Nandeeswarar Temple / Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple / Thirunanthikarai Kudaivarai Kovil, Thirunanthikarai, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

25^th January 2020.

The visit to this Nandeeswarar Temple at Thirunanthikarai in Kanyakumari District 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 24^th to 26^th January 2020. This Nandeeswarar Cave temple is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

 The Cave

This 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 prevent water from seeping into 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 faces and 8 faces. The Pothyals are simple. The artha mandapam walls 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 the Chera style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This rock-cut cave is believed to have been excavated during the 9^th Century Aay King Vikramaditya Varaguna period in Pandya style. Inscriptions are found on the mukha mandapam, side walls, and pillars.

The inscription without the 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 the king's name records that, Mangalachery Sivakaram, belongs to this place and donated 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 the Muttam of Valluva Nadu and changed the name to 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 from the 12^th Century, records the donation of 9 buffaloes for burning the 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 Narayana 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

The nearest Railway station is Nagercoil.

LOCATION OF THE ROCT CUT CAVE: 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 the sky. It is believed that these padas belong 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 pada markings

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---