Mathaleswarar Temple,
Melachery, Villupuram
Mathaleswarar Temple is a Hindu Cave Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Melachery Village near Gingee Town in Gingee Taluk in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was called as Shikari Pallaveswaram in ancient times. Presiding Deity is called as Mathaleswarar and Mother is called as Brihan Nayagi. The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
History
The temple was called as Sri Shikarai Pallaveswaram as per the inscription on the northern wall of the cave temple. Though the name of the temple has Pallava in it, the cave temple did not follow any of the Pallava architectural style. The inscription mentions a king named Chandraditya. This King is not identified with any Pallava Kings. He might be the vassal of Pallava King. Shikari mentioned in the inscription might be the wife of the Pallava Vassal, Chandraditya. She would have excavated this cave temple named after his Pallava Overlord.
The Temple
This cave temple is excavated in the western face of a small granite boulder, located to the north of the village. The Temple is popularly known as Mathaleswarar Temple by locals. This cave temple is facing towards west. A stone Dhwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandi can be found outside facing the sanctum. The rock cut cave shrine is hidden by a newly built Mandapam from the ruins of an earlier Mandapam.
The Sanctum Sanctorum (Cave Temple) consists of Sanctum and Mukha Mandapam. The Mukha Mandapam consists of two pillars and two pilasters. The pillars and pilasters are square in shape. This arrangement divides the cave into three partitions of equal size. Presiding deity is called as Mathaleswarar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
The Lingam and Avudaiyar are carved from the living rock, a feature never seen in Pallava Cave temples. There is a lotus carved on the ceiling just above this Lingam. There are no Dvarapalas guarding the sanctum. Mother is called as Brihan Nayagi and is facing south. She is carved on the northern wall of the cave and housed inside a niche. This carving looks like later addition.
There is a carving of Lord Ganesha in the southern wall of the cave temple. There are few shrines built opposite near to this cave temple. There are shrines for Lord Murugan, Ganesha and few other gods facing the cave temple. There is a huge pond in front of the cave temple. A newly built Murugan temple can be seen in the nearby hill top.
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