27th August
2017.
The last stop before
meals was at the Pallava Period rock-cut cave temple, Vallam, Chengalpattu.
These three, 6th to 7th century
cave temples excavated by the Pallava King Mahendravarman –I on a small
hillock facing east. The steps to the cave temple were constructed in 2002. Some
of the important features of these rock-cut cave temples are...
The lower level single-cell cave shrine is dedicated to Vishnu as Karivaradharaja
Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. The cell has the Dwarapalakas reliefs
with identical postures. On the right side of the entrance is the Vishnu Durgai.
The upper-level
cave has three cells with two square Pillars and two pilasters of
which the center cell has been dedicated to Shiva and Nandhi is in front. The
capital of the pillars is very simple. This cell is excavated deeply to accommodate Shiva linga, Sri Vethantheeswarar. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the cave entrance with snakes tied on their hip. The Dwarapalakas have horns is a unique feature. On the right cell is Ambal
Gnanambigai in standing posture. The left cell is dedicated to Subramaniar
with Valli Devasena. In the front mandapam, Muthukumaraswamy, Thavvai / Jyeshta Devi with Manthan & Manthi, Nagars, Dakshinamurthy and Chandikeswarar.
On the outside of
the cave, Vinayagar relief is on the left, and Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai relief in the right.
Un like Mahabalipuram, the cave has the 7nos of Pallava Period Tamil
inscriptions. The front concrete mandapam was built at a later date.
There is an
intermediate cave in which stucco images of Shiva, Parvathy worshiping Shiva,
etc. Materials are dumped in this cave with a front concrete structure was built
at a later date.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS:
It was told that Kadava
King Koperumsingan donated for the burning of perpetual lamps and Rajathirajan
donated gold to this temple to conduct regular poojas. Pradosham is conducted
regularly.
As per the inscription this place was called Kalattur Kottathu Vallanattu Vallam and Lord Shiva was called Thiruvayathisuramudaiya Nayanar. The 13th-century Kadava King Koperunsingan’s inscription says about the donation made to the burning
of a perpetual lamp.
1 sakalapu[va]nacha[k*]ka
2 vithikkal [sri]k[o*]
3 perunsinga
4 devarkuyandu
5 [aavadhu] ka[la]
6 ko[t]athu vallanattu valla
7 [t]thu yudaiy[a*]r
thiruvayanthisuramu[dai]
8 [ya] nayanarkku
Another Inscription of Mahendravarman in early Tamil Grantha script on the Square /cubical of the pillar starts with his Titles / Meikeerthi as Pakappiduku Lalitankuran. Kandasenan/Skandasena, the son of Vayandappiriaresaru/Vasantapriyaraja, a small king under Pakappidugu Lalitanguran (Lalitankura)
Chatturummallan (Satrumalla) Kunaparan (Gunabhara) Mayentirappottaresaru
(Mahendrapotaraja), excavated (this) temple (Devakulam - The temples are called as Devakulam).
1 Pakappiduku Lalitankuran
2 Chatturummallan Kunaparan
3 Mayentirap-Pottaresaru adiyan
4 Vaysntappiri aresaru makam Kantasena-
5 n sayivitta tevakulam [||]
(more details may be obtained from the web site Puratattva ).
In Tamil the inscription reads as
- "பகாப்பிடுகு லளிதாங்குரான்
- சத்துரு மல்லன் குணபரன்
- மயேந்திரப் போத்தரெசரு அடியான்
- வயந்தப் பிர் அரசர் மகன் கந்தசேனன்
- செய்வித்த தேவகுலம்"
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple Gurukkal
opens only in the evening hours and hence it is advised to contact the Gurukkal
before going to this temple. But can be viewed through grill gates.
CONTACT DETAILS:
M Chellappa Gurukkal
may be contacted for further details and the mobile number is +9944372894.
HOW TO REACH:
This cave temple is
about 3 KM distance from Chengalpattu Bus stand and Railway station.
Share autos are
available from the Bus stand.
Buses from Stand to
Thirukazhukundram pass through the place called Chinna Melayur about a KM
off the main road.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Vishnu
Karivaradharaja Perumal at Lower cave
Vishnu Durgai
Ambal
Gnanambigai
Thavvai
– Jyeshta Devi
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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