A 8th Century to Nayaka Period Paintings and Rock Cut Caves and temples at Sittannavasal, Narthamalai, Kudumiyanmalai & Thirumayam, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

SITTANNAVASAL & EZHADIPATTAM JAIN BEDS

Sittannavasal rock-cut cave Jinalaya is well known for its mural paintings. The paintings are drawn after applying a coat of lime mortar plaster on the stone surface.

The Artha mandapam ceilings, pillars, and capital are decorated with mural paintings made of vegetable Colours of black, green, yellow, orange, blue, and white. The Ceiling of the artha mandapa has a depiction of the Lotus Pond, with realistic images of men, animals, flowers, birds, and fish. It recalls the Samavasarana faith in Jainism. The facade of the pillars shows the dancing girl, the King, and the queen. Those paintings represent the typical early painted tradition of the south and are comparable to those of Ajantha.

The rock-cut cave was abandoned for many years, and it was an asylum for the miscreants and drunkards. Cooking was carried out using firewood, which further damaged the paintings. In 1937-39 CE, the Maharaja of Pudukkottai had arranged for cleaning, and preservative coating was applied to extend the life of the paintings. Now this cave is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1958 CE, and converted Sittannavasal into a tourist spot. Since rock-cut caves existed before the 7^th Century,  the paintings might have been done during the 8^th or 9^th Century.

In addition to the natural cave Ezhadipattam, above the Sittannavasal Jain beds cave,  has a Jain period painting. This painting is a lotus medallion.

NARTHAMALAI.

Narthamalai Sri Vijayalaya Chozhiswaram was built by Mutharaiyar during the early Pandyas in the 9^th Century. When this collapsed due to Rain, this temple was reconstructed. Hope after this, only the artha mandapam walls will be painted with mural painting. The painting's traces are found now here and there.

KUDUMIYAN MALAI.

Nayakas' period paintings are seen in the mandapa on the left side of Sri Kuduminathar Temple. The walls are plastered with lime mortar, and painting was done. This painting is very similar to the Thanjavur Prakaram paintings.

SRI SATYAMURTHY PERUMAL TEMPLE, THIRUMAYAM.

At the entrance of Sathyamurthy Perumal Rock Cut cave, the ceiling with pillars and capital is painted with Paintings. This may belong to the Nayaka Period.  The paintings contain the birds on the outer ring and ladies in all four corners of the lotus.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---