29th
September 2018.
The
visit to this temple is a part of the Pudukkottai Heritage Visit. Kudumiyanmalai was
ruled by Vaanaathirayars, Irukku Velir, Early Pandyas, Pallavas, Latter
Chozhas, Latter Pandyas, Nayaks and Thondaimans. The remains of earlier human settlements are
found around Kudumiyanmalai. The natural shelter on the hills are used as
human habitation in the early times. The
Jain monks also lived in the same natural
shelters. Tamizhi inscriptions are found on the Jain beds. The temple complex
consists of stone masonry temples and a rock-cut cave temple.
Moolavar : Sri Kuduminathar / Thirunalankundrathu Perumanadigaal
Consort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
The
temple faces east with Rajagopuram base pillars but without superstructure. The Vasantha mandapam is immediately after the entrance and has 24
statue pillars, which were built during the Nayaka period. On the right side is the 1000-pillar mandapam.
The
Kuduminathar sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam
and a mukha mandapam. Vimanam over the sanctum is very similar to
Rajagopuram and has the images of Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, and Brahma. Urchavars are
in maha mandapam. In koshtam Pickshadanar
and Kotravai.
Sri
Akilandeswari Amman Temple is on the northwest corner of the temple complex. A
2 tier vimana is on the sanctum. The Vimana was built during the 12-13th
century. After Amman sannadhi is the muka mandapa, a 12-pillar mandapam, on the east and a 6-pillar mandapa, It was
learned that Pudukkottai Thondaiman kings
used to conduct their coronation functions in Amman’s 24 pillars Mandapa also
called as Chokkatan mandapa. A big size stone slab is paved especially for this
function.
In
the outer prakaram, a 1000 pillar mandapam, Madapalli, Urchava Mandapa,
Soundaranayaki Amman sannadhi, Vinayagar sannidhi and Akilandeswari Amman
Temple. On the south side of the Rock cut cave temple is Sri Soundaranayai
Amman temple / Malai Mangai Amman sannadhi, which was built by one Thevaradiyar Durgaiyandi’s
daughter Nachi during the 13th Century Veera Pandiyan period.
There
are more than 120 inscriptions found on Moolavar,
Sri Akilandeswari Amman Sanctum, Soundara Nayaki Amman Sanctum, Madapalli, and Prakara
walls. The inscriptions mainly speak about donations made in the form of gold,
land, taxes, irrigation, the judgment made for the offenses, auction sale, etc,.
One of the Chozha kings Koparakesari Panmar Parantaka Chozha’s 15th
year rule inscription mentions that his son Kothandaraman donated 15 Thulai
gold towards the burning of a perpetual lamp. Most of the inscriptions speak about donations made for the burning of perpetual lamps. Another Pandya period inscription on
the Amman sannadhi wall gives the detail of returning back to the kingdom of
Chozhas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
As per one of the Pudukottai inscriptions the hill is also called Thirunalangunram and Iraivan is also
called Shikamaninathar. The rock-cut cave might have been excavated during the 7th century or before with the presence of Parivadini (a musical instrument -7 String Veena) inscription.
Utsava Mandapam
Pudukkottai Thondaiman Kings Coronation 24 Pillar
Chokkattan mandapam
Rasi
and Nakshatra mandalam
Pandya's
inscription of returning back the Kingdom to Chozhas
The Tamil Inscription in the form of a poem inscribed at the Rajagopuram entrance
தென்னவன் செய்ய பெருமான் திருமதுரை
மன்னவன்தன் மால்களிற்று வல்லிக்கும் -பொன்னிநாட்டு
ஆலிக்கும் தானை அபயன் குலமகளிர்
தாலிக்கும் ஒன்றே தலை.
பொன்னி வளநாடு பாணன் பெறப்புரந்தான்
சென்னிதிரு மார்பில்சேல் தீட்டினான் - முன்னே
புரம்எரிவார் மண்சுமக்கப் பூபாரம் காத்தான்
தரம்அரியான் மீனவர்கோன் தான்.
கன்னி வளநாடான் காவேரி நாடாளச்
சென்னி விழுந்தோடும் சேவடிகள் - பொன்இரை
எரிகாலும் கான நடத்திச் சென்னியையும்
கரிகாலன் ஆக்கிடவோ காண்".
பாண்டியரின் வெற்றிச் சிறப்பும், சோழரை வென்று
அந்நாட்டைப் பாணனுக்கு அளித்ததும், சோழர் மார்பில் மீன்சின்னம் பொறித்ததும், சிவன்
பிட்டுக்காக மண்சுமந்ததும், சோழர் தோற்று ஓடியதையும் இப்பாடல்கள் கூறுகின்றன.
THIRU METRALI ( ROCK
CUT CAVE TEMPLE )
The
Rock cave temple called Melakovil by the locals is on the foothills, excavated during the 8th
century, once called Thirumulattanam/Thirumetrali. Vinayagar and
Dwarapalakas are on the walls of the sanctum in artha mandapam. The Shiva Linga
with square avudayar, an integral part of the mother rock is in the sanctum.
The sanctum inside walls are finished neatly with motifs on all four sides of the roof. The Cave temple
consists of a sanctum, an artha mandapam, and a Mukha mandapam The front Muka mandapam
was built at a later state, abutting the artha mandapam. The artha mandapam was
supported by 2 square pillars and 2 pilasters with a platform constructed by
Raghunatha Thondaiman. Somaskandar and Chandikeswarar is in sukhasana are in the Mukha mandapa.
INSCRIPTIONS
There
are 45 inscriptions found in the Rock Cut Cave temple. Out of 45, 26 are in
muka/ front pillars, 18 are in mandapa walls, and one is on sanctum pilaster. These inscriptions belong to the Pandya (Oldest) and Chozha periods. The inscriptions mention Kuduminathar as “Thirunalagunrathu
Perumanadigal” and mainly speak about the donations.
MUSICAL INSCRIPTIONS:
This
inscription is on the left side of the rock-cut cave temple on the rock. From
the inscriptions, this place was called Thirunalagundram, Kundriyur during the early Pandiya period, and Kudumiyanmalai
from the 17th century.
On
the left side of the Rock cut cave temple, the 12th Century 4 feet of Vinayagar is carved. By the side of the Vinayagar is the famous Musical inscriptions.
The inscription speaks about the music, believed to be inscribed in the 7th Century.
The inscription is in 7 parts and starts with Sitham Namasivaya. As per the
experts, the inscription describes the Ragas and some experts believe that this is South India’s basic musical rule.
On
the back side of the Rock cut cave
temple on the hill rock Shiva and Parvati are sitting on Rishabam in the form of
Rishabaroodar, on both sides 63 Nayanmars are shown on both sides carved in the
form of bas-relief.
The
Musical inscription on the sides of 4 feet Vinayakar
Rishabaroodar with Nayanmars on both sides
HOW TO REACH:
Kudumiyanmalai is 19.5 KM from Pudukkottai and 60 KM from Trichy.
Kudumiyanmalai is 19.5 KM from Pudukkottai and 60 KM from Trichy.
Kudumiyanmalai is on the bus route from Pudukkottai to Maraparai.
Nearest
Railway station is Pudukkottai.
LOCATION OF THE ROCK CUT CAVE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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