The visit to Andichiparai Rock Cut Cave Temple, at Gangaikondan,
Tirunelveli, was a part of “Tirunelveli Heritage Walk”, organised by CultureCircuits, from 11th to 13th July 2025. Thanks to Balakumaran GS and Krishnakumar TK for arranging this walk.
This Andichipparai Rock Cut Cave is also known as
Gangaikondan Rock Cut Cave, which is about 2 km from Gangaikondan, on
Pathinalamperi. This Rock Cut Cave is scooped out of a big boulder of scattered
rocks. This cave is unfinished, without much vegetation, and open to the sky.
This cave is scooped out of a semi-circular
boulder. The Cave measures 82 cm wide and 1.77 meters high, and 10 cm from the base.
Abutting the cave on both sides, two koshtas are excavated with Brahma kantha
pilasters for dwarapalakas. The koshtas are 67 cm wide and 1.5 meters high, 36 cm from the ground. The surface of the koshtas is uniform without any
images.
The pothyals are virikona pothyals, formed as lintels for the cave. The un-sculpted kapota is extended forward. The kapota is
damaged partly on the right side.
The cave’s depth is about 1.79 meters, walls and
ceiling are flat without any images. An unfinished Shiva Linga with pranala,
excavated from the mother rock, is found at the centre of the cave. There is a
shallow cut on the surface for collecting the abhisheka water.
On the back side of the wall, two images are
sculpted in the form of petroglyphs. In that a lady is running without a dress, and a man looks like a clown, are found.
The Rock Cut Cave might have been abandoned due to cracks found in the
caves, and rainwater leaks have also been observed.
On the right side of the cave, a koshta measuring 60
cm wide and 82 cm high is excavated without any pilasters. In the koshtam an
idampuri Vinayagar without makuda, sitting in ardha padmasana, is shown. Since
the Vinayagar image is highly eroded, the iconography is not clear, and I couldn’t
identify the articles. The Vinayagar is with 4 hands. The lower right is
holding something and may be a pasa in the left hand. Both upper hands are on
his thigh.
Further on the right side of Vinayagar koshtam, a
highly eroded koshtam measuring 76 cm wide and 93 cm high was excavated for
Jyeshta Devi. Devi is with Karanda Makuda, wearing pootu kundala and ornaments
over her neck. Devi is not with marbu kachu. She is sitting on a platform with her legs hanging. Devi has a moderate belly and thighs. The right hand may be holding a flower or an abhaya hastam. The left hand is on the thindu of the
platform. The frill & knot of the half dress below the waist is also shown
beautifully.
Devi’s son and daughter are shown on both sides.
Agni Matha / Manthi is with karanda makuda, poottu kundala, and holding a whisk.
Devi’s son Manthan/ Nandhikeswara is with a Cow or buffalo’s head. The horns are
small and are ornaments around the neck.
Excavation started on another boulder that was found in
the same place, which is also abandoned. Based on the simplicity of the cave
and iconography of Vinayagar and Jyeshta Devi group, the Rock Cut Cave may be
assigned to the 8th-century Pandya period.
Ref:
வரலாறு.காம்
LOCATION OF THE ROCK CUT CAVE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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