Sunday, 7 October 2018

Sri Kanniraintha Perumal Temple / Olipathi Vishnu Graham, Malayadipatti, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29th September 2018.
The hill is not so big and has two  rock cut caves dedicated  to Shiva and Vishnu. The caves are excavated on the north side of the hill. Being a Saturday, there was a heavy rush in the Perumal rock cut cave temple and serpentine “Q” was formed for the darshan.


Moolavar : Sri Kanniraintha Perumal
Thayar    : Sri Kamalavalli

Some of the important features are...
The sanctum sanctorum has an entrance arch on the North side Thayar and madapalli are after the entrance arch. Thayar is in standing posture with abhaya and varada hastham. Thayar sannidhi was built at a latter date ( Subakiruthu year Aippasi month 10th day ). Deepasthambham and Garudan are in front of thayar shrine. Also sannadhi for Thirumangai alwar, Udayar and Vishwaksena. Vinayagar is in Maharjaleelasana on the outer prakaram wall.

In the sanctum, Varakar and Narasimhar are in the koshtam/ niche. Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi,  Garudan, Devas and Chandran are shown on the east wall. A double layer Paintings of Balarama, Vamanar, Krishna and Rama are shown  on the ceiling. Recent period painting may be seen over the Nayak period painting. Moolavar Perumal is in reclining posture on 5 hood Adhiseshan on a 4.37 meters and 2.17 meters platform keeping head on east side. On west side wall Madhu and Kaidabar. On the south wall,  Musicians, Brahma and Devas  are shown. In front of moolavar statue of Lakshmi Narayanar.

In Mandapam there are statues for Perumal in standing posture with Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Suryan and Chandran.  Next is Perumal in utkudi style Sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. On the south side wall Narasimhar and Varakar The mandapam has three entrances.

The rock cut cave has 10 inscriptions ( Tamil, Telegu and Grantham), which includes Rajakesari varman ( Sundara Chozha ), Parakesarivarman ( Uthama Chozha ), Veera Prathapa maharayar, Achuthappa Nayakar. This rock cut cave Vishnu temple was believed to be excavated in 9th Century. The oldest inscription,  in Rajakesarivarman’s 7th year rule, says that the temple’s name as Olipathi Vishu Gruham and the place as Thiruvalathur.

Achuthappa Nayak period mentions the moolavar as Kanniraintha Perumal / Thiru Vaazhavantha Perumal.  

The inscriptions also speaks about donation of land, to convert forest land in to fertile land, donation of Goats for burning perpetual lamp.

HOW TO REACH:
Malayadipatti village is on the Keeranur to Killukkottai Road and 17 KM from Keeranur.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

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