While I was searching the Aalayam Kanden website, I understood that Mrs PadmaPriya Baskaran is organizing a one-day trip to Thakkolam (click here), Melpadi, Pullalur, and Thiruvalam on 9th August 2015 for the Ponniyin Selvan Group (Click here Click Here). Even though I had been to Thakkolam and Thiruvalam temples as a part of a pilgrimage yatra to cover 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal (for details, CLICK HERE) thought of doing it once again with a group of heritage enthusiastic people.
After visiting Melpadi, we reached Mahendravadi via Sholingur- Banavaram. Mahendravadi is very near to a quite large tank (Mahendravarma tataka) with high-raised bunds. Mahendravadi must have been a large city during Mahendravarman's period.
The Monolithic rock-cut temple
ARCHITECTURE
The rock-cut shrine was dedicated to Lord Vishnu (from the grantha inscriptions – the god's name was Murari). The Narasimha idol was installed in the sanctum in recent years. The cave consists of a sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam are separated by two pillars and two pilasters. 2 pillars and 2 pilasters are at the mukha mandapam. The four pillars are cubical at the top and bottom and octagonal at the center. The pothiyal/Capital (Pillar support to ceiling) is not artistically carved, but simple curved pothyals. The front two pillar cubical portions and pilasters are carved with Lotus medallions on all four sides of the top and bottom.
The Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum, standing in tribhanga posture without thandam, resting their hands on the waist and looking at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Both are eroded or worn out. On the right side, the dwarapalaka is wearing a necklace, Mukuta, and Yajnopavita. (According to some experts, these dwarapalakas may be the devotees)
The Rock cut temple - A closer look
The Rock cut temple - still a closer look
Narasimhar was installed in recent years
Dwarapalakas
Mukha mandapam
Muka mandapam Pillar with pothyal
lotus medallion
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
There are two inscriptions recorded from this rock-cut cave temple.
INSCRIPTION -1.
The inscription is on top of the south side pilaster. The
inscription is recorded in ARE 1896, no 13, SII Volume 12, Pallavas No 24.
The inscription in Tamil reads as...
1. மஹித்தம் ஸதாமுப மஹேந்த்ர தடாக மிதம்
2. ஸ்திரமுரு காரிதம் குணபரனே விதார்ய்ய
சிலாம்
3. ஜநநய நாபிரம குணதாம மஹேந்த்ரபுரே
4. மஹதி மஹேந்த்ர விஷ்ணு க்ருஹ நாம முராரி
க்ருஹ.
The
Pallava Grantham inscription records that this spacious temple was
excavated for Murari (Visnu)
named Mendra Vishnu graham out of the
rock on the bank of the “Mahendra Tataka” in the city of Mahendrapura by
Gunabhara. Gunabhara is also called Mahendravarman I.
The translation of the grantha inscription is – Splitting the rock, Gunabhara caused to be made on (the bank of) the "mehendra tataka" (tank) in the great city of Mahendrapura this solid, spacious temple of Murari (Vishnu), named Mahendra-Vishnugriha, which is highly praised by good people, (and which is) an abode of beauty pleasing the eyes of men.
INSCRIPTION-2.
This damaged inscription is on the south side boulder. Since the inscription is damaged, we couldn't read the full inscription, and the meaning is also not known. The inscription reads as...
திளி
For further reading, please ....CLICK HERE.
LOCATION OF THE ROCK CUT CAVE: CLICK HERE
A Name board on the road
After a visit to the Rock Cut Vishnu temple, we saw a Vinayagar temple on the opposite side of the road in a dilapidated condition. Trees were grown on the vimanam, and roots split the side walls. The walls are constructed on a rock, and a relief of Vinayagar is carved on the surface of the rock.
The crumbling treasure
The crumbling treasure
Vinayagar relief in the sanctum - carved on the surface of the boulder
LOCATION OF THE ROCK CUT CAVE: CLICK HERE
I extend my sincere thanks to Mrs. Padmapriya Baskaran, Mr. Venkatesh, Mr. Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy, and other organizers of the Photo Walkers for organizing a wonderful one-day trip.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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