Kalinga Sculptures of Chengamedu, Veerareddy Street, and Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to these Kalinga Sculptures at Chengamedu Kalinga Sculptures and Veerareddy Street at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram are part of Avanam 28^th year book release, in July 2017 function at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram and Rajendra Chozha War Trophy Trail, a Heritage walk organised by the Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Aayvu Sangam -  கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் on 28^th and 29^th September 2024.

“தஞ்சாபுரீம் சௌத சுதாங்காராகாம

ஐக்ராஹ ரந்தும் ரவி வம்ச தீப:

தத:பிரதிஷ்டாப்ய நிசும்ப சூதனீம்

சுராசுரை:அர்ச்சித பாத பங்கஜாம்

சது : சமுத்ராம்பர மேகலாம் புவம்

ரஹாஜ தேவோ தத்பராசதந”

Meaning: As per the Thiruvalandau Copperplate, The idol of Nisumba Soodhani, who conquered and annihilated the demons Shumba and Nishumba, was consecrated in Thanjavur. With the grace of the worshipful feet of Nisumba Soodhani, the king ruled the earth surrounded by ocean with ease, as if wearing a garland.  

கலிங்கச்சிற்பங்கள் - செங்கமேடு

இங்குள்ள நிசும்ப சூதனி, துர்க்கை, காளி, பைரவர் மற்றும் பைரவி சிலைகள், முதலாம் இராஜேந்திர சோழனின் கி.பி. 11-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு வெற்றியின் அடையாளமாக கலிங்க நாட்டிலிருந்து கொண்டு வரப்பட்டவையாகும். செந்நிற மணற்கல்லால் ஆன இச்சிலைகள் கலிங்க நாட்டுக் கலைப்பாணிக்கு சிறந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டாக விளங்குகிறது.

இன்றைய ஒடிஸா மாநிலத்தின் வடபகுதியே அன்று, கலிங்க நாடு என்றழைக்கப்பட்டது.

KALINGA SCULPTURES - CHENGAMEDU

Sculptures of Nisumba Soodhani, Durga, Kali, Bhairavar, and Bhairavi found here were brought by Rajendra Chola-I (11th century CE) his victory. These sculptures are of red Kalinga art. The northern part of the state used to be called Kalinga in the from the Kalinga country as a mark of sandstone are excellent examples of the present Odisha ancient times.

LOCATION OF THR TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

Nisumba soodhani

Bairavar

Bairavi

This Kali Sculpture is in the second room, a little bigger than the one in the first Room. This Kali is with Ashta Bhuja holding various weapons like sword, shield, arrow, snake, etc, and Jwala makuda with a crescent moon.  The nose is found broken and reworked. 

KALI TEMPLE AT VEERA REDDY STREET.

This Kali is also one of the eight Kali sculptures brought from Kalinga made of Red stone. This is smaller in size compared with Chengamedu, Regular kala pooja is conducted and the gate will be locked the rest of the time.

PC: Gopinath

PC: Gopinath

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Prehistoric Rock Arts and Anthropomorphic Figure at Kilvalai, Settavarai, Alambadi and Udayanatham, in Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

...a Continuation post to  Panamalai Talagirisvara temple .

23^rd July 2017.

The stretch between Villupuram to Thirukovilur on the banks of river Thenpennai has the  small small hills in which boulders are scattered in zig-zag fashion. This formed a  natural shelters for prehistoric people. We know that the human’s civilization started on the banks of rivers only, Prehistoric burial sites, cairn circles, the stone tools,  The remains of Iron slags,  are found between this stretch.
   

ஆதி கற்கால மனிதர்கள் தென் பென்னை ஆற்றின் கடரைகளில் இயற்கையாக அமைந்த பாறை இடுக்குகளில் வாழ்ந்து வந்தனர். வடகரையில் கீழ்வாலை, ஆலம்பாடி, செத்தவரை உடயார்நத்தம் ஆகிய பகுதிகளில் அவர்கள் வாழ்ந்தற்கான ஆதாரங்கள் தான் அக்குகைகளில் அவர்கள் கண்டவற்றை, வாழ்வியல் முறைகளை ஓவியங்களாக பதிவு செய்து இருந்தது தான் நாம் தற்போது காண்பது. அதில் குதிரை, மாடுகள், மான்கள், புலி, மீன் போன்ற மிருகங்களும் அவர்களின் சடங்குகள், அவர்கள் நெருப்பில் வாட்டி மாமிச உணவுகளை சாப்பிட்டு உயிர் வாழ்ந்தனர் என்பது அவர்கள் வரைந்த ஓவியங்கள் மூலம் அறியலாம். அவர்கள் தலைக்கு அணிந்து இருந்த கொம்புகள், அவர்கள் கை நகல்கள், படகு போன்ற சாதனங்களும் ஓவியத்தில் காணக் கிடைக்கின்றது. கை நகல்கள் அவர்கள் கூட்டமாக வாழ்ந்தனர் என்பதையும் காட்டுகின்றது.. இன்னும் ஒரு படி மேலாக மிருகங்களின் உடற்கூறுகளை, குடல் இரைபை, விலா எலும்பு போன்றவற்றை நாம் தற்போது காணும் எக்ஸ் ரே கருவி கொண்டு காண்பது போல இருக்கின்றது.

மேலும் உடையார்நத்தம் பகுதியை மையமாக வைத்து வாழ்ந்தனர் என்பதற்கான சான்று உடையார் நத்தத்தில் நமக்கு கிடைக்கும் தாய் தெய்வ வழிபாட்டின் சின்னமும், கல் பதுகைகளும் ஆகும். இங்கு கற்கால மனிதர்கள் உபயோகித்த ஆயுதங்கள் கிடைத்ததாக அறிஞர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர். பிற்காலத்தில் மக்கள் ரோமர்களுடன் வாணிபம் செய்தனர் என்பதற்கான சான்று தென் பென்னை ஆற்றங்கரைகளில் கிடைத்த நாணயங்கள். இரும்பு காலத்தின் கழிவுகளும் இங்கு சிதறிக்கிடக்கின்றது.

KILVALAI – ROCK ARTS.

This arts are drawn on two rock shelters called Rettaparai in Kilvalai about 10 to 17 feet high. The colour of the paintings are in saffron red  in colour. These arts are about the men, women mainly with open hands for some ritualistic significance especially the horned headgear of the men and their faces resembles birds beak, which bear very close similarity to some of the Egyptian painting of the second millennium BCE. There are bow and arrow. The occurrence and  depiction of men rowing a boat  indicates a link between the Indus valley and the southern region.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

The experts says that the symbols are related to Sindhu region civilization

SETTAVARAI  - ROCK ARTS.

These arts are drawn on rocks about 100 meters high hill  in the village Settavarai. ( Settavarai means varai – hill, setha – dead so it is a dead hill ) The trekking was bit difficult with uneven boulders provided as path and in two places ladders are also provided. Safety grill was provided for the safety of the visitors from falling. Local children guided us from the base.  

The drawing are in both ochre red and white colour. The arts are about the animals, human beings and fish too....The Buffalo is drawn in red ochre and a deer out line in red ochre and inner is completed with white color. Palm impressions are also there, in one impression the pointing finger was not there. It was told that many number of palms means many number of peoples in that group. In the animal paintings the internal organs are drawn, looks like X ray image.  There is a fig of flesh and fish are fried on fire. So come to a conclusion that during that period the people are aware of eating the fried flesh and fish. 

From the style  and execution of this painting we can estimate the age of the painting  must belongs to 1500 BCE.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 The parts of the body looks like X-ray image 

Fish

 Palm prints

ALAMBADI – ROCK ARTS

This is painted between the two rocks.  Pictures of Cow, calf, deer and bear are painted in white ochre on the rock. The inner organs of the cow has been depicted as if they have been X Rayed. The paintings are incomplete.

Ref: http://www.tnarch.gov.in/cons/paint.htm

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

UDAYANATHAM – Anthropomorphic Figures worshiped as Thai Deivam 

This site is about 500 to 600 meters off from a quarry under TAMIN.  This is a Single stone slab cut to look like woman without head. The  stone belongs to stone age and erected on burial site. The place is called by the locals as visiriparai and on the way to Aathiliamman temple. This stone is also called as Thai Deivam ( Mother god )

For the  discussion on the Facebook click here

As per Historians these are the Anthropomorphic figures installed along with Cairn Circles. A monument created for the deceased. 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

THE TEAM

இது பற்றி தமிழில் அறிய திருமதி சக்திபிரகாஷ் அவர்களின் முகநூலின் தொடர்பைச் சொடுக்கவும்… CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Talagirisvara Temple / பனைமலை ஸ்ரீ தாளகிரீஸ்வரர் கோவில், Panamalai, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu

....a Continuation post to Mandakapattu Rock cut Cave Temple 

23^rd July 2017.

This is the second masonry temple built after Mahabalipuram shore temple, during 8^th century by Narasimhavarman–II also known as Rajasimhan ( 706 to 722 CE ) on this small hill. Steps are built for some stretch and in some stretch, chiseled on the rock itself. The temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Moolavar    : Sri Talagiresvara

Consort      : Sri Ashtatalambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are,...

At the entrance of the hill a Vinayagar temple with a relief on the boulder. Durgai is in a samall cave on the left side of the base ( Durgai is with ashta bhujam holding Thandas, bow, Sangu, shield, Kadi hastam, Chakra, Sword and Kadaka mudra  ). The temple is facing east with Rishabam and Balipeedam. There are 3 koshtams in which 8 faces Dara linga is installed. Moolavar is also Dara lingam with 16 faces. Somaskandar relief is on the back side of the sanctum wall. In artha mandapam reliefs of Mahavishnu with Lakshmi on the right and Brahma with Saraswati are on the left. Lime mortar is applied on the images.

In praharam Sannidhi for Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Saniswaran, Suryan, Chandran and Ambal is facing south.

Moolavar - Somaskandar is on the back wall

In Kostam

 Brahma with Saraswati

 Vishnu with Lakshmi 

 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam.  The sanctum vimana is of 3 tiers and lime mortar is applied on the images. Of this the last two tiers are constructed at a latter period.

On the right side  kostam the stone wall was plastered with lime mortar and Shiva’s oozhi koothu dance was painted ( the same is in the form of stucco image at Kanchi Sri Kailasanathar Temple )  and the right wall has the painting of Parvati looking the dance of Shiva. It will be very difficult to trace now, almost in faded condition.

Adhistanam

 Parvathi is watching Lord Shiva’s Dance 

 Shiva’s hands can be seen 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This is the second masonry temple built after Mahabalipuram shore temple, during 8^th century by Narasimhavarman–II also known as Rajasimhan ( 706 to 722 CE ) on this small hill.

The pallava grantha / Sanskrit inscriptions ( SII Vol 12- 29 - 30 & Pallava Inscriptions 62 & 63 ) records the Narasimhavaraman-II’s titles as Rajasimhan, Ranajayan, Sribara,  Chitrakarmukha, Eka vira and Siva soodamani. Also mentions that Pallavas are the decedents of Bhardwaj, Aswathaman. The inscription mainly records the donation given to this temple.

This incomplete inscription ( SII Volume –XII, No 29, AR No 616 of 1915 ), on the North, West and south bases of Talapurisvara Temple, records in florid Pallava-Grantha characters gives the prasasti of king Rājasimha, son of Ekamalla i.e. Paramēśvara L. From the existence of this inscription and of another consisting of a single Sanskrit verse which is identical with the last verse of the Kailasanātha inscription of Rajasimha (South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. I, No. 24) and with the 3rd verse of the Shore Temple inscription of the same king at Mahabalipuram (No. 28 above), it may be presumed that the temple of Tāļapurīśvara was constructed during his reign. A photo-litho of this record is in the Epigraphical Report for 1916, facing page 114. Given. Published in Epigraphia India Volume XIX, pages 113 and 114 No 30.

This inscription ( SII Volume XII, No 30, AR 618 of 1915 ) on the side of Cavern in the same hill, is a single Sanskrit verse which is identical with the last verse of Rājasimha's inscription round the Rajasimheśvara shrine in the Kailasanatha temple at Conjeeveram. It is a benedictory verse wishing long rule for Rājasimha, who has the birudas: Ranajaya, Śrībhara, Chitrakārmuka, Ekavīra, and Sivachūda mani. A facsimile of the inscription is given on plate I facing page 112 in the Epigraphical Report for 1916. Published in South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. I, No. 31, p. 24.

The 18th century Arcot Nawab Saddath Ullah khan's inscription records the excavation of a pond on this hill, to get rid of the sin caused due to Killing of Rajadesingh. The inscription records as “Svasthisri Sriman maha mandaleswara Rajathiraja Rajaparameswara Rajamarthanda Nawab Sadhat Ullah Khan Saibu… ". The inscription is on the pillar next to Vinayagar Sculpture.

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume XII, Nos. 29 and 30.

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Pournami, Maha Shivaratri, Aippasi Annabhishekam, Thai Kanum Pongal ( Utsavar will be taken in procession to 7 Villages ), etc,.

Annual festival is celebrated on Chithirai 1st day 

CONTACT DETAILS

Kasi Sivachariyar may be contacted on his mobile +918056863301

HOW TO REACH

Panamalai is about 21 KM from Gingee

Since there is no proper bus service either you can hire Taxi from Gingee or from Villupuram 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi is  on the right 

.... to be continued Rock Paintings in the prehistoric shelters between Villupuram to Thirukovilur.

--OM SHIVAYA NAMA---