Sri Vakiswarar Rock Cut Cave Temple, Malayadipatti, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

This second visit to the Sri Vakiswarar Rock Cut Cave Temple, at Malayadipatti Rock Cut Cave temples, was a part of the Heritage Visit to temples around Keeranur in Pudukkottai District, organized by the “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே” group on 2^nd and 3^rd October 2021.

 

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.

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 Nandhi 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, sculptures of Murugan, Sankaranarayanan, and Kotravai are in the form of bas-reliefs. On the north wall, Chandikeswarar faces south. Dwarapalakas are not identical in standing posture at the entrance of the sanctum Sanctorum. The Mandapam adjoining the cave was built later.

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 16^th year of rule (812 CE) of Dhanthi Varman-II, by Videlvidugu Muththaraiyar Kuvavan 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 & III, Veera Rajendran period inscriptions. These inscriptions record the donation of Land towards the functioning of Pooja, the burning of lamps, etc.

The Pallava King Dantivarman’s 16^th reign year 812 CE inscription on a pillar of the mandapa in front of the rock-cut shrine in the Vāgīśvara temple, mentions that Videlvidugu Muttaraiyan alias Kuvāvan Cattan¹ scooped the Tiruvālattür hill into a temple and consecrated the god Bhatarar in it. The inscription also mentions Kıl Sengali-nādu.

NOTE

1. Videlvidugu Muttaraiyan alias Kuvāvan Cattan of the present record may be identified with the father of Cattam Paliyili, who is mentioned in a record of Nṛpatungavarman from Närttāmalai.

2. The territorial division Kil-Sengali-nādu evidently comprised the region around Malaiyadi-ppaţți in Kulattur taluk of the present Pudukkottai district.

One of the inscriptions narrates the story of a Devaradiyar (inscription says – தேவடியாள்) of Thirunedungulam (Female). The Devaradiyar was in an affair with Avudaydevar of Poochikudi. In addition to that, a Brahmin also affair with the Devaradiyar. When Avudaydevar came to know about this, he killed both the Devaradiyar and the Brahmin. Due to this, he lost his eyesight and came to Malayadipatti. He prayed to Lord Shiva to gift a portion of land and got back his eyesight. So he gifted a portion of land to Lord Shiva of this temple. 

Ref:

Inscriptions of the Pallavas by T V Mahalingam.

South Indian Inscriptions Volume - XII

HOW TO REACH:

Malayadipatti village is on the Keeranur to Killukottai Road and 17 km from Keeranur,  36 km from Tiruchirappalli, 46 km from Pudukkottai, and  354 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Junction is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---