram was a Famous place before Pallava's development how could be possible?

Mahabalipuram had a port before the Pallava age during 1 century CE, however, it was not that much clear. 

Two Roman coins were founded in Mahabalipuram which was dated as 4th century CE by the scholars. it was founded in the year 1832 published by James prinsep.

How could  Roman coins be found in Mahabalipuram? 

Was there any trade that happened in early times? 

if yes then the Port might be in or near Mahabalipuram. 

What type of products they trade with Romans? & What language they have spoken to communicate?

If  Romans came to trade in India then the Indians would also be visited their place.

So Why did Pallava want to make monuments in Mahabalipuram which was already a famous place?

is monuments in Mahabalipuram was really made by Pallava's?

yes, because they made inscriptions in Five Rathas & Ganesh Ratha.

 Was Mahabalipuram a school of arts, Before making a big project they used the stones in Mahabalipuram as a rough draft to test several art techniques?

I think it must be not like that because when you see Arjuna penance & the beauty of elephants it would be clear & there are temples like Shore temple & Adi Varaha temple were finished sites.

At the same time monuments like Five Rathas were unfinished & mantapas like Mahishasura Mardini, Varaha mantapa has empty Garbagruhas. The war between Pallava & Chalukhya was interrupted to stop this work?

Was there any possibility of the natural calamity which interrupted them to stop these works?

If there is a port that existed in Mahabalipuram before & the presence of the Pallava era then what happened to it after the Pallava period?

Some of the research made in Coastal side of Mahabalipuram, underwater some of the structures have been founded so there could be some temples and there may be evidence or sign of port existence.

further research could make more clearance.

A Literature in Sanskrit called Avanti Sundari Katha, Written by Dadin, a poet in Pallava's court. It describes Lord Sthalasayanaperumal who was reclining on the shore, Lord's structure was damaged & it was repaired by a Sthapathi called Lalithalaya who was a very brilliant architect. Later Dandin was brought to the temple, He says that I can't find the replacement that had been made by lalithalaya. he is an excellent sthapathi says Dandin. Then a lotus flower came along the wave and touches Lord's feet then transformed into a Gandharva & went to the sky.

We can make sure that there is no piece of land in front of Shore temple from this story. where today a submerged place found in Mahabalipuram was not even active at the time of Dandin.

Dandins age was 7th century CE, so from Pallava's rule to till now the Shoreline remains the same in Mahabalipuram.

Now another question will arise so where is the exact location of the Port?

If the Port is not Submerged then it must be inland.

Here we can split the things into two, ("What if the submerged place in Mahabalipuram may be sopatma a Port mentioned in a Greek book Periplus of the erythraen sea. After it submerged the Pallava kings may change and rebuilt the port inland")my thoughts.

Port must not build in a small place it must be stretched very long distance so the inland port may start from Kovalam to Vayalur it may Exist some scholars were said. 

Now the question is what happened to the inland Port after Pallava's rule?

After Pallava, Chola's have also arrived at Mahabalipuram they didn't leave any footprints about the port.

Then the Vijayanagara kings also ruled, They also didn't leave any evidence?

Cholas are the first king who came as soon as they defeated Pallava's so during the 9th Century they came to power. in the 7th century, The port was mentioned by Thirumangai Azhwar but in the 9th Century, no one mentioned it.

What happened between these 200 years?

Comment your thoughts below.