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. This
cave temple is on the east side of the Vishnu Rock cut cave temple also called Thiruvalathur Thali. This Post was updated with inscriptional details after 2nd Visit with Yaaooyakay.
Moolavar : Sri Vakiswarar / Sri Alathurai mahadevar.
Consort : Sri Vadivudai Nayaki.
Some
of the important features of this cave temple are...
The
Moolavar is in a rock-cut sanctum facing west with a Rishabam in front ( integral stone of the hill ). Moolavar is 45 cm
tall on a 35 cm tall round avudayar. On the south wall saptamatrikas with
Veerabhadra and Vinayagar. On the west wall from south to north, statues of
Murugan, Sankaranarayanan, and Kotravai. On the north wall, Chandikeswarar faces
south. Dwarapalakas are not identical in standing posture at the entrance of the
sanctum. The Mandapam adjoining the cave was built later.
saptamatrikas
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
There
are 6 inscriptions found in the rock-cut cave temple. As per the inscription, the
rock-cut cave was excavated during the 16th year rule ( 812 CE ) of
Dhanthi Varman-II, by Videlvidugu Muththaraiyar Kuvan Saththan. The Place
was called Thiruvalathur. The
inscription also mentions Kizh Senkali Nadu Nattar, which is incomplete. The
temple also has the Rajendran-I and Kulothungan-I – I & III, Veera Rajendran
period inscriptions. These inscriptions speak about the donation of Land towards the functioning
of Pooja, burning of lamps, etc,.
HOW TO REACH:
Malayadipatti Village is on the Keeranur to Killukkottai Road and 17 KM from Keeranur.
Chandikeswarar
Sankaranarayanan
Kotravai ( The bottom males may be of Navakaanda sculptures ?).
Dwarapalakas
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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