Thirumalapuram Rock Cut Cave Temple, Thirunelveli
Thirumalapuram
Rock Cut Cave Temples is located in Sankarankoil Taluk in Thirunelveli District
of Tamilnadu. The rock cut cave temples are situated on the hill of
Thirumalapuram also known as Varanasimalai. These ancient Cave temples are now
under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India. Archaeological evidence
is available to prove that people lived here even 10,000 years ago. Neolithic
tools excavated from this area bear witness to this fact. There are two
rock-cut temples. The one in the south bears an incomplete look. It is also
called as Pasupathynatheswarar Cave Temple. The northern temple houses a Shivalinga,
hewn out of the rock.
From the
lingam it is evident that regular abishekam was performed in ancient days. The
temple also houses the idols of Brahma, Nataraja, Vishnu and Vinayaka, which
are slightly damaged. From the architecture of the temple and special features
of the images, it can be concluded that the temple must have been hewn by the
Pandyas in the 7th century. Southern Temple is unfinished rock cut
cave on the other side of the hillock which is not under worship. There is an
11th century inscription on one of the pillars. The Nandi in the
front mandapam is in a dilapidated condition and the murals inside the temple
also look faded.
History
The date
for this cave is assigned to the second half of the seventh Century A.D. and of
Pandya style based on the architecture of the cave and from the images
displaying few unique features. This is ascertained by the monolithic
Shivalinga - carved out of the base rock, a feature which is not present in the
Pallava caves of the same period and the presence of Pillaiyar bas relief. The
site is a centrally protected monument under the control of Archaeological
Survey of India since 1922.
Cave
Temple
There
are two rock cut cave temples which are excavated by Pandyan Kings in 750 AD.
Among the two caves one is finished and other is unfinished. The finished one
is more significant with rectangular ardha-mandapa with a flight of steps and
cells on the western walls. It contains bas-relief sculptures and two
inscriptions from Pandyan period. This temple has 3 sections with 3 bas-relief
structures. The first one is a beautiful dancing Siva with a bhootha gana and
bull on both sides. Lord Shiva is seen in dancing posture of Chatura.
A dwarf
near his foot plays the musical instrument. Second carving is a standing Lord
Vishnu with 4 hands and 2 seated bhootha ganas on either sides with sankha and
chakra on upper two hands. Seated Ganesha is seen next to him. On one side is
the sanctum sanctorum with a Siva Lingam. On either sides of the entrance of
sanctum sanctorum are Dwarapalakas. There is another relief sculpture of Brahma
with 4 hands and 3 visible heads. On the centre of the hall, facing the Siva
Linga is a monolith Nandi which is in broken state. These figures in these
temples are excellent examples of Pandyan art.
The Façade:
The
facade of the rock cut cave abuts the mukha mandapa and measures about 0.90 meters
in width in east-west direction and 5.49 meters in length in north-south
direction. The mother rock extends from the facade as side walls, floor
and cornice. The facade has two pillars in the middle and two pilasters on both
ends. The pillars are in usual early rock-cut cave style, cubical top and bottom (Brahma
kanta) with intermediate octagonal shaft (Vishnu kanta).
Except
the southern face all other faces of the upper cubical parts of the pillars are
adorned with lotus medallions and resembles with Pallava lotus medallions. The
medallion at the north face of the upper square is bound by two circles and
there is makara at the center and the inner circle is decorated with
kodikarukku. The east face of the upper square pilasters show lotus medallions
The Taranga potikas (fluted corbels) above the pillars and pilasters are molded
with a median patta (band). Similar fluted corbel style is seen in later
Pallava constructions.
The
potikas hold the uttira and above it vajana is running throughout the kapota
and extends to the lateral walls, pilasters and extends up to the floor. Above
vajana the continuous band of valabi shown. The cornices appear irregularly
shaped and the long groove running across the entire length of the facade
serves to drain the rain water. The eastern lateral wall measures about 0.64 meters
in width and western lateral wall measures about 1.70 meters in width. The
floors of the facade and mukha mandapa are evenly leveled.
Mukha Mandapam:
The
rectangular mukha mandapa measures 5.91 meters in north-south and 3.13 meters in
east-west directions. There is one niche on the eastern wall and three niches
on the southern walls. A koshta, measuring about 1.96 meters in height and 1.00
meters in width, at the centre of the eastern wall bears the bas relief image
of Lord Brahma appear in standing posture. His right arm rests on his hip and
the left arm holds the dried bottle gourd. The right rear arm holds flower and
the left arm holds the palm-leaf manuscript. The deity wears jatamakuta, sacred
thread (Yagyopavitam), sarapuli, udharabandha, keyura (tollvalai), thick
bangles and the deity also wears a silk dhoti in pancha-kacha
style.
Koshtas:
The
southern wall has three koshtas: The first koshta at southern wall, measuring
about 1.86 meters in length, 1.41 meters in width bears the unique dancing bas
relief image of Lord Shiva and there are two Buta Ganas standing one on each
side. The four armed Lord Shiva appears in chatura-tandavam
posture (the 107th dance posture in the 108 dance postures of
Shiva) with the left foot slightly raised into the air and the right foot
firmly placed on the floor.
The rear
right hand holds the flower; the front right hand is holding
the yajnopavita; the front left hand is extended above the shoulder
(ardhapataka); and the rear left carries the palm-leaf manuscript. Braided
locks are hanging at the back. The hair is dressed high in jatamukuta and
bears a crescent moon to the proper left and the skull. He wears a palm-leaf
coil as ear-ring at his right ear lobe and the left ear lobe
appears long and empty. He also wears yajnopavita, necklace,
udara-bandha, serpentine spiral armlets, forearm band and anklets.
The
costume consists of short garment worn around the waist with an elaborate
girdle decorated with a floral clasp in front. A thin sash runs around his
waist. A serpent coils around the waist and thighs. The image, unique piece of
its kind, is a very fine example of the early Pandya art. The gana at the
right side of the Lord exhibits the legs and other organs are mostly destroyed.
The gana at right wears karanta makutam (head gear) and palm leaf coil at ear-lobe
appears standing and playing the sirattai kinnari (traditional Tamil musical
instrument) with right hand.
The
second koshta at the southern wall, measuring about 1.90 meters in height and
1.40 meters in width, bears four armed Lord Vishnu in standing posture and
there are two Buta Ganas standing one on each side. The rear right
hand holds the conch; the rear left hand carries the discuss
wheel; the front left is resting on the waist; and the front right
hand displays the palm around the waist. The costume consists of full length
golden silk garment, Pitambara as it is called around the waist
in pancha kacha style.
He is
adorned with ornaments like krita makutam with wheel, makara kundala on ear
lobes, sarapali, armlets, fore-arm band, udhara bandha, and yajnopavita,
The Buta ganas (slightly destroyed) are wearing karanta makutam, palm leaf coil
and short loin, and showing their faces towards audience and yet appear
worshiping the Lord.
The
third koshta at the southern wall, measuring about 1.68 meters in height and
1.34 meters in width, bears idampuri Pillaiyar appear in
maharajaleelasanam. The rear right hand holds the pasa; the rear
left carries the tusk; the front left is resting on the belly;
and the front right hand resting on the knee and holding the
modhakam. He is adorned with ornaments like karanta makutam, armlets,
fore-arm band, udhara bandha, and yajnopavita. The costume consists of
small garment around the waist.
Sanctum:
The
sanctum excavated on the western wall, measuring about 0.96 meters in width and
1.66 meters in length, is a rectangular cell with a monolithic Shivalingam
with square Avudayar (base). The sanctum is simple and plain and devoid of
any ornamentation. The plinth (prathivari bandha adhitanam) of the sanctum
includes jagathi, vritta kumudham and prathivari elements. There are two niches
one on either side of the sanctum entrance. The sanctum entrance is supported
by two square pilasters.
At the
centre of the mukha mandapa floor a monolithic Nandhi appear in a ruined state.
Traces of early Pandya paintings are seen along prastara. The rectangular Avudayar
measures about 1.22 meters in width and 1.32 meters in length and to a height
of 0.63 meters and the plinth of the Avudayar is formed as a padabandha
adhishthana with the elements of upana, jagati, vritta kumuda, kantha
with pada and flanked by kampa, pattika and upari kampa. The rock cut Vesara
bana is 0.54 meters height. The second cave is incomplete and located at
the southern face of the hill.
Inscriptions:
There is
one inscription found on one of the pillars has been assigned to 11th
century A.D. Another inscription (dilapidated) of Pandya King Vallaba
Devan (1090-1116 A.D.) noticed on the eastern side of the mukha mandapam
records about the gifts including fertile lands with trees, deep wells and
tanks to this temple by the king. Reports the royal order issued to the village
Sabha of Viranarayanamangalam in Thukavur kutram and the nattar of
Varanavasipuram. A family from Kadampankulam is said to come to the temple
every year on Thirukarthigai day and light a deepam with castor oil on a stone
pit meant for the purpose.
Festivals
Also
there are special pujas on every Pradosham Day and on Annual Tirukarthikai Day
and Annual Maha Shivarathri Day.
Connectivity
Thirumalapuram
is located at about 17 Kms from Sankarankovil, 45 Kms from Tenkasi, 45 Kms from
Kadayanallur, 50 Kms from Thirunelveli, 100 Kms from Thoothukudi, 145 Kms from
Madurai and 153 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. The Cave Temple is located at
about 1 Kms from Thirumalapuram Bus Stop. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Sankarankovil. Nearest Airport is located at Thoothukudi, Madurai and
Thiruvananthapuram.
