Malaiya
Kovil Temple Complex – Foot Hill Temples
The temple located at the foothills is called as Keezha Kovil. There are two rock cut cave temples located at the foothills. One cave temple is located on the southern side of the cliff while the other cave temple is located on the eastern side of the cliff. There are also four other structural shrines in and around the southern rock cut cave which are all of later origin.
Southern
Cave Temple (Okkaliswara Shrine):
For brief details, please refer below link;
Eastern
Cave Temple:
The eastern cave temple consists of sanctum and entrance porch. The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga housed in an avudaiyar. The Lingam is excavated from the mother rock. Sculpture of Vinayaga can be seen on the surface of the rock opposite to the Linga. It is facing towards east and the iconographical features is similar to the Pillaiyarpatti Vinayaga.
There is an inscription written in grantha script can be seen on the southern side of the cave. It mentions about a musical instrument Veena named Parivathini. An inscription of Kulasekara Pandya can be seen on the door steps of the cave temple. Lord Shiva was called as Srivaramudaiya Nayanar in the inscription.
