Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple – History
Thirunanthikarai
Cave Temple is one of the hundreds of temples that are found in the
southernmost region of India. It is a very ancient temple, probably dating to
the 9th century AD, that is a symbolic pillar of Indian religion and culture.
There are many sculptures inside the temple which are now extinct. The
Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple is one of the founding stones of the Jain religion. Currently the Thirunanthikarai Cave
Temple is under the purview and care of Archaeological Survey of India. Jains were here until around the 9th century AD when
the cave was taken over by Hindu.
Ay
dynasty ruled the land between Nagercoil and Thiruvalla and Vizhinjam, The
Ay Kingdom located to the south of Chera kingdom functioned as an effective
buffer state between the declining Chera kingdom and an emerging Pandya
Kingdom. Ay dynasty was later known as Venadu dynasty. This land was also the
scene of many battles. In 788 A.D, Vikramaditya Varaguna (885–925), an
illustrious Ay ruler ruled Venadu. Jatavaraman Parantaka (Maranjadayan)
the Pandya king waged a war over Ay kingdom and encircled Vizhinjam port.
The
Pandya conquered the Ays and made it a tributary state. Still the Ays refused
to submit and fought against Pandyas for almost a century. Despite frequent
defeats Cheras continued to exist as a fighting force. During ninth century
Cheras rose again as a notable power. This region came under Cheras during the
reign of Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi (978 - 1036 A.D.). Rajaraja Chola I
waged a war against the Venadu ruler and captured the southern region and named
it as Rajaraja Tennadu. Muttom is the fishing village in Kalkulam taluk.
Rajaraja Chola I named it as Mummudi Chola Nallur.
As per
research, King Raja Raja Chola celebrated his birthday at this temple in AD
1003. The department of archaeology was started under the initiative of
Professor Sundaram Pillai and the then Maharajah of Travancore, Moolam Thirunal
Rama Varma sanctioned the monthly grant of Rs. 50.00 for its functioning. The
renowned epigraphist T. A. Gopinatha Rao was employed as first Superintendent
in the year 1908. T.A. Gopinatha Rao edited and published The Travancore
Archaeological Series (T.A.S.) from 1910. Thus T.A.S. inaugurated the
systematic survey and collection of inscriptions in the erstwhile Travancore
state.
The
scholar also visited Thirunanthikarai and Chitharal caves in 1920-21 and copied
and recorded the inscriptions from the caves. According to T.A. Gopinatha Rao,
the cave temple was built during the reign of the king Vikramaditya Varaguna.
Chitharal was erected at Tirucharanam at the behest of a Jain priestess called
Muttavala Naranakuttiyar, who also presented the temple a metallic lamp stand
and a golden flower. Rao also believed that Thirunanthikarai rock cut cave was
excavated by Vikramaditya Varaguna, the Ay ruler in 9th century A.D in simple
Pandya style.
The rock
cut caves were the founding caves of Jainism. Thirunanthikarai cave also served
as dwelling place to Jain ascetic Veeranandi, who came from Thirunarunkondai
Melappalli and preached Jainism during 8th century. One more cave
temple Kurathiarai was also excavated in the ninth century when this
region was under the influence of Jainism. Thirunanthikarai rock cut cave is
under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).