Kanniraintha Perumal Temple, Malayadipatti – The Temple Complex

Kanniraintha Perumal Temple, Malayadipatti – The Temple Complex

This cave temple is excavated on the northern façade of the hill and situated closer to the western end of the hill. The temple complex is enclosed within a granite compound wall with a north facing entrance without any superstructure over it. There is a niche enshrining an image of Valampuri Vinayaga on the exterior of the compound wall to the left of the entrance. Deepa Sthamba, Balipeedam and Garuda can be seen immediately after the entrance in front of the cave. There is a sculpture of goddess to the north of deepa sthamba facing towards the entrance.

The cave temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The two pillar and two pilasters forms three aisles of the ardha mandapa. It is unique to note that the entrances of the ardha mandapa are marked with lintel and door jambs for a cave temple. The pillars and pilasters are supported on lion / vyala figures at the base. These lion / vyala figures are shown seated with their one limb raised up. The roof of the ardha mandapa is painted with the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The paintings are in bad shape.

The niches formed in the recess of the remaining portion on either side enshrines the dvarapalas. The dvarapalas are two armed. One hand rests on their waist and another holds lotus. Both the figures are almost identical in ornamentation and posture. A hooded snake is shown over their shoulders. The western dvarapala has shankha (conch) crest in his headdress while the eastern dvarapala has a chakra (discus) crest, suggesting that these dvarapalas represent the respective ayudha purushas. The eastern lateral wall of the ardha mandapa has bas relief image of Lord Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi.

All the three images stands over a pedestal cut out of mother rock. Lord Vishnu is four armed. His upper hands hold shanka & chakra and the lower right hand shows abhaya hastha & lower left-hand rests on the hip. The flying figures of Surya and Chandra can be seen near the head of the Lord Vishnu on either side. The western lateral wall of the mandapa has an image of Lord Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. It is not a bas relief image, but separate sculptures placed on the wall.

The western wall appears to be devoid of a bas-relief, however it carries an image of seated Vishnu with Bhu-devi and Sri-devi, executed in separate stone. All the three images are showed in seated posture. Lord Vishnu is shown seated in sukhasana with his hanging right leg placed on the padma pedestal. He is four armed. His upper hand holds shanga and chakra. His lower right hand shows abhaya hastha and lower left-hand rests on his thigh. Both his consorts are seated in utkutikasana with their stretched leg rested on padma pedestal. Their inner hand holds a flower bud, whereas their outer hand rest on the seat.

The sanctum is excavated in the center of the southern wall and the remaining spaces has niches enshrining Hayagriva on the east and Narasimha on the west. Paintings can be seen adjacent to these niches. The Narasimha is shown seated in utkutikasana on a pedestal with his left leg resting on the niche floor. He is four armed. His upper hands holds shanga & chakra and the lower left-hand rests on thigh & lower right hand is stretched above the right knee. A painting of a lady can be seen next to Narasimha.

The Hayagriva is shown seated in sukhasana on a platform. He is four armed. His upper hand holds shanga and chakra. His lower right hand shows abhaya hastha and lower left-hand rests on his thigh. A painting of Hanuman can be seen next to the Hayagriva. The sanctum is excavated in the center of the southern wall. The sanctum is supported by two pillars and two pilasters in the front. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity Kanniraintha Perumal / Pallikonda Ranganathar / Anandha Padmanaba / Thiru Vaazha Vantha Perumal.

The image is 15-foot sculpture carved on the rear wall of the sanctum. The sculpture covers almost all of the rear wall of the sanctum. He is facing upwards, reclines over the coils under the canopy of hood of the serpent Adisesha. This posture is similar to the posture in Thiruvananthapuram Divyadesam. Adisesha is depicted with five heads in his hood and three coils forming the bed for Lord Vishnu. He is shown with two hands with the left hand raised up in kataka mudra and right hand is stretched over the coil of Adisesha.

His legs are stretched out of the coil bed and supported on a lotus. He is wearing kirita makuta and many ornaments. Below the coils of Adisesha, Sage Markandeya can be seen near his head and goddess Bhoodevi can be seen near his feet. Lord Brahma is depicted emerging from the navel of Lord Vishnu. He is shown seated on the lotus. Narada with his lute and Tumburu with his Vina can be seen on the right side of the Brahma.

Daksha with goat head and five ayudha purushas (anthropomorphic depiction of divine weapons of Lord Vishnu) can be seen on the left side of Lord Brahma. Demons Madhu and Kaitaba are shown near the feet of Lord Vishnu. Chandra can be seen above the Madhu and Kaitaba. Garuda and Surya and two other figures in anjali mudra can be seen on the eastern later wall. There is a later period sculpture of Lakshminarayana in the centre of the sanctum.

He is four armed. He holds shanka and chakra in his upper hands. His lower right hand shows abhaya mudra and the lower left hand holds the goddess Lakshmi seated on his lap. He is shown seated in sukhasana on a platform. The goddess Lakshmi holds flower in the left hand and hugs the Lord with her right hand. The sculptures in the sanctum and ardha mandapam are covered with stucco decoration and paintings. There is a mandapa on the north east corner of the temple complex.

The rear part of the mandapa is Madapalli and the front part of mandapa enshrines sculptures of Thirumangai Azhwar, Udaiyavar, unidentified acharya and Vishwakasena. The shrine of goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar is situated on the north west corner of the temple complex. Her shrine is facing towards east. This shrine consists of sanctum and mukha mandapam. The sanctum enshrines the image of Kamalavalli Nachiyar. She is four armed and seated in ardha padmasana. The upper hands holds lotus flowers and lower hands shows abhaya and varada hastha.