Rock Engravings / Petroglyph in Edakkal Caves, Wayanad District, Kerala.

23^rd June 2019.

The main purpose of this visit was to see approximately 8000 years old prehistoric Petroglyph or the engravings of Edakkal Caves in Kerala. These two Caves are on the Ambukuthi Hill near Ambalavayil in Wayanad District of Kerala State erstwhile Malabar State, which is about 12 KM from Sultan Bathery.  The site consists of Two caves one above the another at a height of 1200 meters above MSL. The visit to the bottom cave was closed. The top cave was formed by three rocks ( Two rocks and a big rock in between ) hence called as Edakkal ( idaikal – இடைக்கல் ). As per the legend this Hill Ambukuthi hill was formed by shooting of arrows by Sri Ram’s sons Lava & Kusha.  And  the Surpanakha was killed in this hill by Sri Ram.

The Caves has the engravings / Petroglyph of Neolithic period. Experts of the opinion that these Petroglyph belongs to 6000 BCE. The petroglyph depicts the human beings, animals like Elephants, Deer, cart with Wheels, hand tools, symbols, etc. It throws light on the culture and habits of Neolithic human beings. The male and females are shown wearing crown like arrangements on their heads. This petroglyph is the largest one in South India.

In addition to the Petroglyph,  Old Tamizhi ( Brahmi – 1800 years old ), Sanskrit and Vattezhuthu ( 6^th Century ) inscriptions are   found. The 12^th to 14^th Century Tamil inscription reads as “Palpuli Thathakari” ( பல்புலிதத்தகாரி ) ( there is a place Pulpally is still there in Wayanad District ) . The Tamizhi ( Brahmi ) inscription says as “Chera“ (“கடுமி புதசேர”) ( This place was known as Chera Nadu before 14^th Century) . Archaeologist Natana Kasinathan identified “O Pazhami “  (  ஒ பழமி ) ( means “பழையோள்” the earliest Tamil Goddess ) as Tamil inscription.  In 2012 a Tamil Brahmi / Tamizhi inscription was also identified.

This cave was identified in 1890 CE, by F Fawcett, Superintendent of Police of erstwhile Malabar District. In addition to the masonry steps Stainless steel  steps are provided to climb up the hill.

CAUTION:

The visiting of Caves is the combination trekking on the hill and climbing of stainless steel steps. Hence those who are suffering from Heart problems are advised not to venture.

CAVE VISITING HOURS:

The visitors are allowed  between 08.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs and the holidays are All Mondays, Republic, May Day, Independence day, Gandhi Jayanthi and Thiruvonam.

HOW TO REACH:

The trekking distance is about 3 KM.

12 KM from Sultan Bathery

The edakkal caves may be easily approached through Gundlupet  ( Night hours are permitted travel on this road  due to animal movement ) of Karnataka is 70 KM, Kozhikode 110 KM  and 103 KM from 0oty.

LOCATION:   11°37′28.81″N  and 76°14′8.88″E -- CLICK HERE

A Cart with wheel  

                                          A Lady on a cart

 An elephant

The neolithic tools

 Edakkal - இடைகல்( the center one )

The Team

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Jain Temple at Kidanganad, Sultan Bathery, Kerala.

23^rd June 2019.

The Visit to this Jain monument  was a part of Edakkal Caves and Karnataka Temples Visit. After our Karnataka temples Visit, we started  from Gundlupete to Edakkal Caves.  On the way we had been this Jain Temple restored by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) from ruins at Kidanganad a part of Sultan Bathery. The original name of Ganapathi vattam was changed as Sultan Battery and the same was corrupted to the present name of Sultan Bathery. Usually the custom of buildings temples in Kerala  are with Wood, on the contrary this Jinalaya was built with full of granite stones.  It was told that Tippu sultan used this Jain's Temple / Basadi / Jinalaya to store arms and ammunition.

As per ASI, This Jinalaya is one of the few  9^th to 15^th Century ancient Jain Temples exists in Kerala.  The Jainism received patronage of the Chera Kings of the Magothayapuram and Ay ( ?) Kings of South India. However the Jainism declined after 11^th to 12^th Century. As per the records in and around Sultan Bathery ( Battery ) 12 streets are with Jain populations. The Hannera bidi ( 12 streets) is one among the traditional Jain settlements in Sultan Bathery. The Sultan Battery was Known as Ganapathi Vattam in inscriptions.  This Jain Temple is datable to the 14^th Century CE on stylistic grounds. This is an example of the cloistered temple facing east consists of a Sanctum, antarala, closed maha mandapa, mukha mandapa and a Namaskara mandapam.

The sanctum is square shaped with out any images. The lalata Bimba  of the sanctum and the closed maha mandapa has sacred Jain images. These are shown in padmasana with dhyana mudra. The image has Lotus depiction. The door jambs are decorated with different motifs.

 

THE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum has a circumambulatory mandapa as a path way. The Maha mandapa followed by a mukamandapa is accessed through a flight of steps. Its balustrade is decorated with yazhi motifs. The mukha mandapa stands on molded padma banda adhisthana  containing upana, Jagathi, Padma, tripatta Kumuda, gala and Pillars are highly evolved type and are decorated with  various designs such as floral motifs, serpabanda ( entwined serpents ), garland decorations, stylized Vajra, Tirthankara, goose, etc,. All Tirthankaras are not shown with Mukkudai ( triple umbrella ).

The detached Namaskara mandapam is supported on 4 pillars. The two pillars has the Tirthankara ( ? ) reliefs with out Mukkudai. In addition to this old structural parts also kept on display. Its roof is missing now. The temple originally  had cloistered wall which is now in ruins. This monument is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).

 Pillars of Namaskara mandapam 

 Pillar Pothyal / Capital

HOW TO REACH:

Sultan Bathery is easily accessible from Gundlupete of Karnataka through Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park forest. ( Please note this route is closed during night times for the movement of animals. ).

From Mysuru / Mysore

Sultan Bathery is 97 KM from Kozhikode.

      

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

A Nagabandam relief

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Rock Arts and dolments at Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary, Alampatti / Alampatty and Marayur / Marayoor, Kerala.

14^th August 2017.

Marayoor Heritage Visit  was scheduled on 13^th August 2017. With high expectations of Rock Art Paintings and Dolmens of Marayoor, started our travelling from Valapady after our Hero stones and Neolithic Tools heritage visit in the tribal Villages of Kalvarayan hills to Udumalpet on 12^th Aug 2017. We traveled via Salem, Erode, Tiruppur and  to Udumalpet.  It  was told that the last bus to Udumalpet from Tiruppur is 22.30 hrs. When we reached Tiruppur it was 23.00 and missed the last bus. But luckily we got the last bus to Valparai and reached Udumalpet, standing all the way around 01.30 Hrs. Mr Santhosh and Nandakumar booked a room and escaped from trouble of searching a room in the dark night. 

It was 09.00hrs on 13^th August, 2017 ( scheduled time to depart from Udumalpet to Marayoor ), we gathered at Hotel room after having our breakfast and waited till 11.00 hrs to the last batch of 4 members to arrive. With a delay of 2 hours, we the 16 history enthusiasts started our travel to Marayoor through a Van. All the arrangements for the van and permission from the forest department were obtained by  Mr Sadasivam, a history enthusiast, archaeologist, etc.

ROCK ARTS AT CHINNAR WILD LIFE SANCTUARY,  ALAMPATTY.

This guided tour is being conducted by the Tribal Tracker Eco Development Committee under Anamudi Forest Development agency & Kerala Forest and Wild life Department. After filling up the members list and payment of Rs 300 each, a Tribal guide took us   in side the Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary.

There are about 25 shelters has the rock paintings of both white kaolin and Red ochre in Anamalai hills area.  Patty means a shelter for the cattle. Shelter might have been used for both humans and cattle.  We had seen the rock paintings in 4 shelters of which two shelters has the white Kaolin paintings  and other two are red ochre paintings. As per the experts, these paintings are estimated to be of 9000 to 10000 years old. The paintings expresses the prehistoric human beings, their culture, the knowledge, worship, customs etc. The paintings contains the images of man, women’s dance, animals like cow, buffalo, Deer, elephant etc. They had shown the wealth of their land in a symbolic way with markings. Some of the signs matches with the Indus script.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

In this red ochre art two deers are drawn. The Guide told us that when the horn fallen down, till it grows the skin will become soft and even a thorn will be sufficient to kill it.   The name of the rock shelter is called as Madathala 

 The ritual followed before taking honey from a tree. – in Red Ochre

  Honey Comb -in Red Ochre

 A Man is praying - in Red Ochre

 Dancing ?- in white Kaolin

 The animal is shown with inner organs -in white Kaolin 

The Palm impression in white Kaolin 

DOLMENS AT ALAMPETTY & MARAYOOR

ALAMPATTY.

On the way to Rock Art Paintings inside the rock shelters, the guide showed us the Dolmens of smaller sizes covered on  three sides and top. The dolmens are in a group maximum of 3, 5 nos etc,.. It was told that each group of dolmens belongs to a family.

MARAYOOR ( MURUGAN HILL ) 

The Megalithic period ( Iron age ) Dolmens are erected on this Murugan Hill are 5000 years old ( As per ASI- a certificate is available at Panchayat office).  The Dolmens are of big in size of about 6 feet high (  height is about 1.4 meters to 1.7 meters  and 3.5 meters length),  behind the  Govt High School. It is estimated that at least 2500 to 3000 Dolmenoids erected from the base to the top of the hill. The Dolmenoids has several burial chambers may be belonged to  a single family.  Some of Chambers has the hole like opening either on East or west side. This indicates that the person died during Dakshinayana or uttrayana. It was believed that the dead man’s soul/ sprit will go through these hole like opening. Depending on the status of the dead, stone structure is created around the Dolmen. It is happy to note that the local body had taken interest to protect these dolmenoids and erected fence around them.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

 A Dolmen has the white kaolin painting – what is the meaning ? 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---