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

29^th September 2018.

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 Vishnu Rock cut cave temple also called as Thiruvalathur Thali. This Post was updated with inscriptional details after 2nd Visit with Yaaooyakay. 

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 Rishabam 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, statues of Murugan, Sankaranarayanan and Kotravai. On the north wall Chandikeswarar facing south. Dwarapalakas are not identical in standing posture at the entrance of the sanctum. The Mandapam adjoining the cave was built latter.

saptamatrikas 

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 16^th year rule ( 812 CE ) of Dhanthi Varman-II, by Videlvidugu Muththaraiyar Kuvan Saththan. The Place was  called as 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  speaks about donation of Land towards functioning of Pooja, burning of lamps, etc,.

HOW TO REACH:

Malayadipatti Village is on the Keeranur to Killukkottai Road and 17 KM from Keeranur.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

Chandikeswarar

Sankaranarayanan

Kotravai ( The bottom males may be of Navakaanda sculptures ?).

Dwarapalakas 

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Sri Kanniraintha Perumal Temple / Olipathi Vishnu Graham, Malayadipatti, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

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. Being a Saturday, there was a heavy rush in the Perumal rock cut cave temple and serpentine “Q” was formed for the darshan.

Moolavar : Sri Kanniraintha Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Kamalavalli

Some of the important features are...

The sanctum sanctorum has an entrance arch on the North side Thayar and madapalli are after the entrance arch. Thayar is in standing posture with abhaya and varada hastham. Thayar sannidhi was built at a latter date ( Subakiruthu year Aippasi month 10^th day ). Deepasthambham and Garudan are in front of thayar shrine. Also sannadhi for Thirumangai alwar, Udayar and Vishwaksena. Vinayagar is in Maharjaleelasana on the outer prakaram wall.

In the sanctum, Varakar and Narasimhar are in the koshtam/ niche. Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi,  Garudan, Devas and Chandran are shown on the east wall. A double layer Paintings of Balarama, Vamanar, Krishna and Rama are shown  on the ceiling. Recent period painting may be seen over the Nayak period painting. Moolavar Perumal is in reclining posture on 5 hood Adhiseshan on a 4.37 meters and 2.17 meters platform keeping head on east side. On west side wall Madhu and Kaidabar. On the south wall,  Musicians, Brahma and Devas  are shown. In front of moolavar statue of Lakshmi Narayanar.

In Mandapam there are statues for Perumal in standing posture with Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Suryan and Chandran.  Next is Perumal in utkudi style Sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. On the south side wall Narasimhar and Varakar The mandapam has three entrances.

The rock cut cave has 10 inscriptions ( Tamil, Telegu and Grantham), which includes Rajakesari varman ( Sundara Chozha ), Parakesarivarman ( Uthama Chozha ), Veera Prathapa maharayar, Achuthappa Nayakar. This rock cut cave Vishnu temple was believed to be excavated in 9^th Century. The oldest inscription,  in Rajakesarivarman’s 7^th year rule, says that the temple’s name as Olipathi Vishu Gruham and the place as Thiruvalathur.

Achuthappa Nayak period mentions the moolavar as Kanniraintha Perumal / Thiru Vaazhavantha Perumal.  

The inscriptions also speaks about donation of land, to convert forest land in to fertile land, donation of Goats for burning perpetual lamp.

HOW TO REACH:

Malayadipatti village is on the Keeranur to Killukkottai Road and 17 KM from Keeranur.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

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Kunnandar Kovil / Kunrandar Kovil, A Rock Cut Cave Temple near Pudukkottai, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

This temple is one of the rock cut cave temples of Pudukottai covered during our Pudukottai Heritage walk.  The presiding deity is Lord  Shiva.

Moolavar    : Sri Parvathagiriswarar

Consort      : Sri Umayambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The rock cut cave temple is facing east with Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam. Entrance looks like a Rajagopuram base. From the outer prakaram to the inner prakara entrance is like a Rajagopuram with stucco image of Rishabanthikar, Pichadanar with rishipathinis and Gajasamkara murthy. Again a Nandhi in the mandapa. The sanctum is a Rock cut cave  with moolavar is an integral part of the main rock. The 61 cm Lingabanam is on the 57 cm high, 8 faced avudayar. The komuga is small. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance, but not similar. On the left called soola thevar and the right called as mazhuvadiyar.  A stucco Vimana  is constructed above the sanctum on the rock.

The front  mandapam is joined with the main rock to form the sanctum sanctorum. In front of the sanctum  on the left valampuri Vinayagar. Vinayagar’s yagnopaveetha and mothagam are little unusual to be watched. On the right Shiva with Umai Ammai in the form of bas-reliefs. Shiva and Umai are sitting in lalitasana. On the left mandapam Saptamatrikas with Vinayagar and Veerabhadra.   Sri Murugan and Sri Valli are in a small rock cut cave.  Sri Chandikeswarar bas-relief is on the right side of the small cave.

On the west side of the temple is a 100 pillar mandapa with a raised platform. The front is built like a chariot pulled by the horses. In front images like sanganidhi, Padmanidhi and boothaganas. There is a Navakanda statue is kept in the mandapa, how it came here is not known. Ambal is in a separate temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastham. On the hill there is a Arumuga with 12 hands sitting on peacock temple. It was told that with the presence of Arumugar temple, the place is called as Kunrudayar Kovil latter turned to  the present name of Kunnandarkoil.

 Shiva with Umaiyammai

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The rock cut cave temple was excavated during 8^th century by Nandhivarman. The front mandapa was extended by Pandyas. The 100 Pillar mandapas  and some of the structures are built during Vijayanagara period.

As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called as Thirukunrakudi Mahadevar, Kundrakudi Nayanar and Kunraperumal . The original name of Kundrakudi was turned to the present name of Kunnandarkoil. The temple has more than 60 inscriptions, which speaks about the land measurement, sale, Taxes, donations and the punishment for the wrongdoers. One of the inscription speaks about donation of 220 nazhi rice to 110 andhanars, by Kothaimayinthan, in the name of his son Mayinthan Veerakadayan on Thiruvathira day.  The temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI).

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between  08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The  rock cut cave temple is on the Keeranur to Athanur kottai Road and 13 KM from Keeranur.

Keeranur is on Pudukkottai to Trichy Road.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Soolathevar - Dwarabalakas - Mazhuvadiyar

 Saptamatrikas

 Saptamatrikas 

 Saptamatrikas 

 Murugan & Valli

  Chandikeswara

 100 pillar mandapam

 Ambal Sannadhi

 100 pillar mandapa 

 100 pillar mandapam 

Navakanda Statue

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Sri Markapureeswarar Temple, Visalur, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

This visit to this temple is a part of Pudukkottai Heritage  Visit, arranged by Mr Trichy Parthy. The temple is under the control of Archaeological  Survey of India.  The Kumbhabhishekam was performed few days before. ( This post was up dated with architecture, history and inscriptions. For more details please click this link )

Moolavar    : Sri Markapureeswarar /Sri Markabandeeswarar

                   Sri Vakiswaramudaya mahadevar

Some of the important features are...

The temple is facing east with Shiva & Parvathi stucco image In the entrance arch. A Nayak statue and a mandapam are immediately after the entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in front of the 2 tier Rajagopuram.

In the niche / Deva koshtam Dakshinamurthy, installed at a latter state.  In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vishnu, Durgai, Lingas, Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai, Ambal sannadhi, Chandikeswarar. Navagrahas are in the Mukha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and mukha mandapam.  A single tier Nagara style stone vimana including kalasam on the square sanctum. In the Vimana koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu & Brahma and 4 Nandhis on 4 corners. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This is the 9^th Century temple was constructed by Vijayalaya Chozha ( Tamil Virtual Academy claims that it was Parantaka Chozha-I ). Inscriptions of Rajaraja-I, Kulothunga Chozha-I are found on the adhistanam. One of the Kulothunga Chozha’s inscription mention his real name as Rajendra. The moolavar’s name is mentioned as Vasukiswaramudaya mahadevar and Varathukasuramudaya Nayanar. The inscription stones which are not used during renovation are kept in the north side prakaram.

A Vijayanagara period Donor

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 Hrs to 17.00 hrs, since the temple was maintained by ASI.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple Can be reached through Pudukkottai- Keeranur-Kunnandar Kovil – Visalur.

140 KM from Madurai and 17 KM from Pudukkottai.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

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Sri Thiyagarajar Temple, Pulvayal, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

During our heritage visit to Pudukkottai Rock cut Cave temples and Jain monuments, we came across this Shiva Temple. The temple is in neglected and dilapidated condition but structures are found intact. The Shiva is under worship and taken care off by the devotees and Gurukkals.

Moolavar    : Sri Thiyagarajar

Consort      : Sri Kamalambal & Sri Logambal.

Some of the important details are ….

The temple is facing east with Rishabam and balipeedam. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar and Chandikeswarar. ( For safety reasons idols are kept in side the temple). The entrance is on the South with a rajagopuram base structure. In koshtam Sri Dakshinamurthy with a mandapam protruding out was added at a latter stage.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and Maha mandapam.

 

HISTORY

The temple was constructed  during Chozha period with Kulothunga Chozha-III, inscriptions. The temple outer wall and Rajagopuram had fallen down. Expecting some well wishers to  re-construct the temple without causing damage to the heritage Value of this old temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple opening times are uncertain and request to confirm with gurukkal before Visiting the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Gurukkals, D Ramaiyya +91 9843256121 and Dr R Ravikumar, +91 6381756556 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on  Pudukkottai to Manapparai Road and about 11.5 KM from Pudukkottai.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

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Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple / Pamechura Vinnagaram , Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

                                                                               23^rd September 2018.

This 7^th Century Vishnu Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam Perumal temples in Kanchipuram. The temple is located about a KM from Kanchipuram bus terminus. Thirumangai Alwar has sung 10 pasurams on Vaikunda Perumal of this temple.

 

This 7^th Century Vishnu Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam Perumal temples in Kanchipuram. The temple is located about a KM from Kanchipuram bus terminus. Thirumangai Alwar has sung 10 pasurams on Vaikunda Perumal of this temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Vaikunda Perumal in three stages, Standing, Sitting

                and  Reclining.

Thayar     : Sri Vaikunta Valli Thayar.

Some of the important details are...

The Temple is facing west with a base of a Rajagopuram built with stone and front is like maadam. Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudalwar is in the prakaram after the entrance. Nagars are under a peepal tree.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum, antarala and Artha mandapam and a muka mandapam. The Mukha mandapa doesn’t have the connection with the main sanctum sanctorum. Sannadhi for Sri Vaikunta Valli Thayar is in the mukha mandapam facing Perumal. The inner prakaram is with a raised verandah & covered corridor is supported by the lion pillars, a mixture of sandstone and granite. The inner prakara walls on all the four side sculptures speaks the historical events of the Pallava dynasty since 4^th -5^th Century up to the time of Nandivarman –II, in a sequence. His Coronation events are also a part of it. The sculptures also depicts the war scenes of Military, cavalry, elephant corps, battle fields, the joy of victory, the sorrow of defeat, ashwamedha yagna, punishment like Kazhuvetram, etc,. Minute details like throne of the kings, crowns, the jewellery are clearly shown in the sandstone sculptures.

 

The sanctum is with mummaada Vimana,  has three levels in which bottom level is for Sri Vaikunda Perumal in sitting Posture. While the upper hands holds conch and Chakra / discus and lower hands are in abhaya and Varada hastham. In the second level, Perumal is in reclining posture and in the top level, Perumal is in standing posture, with a little space around. ( The second and third level are restricted to general public and kept locked ). The sanctum and ardha mandapa outer walls has the sculptures of various avatars of Sri Vaikunda Perumal. Every corner is supported by the lion pillars.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions the temple was built in Rajasimha style ( 674 – 800 AD ) architecture by Nandi varma -II, Pallava king and called as "Paramesvara Vishnu Graham". The temple has 7 inscriptions. One of the Nandivarman Ii ( 8^th Century ) inscription speaks about the coronation of a little Prince. After the death of Parameswara Varman II, the kingdom got confused for the coronation of next King. The Officials requested Hiranya varman Maharaja, who belongs to another Pallava family to crown as a King. In-turn when he asked his sons, the 12 years old Parameswara Varman agreed to become the King.  He was brought to Kanchipuram and crowed as  Nandivarman-II, and was also called as Pallavamalla. He led the Pallava Dynasty for 65 years. The temple is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) as a protected monument.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the vaikunda Perumal Street off East Raja Veedhi and about a KM from Kanchipuram Bus Terminus.

About 3 KM from Kanchipuram Railway station.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 

 Pillar Reliefs

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