Saturday, December 12, 2015

Malayadippatti, Pudukottai

Malayadippatti, Pudukottai
Malayadippatti is a small village settlement located in Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu. There are two cave temples which are carved out from a single rock running east to west. As per the inscriptions found on these caves this region was under Kil-Sengali-nadu. The territorial division of Kil-Sengali-nadu was comprised of the region around Malayadippatti in Kulattur taluk of the present Pudukkottai. The hill in which the cave temples are scooped out is referred as Tiruvalathur hill in a Pallava inscription whereas in a Nayaka inscription it is referred as Tiruvayamalai, Hill of the Holy.

At a distance 42 km from Pudukkottai, 36 km from Trichy, 39 km from Thanjavur & 363 from Chennai, The Malayadippatti Rock-Cut temples are situated on granite hillocks, south of the Malayadippatti village, also known as Thiru Valattur Malai.
There are two temples in Malayadippatti, one for Lord Shiva and the other for Lord Vishnu. Both temples are situated on the same hillock.

In Malayadippatti ('ma-la-ya-dip-pat-ti', village-at-the-foothills-of mountain), there are two cave temples hewn out of same rock, similar to that of Thirumayam. The bas relief sculpture of Mahishasuramardhini in the Siva shrine is very impressive. The Saptamatrika frieze here will interest iconographers. Practitioners of Kundalini yoga may also find it worth studying this group of sculpture for it is an authentic 1200 – year old composition. There are paintings on the walls, ceiling and sculptures in the Vishnu shrine. Also there are some prehistoric burial sites near to Malayadippatti village.
General Information
Malayadippatti caves hold very important position in the study of the progressive movement of cave temples in Tamilnadu. The two caves of this complex have been assigned to two different dynasties, the Pallava and the Pandya. The Shiva cave was excavated during the Pallava regime but the time of the Vishnu cave is not known due to absence of any foundation inscription. Pillars of the Shiva cave are done in Mahendra style where those in Vishnu cave are not. Pillars of Vishnu cave do have a lion as their base however the lion does not match with the sedant lion base of the later Pallava pillars.

There are many rare and unique iconography found in the Vishnu cave temple whose origins could be traced to the Gupta caves in Udayagiri. 
Location
Malayadippatti is a small village in the northern half of the Pudukkottai district. In the early inscriptions the place was called Thiru-Valattur-malai.
It is 40 km away from Pudukkottai, in the Killukkottai – Kiranur route, 3 km away from Killukkottai and 20 km from Kiranur.

One can reach this place by taking the diversion either from Adhanakkottai on the Thanjavur – Pudukkottai road or from Kiranur on the Tiruchirappalli   - Pudukkottai National highway. Town Bus facility is available from Kiranur and Killukkottai.
The Monuments
Malayadippatti is noteworthy for its two rock-cut temples. One is dedicated to Siva and the other to Vishnu. Similarly one can also find twin rock-cut temples, one dedicated to Lord Siva and the other to Lord Vishnu, in Thirumayam in this district.
The two shrines are hewn out of the same rock. These twin temples are ascribable to the latter half of the 8th or the early half of the 9th centuries.

The Siva temple is older and contains the sculptures of Mahishasuramardhini and the Saptamatrika relief sculptures, which are impressive and noteworthy. There are painting on the walls and ceiling of the Vishnu shrine. Also there are some prehistoric burial sites near to Malayadippatti.
Cave temples of the Pandya region are unique in relation to other such shrines of India as most of these are live temples and under worship. The main reason behind this is the continuous royal patronage received by these shrines. The cave temple complex at Malayadippatti is consisted of two caves, one dedicated to Shiva and another to Vishnu. 

Vishnu cave temple is locally known as Olipathivishnu griham and Shiva cave temple is known as Alathurthali cave. Both the caves are living temples and under worship. Both the caves face north and have been carved on the same rock running from east to west. Brief Details about the caves & other interesting places in Malayadippatti are listed below;
Shiva Cave Temple, Malayadippatti
Vishnu Cave Temple, Malayadippatti
Natural caverns with ancient monuments
Granite hillocks near Malayadippatti contain three natural rock shelters with interesting monuments of the past. Two caverns contain some 400 ancient cupules - cup marks, made some 3000 - 5000 years ago. Third rock shelter contains faint white painting, possibly made of lime. Painting shows bird and a human form.
In the 3rd - 4th century AD these shelters were used by Jain hermits - in each of the two caves with cupules there is made one stone bed. It is possible that the painting also was made in this time.
One of rock shelters contains five-line inscription in Brahmi script.
Connectivity
Malayadippatti is located on Keeranur – Killukottai route, 20 km from Keeranur and 3 km from Killukkottai. It is about 20 km from Asur, located on Tiruchirappalli – Thanjavur highway. It can also be reached by taking a diversion from Adhanakkottai on the Thanjavur – Pudukkottai road. It is about 40 km from Pudukkottai. It is about 5 km from Visalur, another archeological gem located on Keeranur – Killukottai route. Public buses are available from Keeranur and Killukottai however the frequency is not very good.
One can reach Malayadippatti by taking the Trichy – Keeranur – Killukottai route (17kms from Keeranur) or Trichy – Thuvakudi – Poyyakudi – Asur – Sengalur route. 
Bus Numbers:
·        K3 and K12 from Keeranur
·        No. 100 from Tiruverambur
·        No. 26 from Chatram Bus Stand
The temple is 40 kms from Pudukottai.
Auto/Taxi from Trichy will cost around Rs.500.
For local help, contact: Saivaraj @ 97878 18987
Reaching Pudukottai:
·        From Chennai: 400 km via Villupuram, Trichy
·        Trains to Rameswaram go via Pudukottai. 
·        Trains / Buses can be taken to Trichy and regular buses are available from Trichy.
·        From Trichy: 50 km. Regular buses are available.
·        From Madurai: 115 km via Tirupatthur
·        From Coimbatore: 300 km via Dharapuram, Dindigul