24th January 2020.
The visit to this rock-cut cave temple at
Kurathiyarai was a part of the Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk organized by Yaaooyaakay
and Celebrate Kanchi in association with Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development
Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24th to 26th
January 2020. Our next destination after Vattakottai Fort was Kurathiyarai
in Azhagiapandiapuram Panchayat on Nagercoil to Kadukkarai Road. The path leading to the cave was cleared by the Panchayat board personnel, exclusively for our visit. The same place, Kurathiyarai, was visited once again
Kurathiyarai is a rock-cut cave Temple dedicated to
Vishnu. The cave is excavated on the south slope of the hillock. The single cave measures 0.95 meters wide and 1.77 meters
high. The entrance is 80 cm wide and 1.30 meters high. Two pilasters are shown
on both sides of Vishnu. Vishnu is in a samabhanga standing posture. The image is not finely finished. Vishnu wears Kreetamukha, kundala earrings,
Yagnopaveetha, and vasthiram below his waist. While the upper hand holds the Shankha /Conch and Chakra, the lower hand is in kadi (ooru) hastham, and the left hand is folded. It is
believed that this rock-cut cave temple belongs to the early 8th Century
CE.
There are niches carved on both sides of the cave.
Valampuri Vinayagar is on the left side, and on the right side niche a faint image
was visible. Vinayagar is in
Lalitasana. Vinayagar wears Karanda makuda, sarapalli armlets, bracelets, and
a rope around his waist.
The local people worship the faint image/unfinished as Avvaiyaramman. Tuesdays of the Tamil month Aadi are believed to be auspicious, and “kolukattai” is being
offered. It was learned that Avvai nonbu or Avvai Vratham is also observed in
many parts of Kanyakumari District.
Before going to the Hill, we had seen a Vishnu idol, installed
in the open sky in the hamlet. The Vishnu is in a samabhanga standing
posture. The Upper hands are holding the
Chakra and Conch. The Chakra is shown in the prayoga position. The lower left hand is in ooru hastham, and the right is shown resting on dhandam. Yagnopaveetha is shown running through
his hands. A new temple was constructed for this Maha Vishnu and consecrated on 12th May 2022.
KURATHIYARAI MEANING INSCRIPTION
The Inscription fragment stone is missing and couldn’t be traced. As per the inscription, a Jain school was functioning in this place, and the land was donated to that school around the 8th Century. As per the experts, the name of this place, Kurathiyarai, might have been obtained from Jainism, since Jain nuns are called Kurathi.
It was said that there was a headless Vishnu, and an
inscription fragment stone was found a few years before. Finally, we could trace
the headless Vishnu inside a bush.
Vishnu is sitting on a pedestal. Vishnu is keeping his left leg down and
folding the right leg. Yagnopaveetha is also shown beautifully. (This idol couldn't be traced during the May 2025 visit)
HOW
TO REACH:
The place Kurathiyarai is in Azhagiapandiapuram Panchayat, and is about 2.3
km.
Kurathiyarai is about 17 km from Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, 32 km from Kanyakumari, 81 km from Tirunelveli, 250 km from Madurai, and
800 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Nagercoil.
LOCATION OF THE CAVE: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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