Rock Arts / Rock Paintings at Kumittipathi in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

25^th July 2019.

Had went to Coimbatore in connection with personal work on 25^th July 2019  and asked Mr. Vijayakumar ( Peruvakai Kondan ), one of my Facebook friends to take me to the Kumittipathi, rock arts cave. In the midst of his busy schedule, he took me to Kumittipathi. Thanks, Viji. From the Ukkadam Bus terminus, on the way to Pollachi, I got down at Malumichampatti. From there we went through his motorcycle.

On the Way to Kumittipathi, happened to see many village names ending with “Pathy”, which indicates that these places are Human settlements from ancient times. This Kumittipathi “Padaimalai Hill” is a part of the western Ghats and a border Village between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

The Kumittipathi “Padaimalai Hill”, has naturally formed caves in which prehistoric human beings lived. The lower level, two  caves has white ochre paintings. In the lower level cave, a group of white ochre paintings depicting decorated Chariots are pulled by human beings. Next to the first Chariot, there is a painting that looks similar to a chariot, but some experts are of the opinion that it may be a “Peacock”. Experts are of the opinion that these white ocher paintings / Rock arts are more than 3000 years old. This indicates that in recent periods Chariot / Temple car-pulling festivals at temples, are celebrated /practiced even before 3000 years ago.

The art below the elephant may be a Chariot or a Peacock as per the experts.  

In addition to this, there is a  man sitting on an elephant is drawn. The man ( mahout ) holds an “angusam” like a weapon. Experts of the opinion that the man catches the wild elephants and taming for the domestic use. This place comes under the Chera Kingdom and there is a saying that “ Chera Nadu Vezham Udaithu” which means the Chera Nadu in Western Ghats, was known for many elephants. There are two places very near Kumittipathi, called Velanthavalam and Mavuthampathi are associated with elephants. The Velanthavanam may be separated as Velam- Elephant ( யானை ) and Thavalam – a center or a market ( சந்தை ). And the place Mavuthampathi –  a place of living for the Mahouts, who control the elephants. Mavuth – Mahout – யானை பாகன், and again Pathi is a living place or the Village. This type of Painting / Rock art can be seen in Karikkaiyur and Mathakadiputhur of the Kongu region. Hence Kongu Region hill areas are known for elephants and trading might have been done with Chozhas and Pandyas. ( Details: Mr Kaliyappan Srinivasan ). 

The Upper Cave has a group of people's rock art. The group of people consists of tall and short, looks like a family.

We also noticed two lines are drawn with red ochre. This may be a part of the painting that might have been damaged due to weather and age.

In addition to the Rock arts / Paintings, on the way to Kumittipathi,  Mr  Viji had shown me a Pulikuthi Hero stone, half buried, on the side of the road. The Pulikuthi Hero Stone is under worship.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---