27, January 2014.
When I received the
email for registering from J Chandra P R O
of R.E.A.C.H. Foundation to GUDIYAM CAVES VISIT, I immediately replied yes. After that, I
searched for more details on the web. It was interesting, and it kindled me
further. I was very eagerly waiting for the 26th Jan 2014 to
arrive. I used to learn many things, like Chozha / Pandya/Pallava period
temples during this type of visit.
We are fortunate
enough to visit these caves/temples with Mr. Sathyamurthy, an Expert from
Archaeology (who formerly worked with ASI), Mr. Badrinarayanan, a Geologist (who formerly worked with the Geological Survey of India), and Mr. Vakula Varadharajan,
the Historian. Even though I heard many things, I was able to reproduce
very little in this post since they are beyond my understanding/knowledge. Also, I had my co-passenger, Mr. Anantha, from Nanganallur (9445166074), who is also interested in this type of visit, music, and culture.
As usual, I joined
this visit from Guindy along with 36 members in two vans. We reached Poondi
Oontreeswarar Shiva temple after crossing Thiruvallur (The Place
Poondi is also called Thiruvenbakkam. This is the 17th Devaram
Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam in Thondai Nadu, where Iraivan has given an
Oontrukol (walking stick) to Sundarar, when he lost his eyesight,
while he was on the way to Thiruvarur via Thirumullaivoyal, Kanchipuram.
Details of this temple will be posted separately after the Thirukoil
Uzhavarapani scheduled on 2nd Feb 2014.
The
group comprised of Ladies, 2 kids, and young & very young people.
After the darshan of Lord Shiva Oontreeswarar, we had our breakfast at the
temple itself.
We reached
Goonipalayam Village (Nambakkam Road) around 10.15 hrs after crossing
Poondi reservoir (Sathyamoorthy Sagar). Since there are no proper signboards, we missed the route twice. Parked our vehicle at the end of the concrete road and
started our trek. The actual start point is from the Tall Watch Tower. The
path was full of pebbles, and it was difficult to trek on the
pebbles. The thick growth of vegetation also made the trek further
tougher. The route was a frightening one. We could hear some birds chirping, but it was too silent. There is no passerby throughout the trek. A local
lady from the other side of the hill came along with us. A dog also followed us
during the trek. (Maybe expecting some biscuits from us). Even though the 2nd cave
was about 7 km, it looked like we had trekked a long distance. And the
path was stretching like Hanuman's tail. Everybody is exhausted due to the scorching sun. On the route, there were no big trees to take shelter.
Old straw-roof hut at Goonipalayam village - The starting point of our trek
Trekking on the pebble path
Still, we have to trek
A conglomerate of pebbles and rock
A conglomerate of pebbles and rock
People throw plastic waste - too bad.
The conglomerate of pebbles and rock (Local people call this Thalayari, the kaaval Theivam to Sri Mannachi Amman. He was made as Kaval Deivam since he had seen Sri Mannachi Amman eating food prepared by her. Learned from the Local lady who trekked along with us)
We
are approaching the 2nd Cave
There are about 16 caves in this Allikulli hill range, and we can cover only two. All the caves are a natural formation of the conglomerate of pebbles of laterite or geological formation pebbles. The pebbles were formed due to the running of the river Kaveri via this region (Yes, the present Kaveri flowed through this place with an origin from Palghat, Kerala. Due to natural diversion/obstruction at Mettur, the river changes its direction to the present route - this is as per Mr. Badrinarayanan, Geologist. Now the same river is called the Kosasthalaiyar River. Huge beehives are clinging to the roof of the 2nd cave.
Entrance view of the 2nd cave
A
Devotee is performing pooja to Sri Mannachi Amman
View
of the opposite hill from the cave
Devotee's offerings to Sri Mannachi Amman
A cave
within the cave
Sri Mannachi Amman
There is an Amman idol called Sri Mannachi Amman, which was
installed by the locals, and regular poojas on Sundays are also conducted by a
lady. People from far-off places like Pichatur in Andhra Pradesh visit Amman, and pongal is being offered.
Nature’s
twist ( Look at this looking like a man and head like an elephant)
Nature's twist
After the 2nd cave, we went to the 1st cave also, on the way to the start point, even though most of the people were exhausted. There, we found a water
source above the cave. It was a panoramic view of the hills from
there.
Our people are taking a rest in the first cave
Panoramic view of the Hill above the 1st cave
The dog that
followed us throughout the trek
The important details
of these caves are…..
- There are 16 caves in the Allikulli Hills range.
- These caves are approximately 120,000 years old.
- These caves were once in the ice glaciers.
- In the year 1863, Sir Robert Bruce Foote, a British geologist, had done research on these caves, and he had discovered some of the stone tools used by the Palaeolithic people (Stone Age) between 29 to 18 thousand years ago.
- In the year 1930 CE, Mr Krishnasamy, an Archaeologist discovered 16 caves in this hill region.
- In the year 1936, Cambridge University in the United States studied these caves.
- Paleolithic people used these caves as temporary shelters.
- Since the soil and caves are conglomerates of pebbles, there are no big trees.
- Now these caves are under the control of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).
HOW TO REACH
The Gudiyam cave is
about 70 km from Chennai.
You can reach Via
Thiruvallur, Poondi, and Goonipalayam on the way to Nambakkam
Goonipalayam is 11 km from Poondi via Poondi reservoir (Sathyamoorthy Sagar – a drinking water
source to Chennai city and a transit reservoir to Puzhal for Krishna water )
From Goonipalayam, one
has to take a trek of about 7 km to the 2nd cave from the watch tower.
LOCATION OF THE CAVE: CLICK
HERE
Started our trek back
to the base, where we parked the vehicles. Had our lunch around 14.30 hrs. On
the way to Chennai, we had been to Thiruvur and Aranvoyal Shiva Temples. The
details are as follows.
SRI
SINGANDISWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUVUR
This temple is on the North side of the river Koovam. The village Thiruvur is 40 km from Chennai on the way to Thiruvallur.
The three-tier Rajagopuram
Moolavar : Sri Singandiswarar
Consort : Sri Uthbalambal
Some
of the important features of this temple are …
The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. In the ardha mandapam relief of Rameswarar, Thirunageswarar, Jambukeswarar (Thiruvanaikaval), and Rishya Singaateswarar are available on all four sides of a pillar.
In the outer prakaram 5 Ivar, Athimuga Vinayagar, Vallal Kumaran with Valli Devasena, Singara Chandran, Singara Suryan, Singara Bhairavar, Vallalar, Saptha Kannis, and Nagar. Ambal is of Chozha period idol in a standing posture with a beautiful smile on her face.
There is no Navagrahas sannadhi, since Ashta Thikku Balakars are on the top of Rajagopuram, hence a separate sannadhi for Navagrahas was not built.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. It was also told that there is an underground tunnel available from the present Madappalli, and the same was closed during the Kumbhabhishekam without investigation.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
During the 1st Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan's 11th year
(1261CE) rule, the temple was built as a stone structure. Before
the stone construction, the temple was built by Ozhukarai alias
Thiruvannamalai udayan belongs to Ozhukarai alias Kulothunga Nalloor. He was the
Chief of the Place called Vembayur alias Thugadur.
From 1st Jadavarma Sundara Pandyan to Chozha King Vijaya Kanda Gopalan’s period, inscriptions of a total of 12 nos are available inside the temple, of which two numbers are kept at the entrance of the south side Rajagopuram.
The
Attaka Pillayar temple on the west side of the river Cooum receives the
maanyam (மானியம்) for the burning of a lamp from this Shiva temple.
The
complete temple was reconstructed between 1998 and 2004 in stages.
One of the inscription stone slabs is erected in front of the temple ( seems to be of the latter period )
LEGENDS
It was believed that Rishya Singeeswarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, and hence Shiva is called Sri Singandiswarar.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Mr
Soundararajan 9952414369 and Rama Vimalan 9382664946 may be contacted for more
details.
HOW TO REACH.
The
village Thiruvur is on the highway between Chennai and Thiruvallur, about 40 km from Chennai. All the buses used to stop on the main road of Thiruvur.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Front arch at the entrance of the maha mandapam
Stucco Natarajar with Ambal and Nandhiyamperuman with Suyasambigai
Gajabirushta Vimanam
Moolavar Vimanam with Dakshinamurthy and Lingothbavar
Sri Valli Devasena samedha Sri Vallal Kumaran
View of the Rajagopuram from inside the temple
Sri Rishya Singeeswarar worshiping Lord Shiva
Vallalar Sannadhi
Attakappillayar Sannadhi by the side of the road
Attaka Pillayar - a big-sized murti
THIRU THALEESWARAR TEMPLE, ARANVOYAL.
After Sri Singandiswarar
darshan, we proceeded to another Shiva temple about 3 to 4 km away, at Aranvoyal.
Moolavar:
Thiruthaleeswarar
Some of the important
features of this temple are .....
The temple faces east with a mottai gopuram on the south side, which is used as the main entrance. The Rishabam has been shifted to the east side from the south side and looks cute. We could
see minute details on the Nandhi. The moolavar vimanam is of the Gajabirustam type.
Sri Kamkshi Amman
and Sri Ekambareswarar are in a separate sannadhi. Lord Shiva Sri Thiruthaleeswarar in
Nagabaranam looks cute. It was a Pallava-period temple. The temple is under
reconstruction.
NATARAJAR
Mr. Vakula
Varadharajan explained to us the beauty of the Chandrasekarar with Ambal in a sitting posture with his left leg up in a folded position.
He also explained the
beauty of Natarajar, the mudra details, and the functions of Damuru, and the fire on the
hands. This is the Natarajar with Ganga (small) on the jada mudi. The jada
mudi are of three numbers on either side.
Nataraja with Manickavasagar and Ambal
A closer look at Ambal
See the Ganga on the left side of jadamudi and the difference between the left and right eye (The left side is supposed to be Ambal).
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Tamil inscriptions were
found around the left pillar on the south side entrance.
The old Tamil inscriptions around the pillar - the Pallava period
HOW
TO REACH :
The temple is on the
opposite side of Thiruvur village. All the buses from Chennai to Thiruvallur
pass through the Aranvoyal bus stop, and the village is about 1 km away from the main
road.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
View of the main shrine entrance arch with Moolavar Gajabirushta vimanam
Entrance arch
Rishabam - preparing for the installation
The old Pillayar - see the araignan thread (அரைஞான் கயிறு) - He used the snake
South side mottai gopuram
Sri
Mahavishnu & his consort - See the Chakra is in a straight position-
sitting posture of his consort, left leg is up
After darshan, we
returned to Chennai around 19.30 hrs with a lot of pleasant memories.
I extend my gratitude to R.E.A.C.H Foundation and the Experts Mr. Sathyamoorthy,
Mr. Badrinarayanan, Mr. Vakula Varadharajan, and our friend Mr. J Chandrasekaran.
I was surprised to
receive a call from Mr. Vakula Varadharajan (+91 9840499986) on 21-03-3014, 21.36 hrs, and he had
given some comments and appreciated the way in which I had written the
post. I was really very happy to receive the comments from an Expert. I tried to incorporate all the comments, and if there are any mistakes, I will correct them.
Thank you very much, Sir.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
