Thiruparankundram - a Pandiya period Rock Cut Cave Temple on the back side of Thiruparankundram Shiva / Murugan Temple, Thiruparankundram, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu.

 22^nd April, 2015

Continuation of the earlier post (CLICK HERE to see the details )

The cave temple is just behind the Thiruparankundram  Sri Murugan/ Shiva Temple. After the darshan of Lord Shiva tried to get an auto near the temple. Since there was no vehicle or minibus available at that time, they started walking up to the cave. I was shocked to see the damage done to the sculptures during the Jain–Brahminical conflict. Now the site is under the control of ASI.

 Pandya Period Cave Temple 

The rock-cut temple is from the early Pandya period and was used in medieval times. It also suffered damage during this stage. This cave temple is datable back to the 8^th century CE. The temple comprises a Sanctum for Arthanareeswarar and a Hall. In Hall A, Natarajar is in a standing posture. The chest was completely damaged. On the right are Sri Valli, Devasena, and Sri Subramaniar. On the right side wall, inscriptions are found.

In the front, Ganesha on the left and Bhairavar on the right. Jain monks' reliefs are also chiseled during the Jain period.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE:   CLICK HERE

 The view of the Thiruparankundram Hill 

 Entrance steps to the cave temple

 Ganapathy on the left and Saints on the right

 Epigraph 

 Epigraph 

 Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar 

Natarajar – Murugan on the peacock and Ganapathy on the top – The maximum extent of vandalism – below the chest of Natarajar was chopped off. 

 Arthanareeswarar inside the sanctum 

 Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, and Appar Swamigal

 Bairavar

 Saints/monks

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---