25th January 2020.
The visit to this Nandeeswarar Temple at
Thirunanthikarai in Kanyakumari District was a part of 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. This Nandeeswarar Cave temple is under the
control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).
The Cave
The rock cut cave is on the southern slope of this
hill, about 8 feet from the ground level. Steel steps are provided by ASI to
climb up. The rock cut cave Temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam
and a mukha mandapam. The front face of the mukha mandapam was chiseled to
avoid water to seep in to the cave. The Sanctum is facing east and excavated 2
steps above the artha mandapam. Shivalingam is not from the mother rock. There
are two pillars and pilasters in between
Mukha mandapam and artha mandapam. The pillars are of 4 face and a 8 faces. The
Pothyals are simple. The artha mandapam wall are plastered with lime mortar and
painted. Most of the mural paintings are faded. A faint image of Vinayagar can
be seen on the sanctum wall and Mahapurushan, elephant and Palace scene are seen
on the artha mandapam wall, which faces south. It is believed that these mural
paintings are similar to Chera style.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
This rock cut cave is believed to be excavated
during 9th Century Aay King Vikramaditya Varaguna period in Pandya
style. Inscriptions are found on the mukha mandapam, side walls and pillars.
The inscription without King’s name and year records
that the public and Thaliyalwan
assembled at Kurunthambakkam, decided to change the name of this place Sri
Nanthimangalam with a periphery limit of a nameless river, Nandhi river,
Muthukonur and Pakkamangalam.
Another inscription without kings name records that,
Mangalachery Sivakaram, belongs to this place donated a land to this temple.
The Rajaraja-I’s ( 985 CE to 1014 CE ) 18th
year rule inscription removes the ambiguity
of Chozha King Rajaraja-Is’ birth date. As
per the inscription Rajaraja-I conquered Muttam of Valluva nadu and changed the
name as Mummudi Chozha Nallur. He also ordered to celebrate a festival at this
place Lord Shiva on his birth date of Aippasi Sathayam.
The inscription believed to be of 12th
Century, records the donation of 9 buffaloes towards burning of perpetual lamp
using one uri ghee by Chithakkutti Ambi alias Ainootruva Mutharaiyan, who
belongs to Veikottumalai in Nanjil Nadu. The buffaloes are handed over to the herder
Mangalavan Pavithran.
Inscription on the mukha mandapam side wall
Inscription on the mukha mandapam side wall
Inscription of the pillar
HISTORICAL
IMPORTANCE
There are 12 Shiva Temples around Kalkulam namely,
Thirumalai Mahadevar Temple, Thickurichy Mahadevar Temple, Thirparappu
Mahadevar Temple, Thirunanthikarai Sri Nandeeswarar Temple, Ponmanai
Theembilangudi Mahadevar Temple, Thirupandripakam Shiva Temple, Kalkulam
Neelakandeswarar Temple, Melangode Shiva temple, Thirupandricode Mahadevar
temple and Thirunattalam Sankara Narayanar Temple. On Maha Shivaratri day devotees used to run
and worship all the temples shouting “E Gopala, e Gopala,.... Govinda...”. Usually the run will start from Thirumalai
Mahadevar temple and finish at Nattalam Sankaranarayanar Temple, thus covering a total distance of 110 KM.
HOW TO
REACH:
Thirunanthikarai is 40 KM from Nagercoil, 58 KM from
Kanyakumari, 104 KM from Tirunelveli, 280 KM from Madurai and 800 KM from
Chennai
Nearest Railway station is Nagercoil.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Painting, man, elephant, palace scene
Vinayagar painting
This is also an ancient temple, completely renovated and Kumbhabhishekam was performed on the next day of our visit
A little above the ground level there is a patham
temple, open to sky. It is believed that these pathams belongs to Lord Shiva. There
are 5 such patham markings are appeared on the Ulunthuparai on 30-12-2002, found
out by the temple authorities.
Lord Shiva's patham markings
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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