Kundrakudi Rockcut Cave Temple / ThennaRRu Nayanar Temple / Masilicchuram / Mayil Malai eswaran koil, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Kundrakudi Rock Cut Cave Temple at Kundrakudi near Karaikudi was a part of structural and Rock Cut cave  Shiva and Vishnu temples visit in Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai and Sivaganga Districts, on 21^st November 2021. This Rock Cut Cave is one of the 41 Rock Cut Caves excavated in Pandya country.

A Chandikeswarar bas relief is carved before the cave. He is sitting in padmasana posture, keeping both hands on thigh. The right palm is open and facing up, seems that he is holding something.  He wears padra kundala, Rudraksha and Yagnopaveetham.

The Cave Nos 2 and 3 are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Cave is with sanctum sanctorum and Ardha mandapam. The ardha mandapam is supported by 2 square pillars and 2 pilasters. The steps leading to sanctum is of ardha Chakra shape / sobanam. In sanctum sanctorum Shiva Lingas are excavated from the mother rock. Shiva Lings are on a square avudayar. Rishaba is in front of the middle Cave.  Dwarapalakas are on the side of the front ardha mandapam. The Dwarapalakas are in three bangha standing posture keeping one hand on the thandam and a snake is coiled around it. The other hand is in kadi hastam. A maguda is shown on their head, wearing Padra Kundala, sarapalli, tholvalai, Uthra bandham and yagnopaveetham. A Sword holder is shown on his hip.

In the next panel Mahavishnu with 4 hands is shown along with Garuda. Maha Vishnu is not in the usual posture. While the upper hands holds Changu / conch and Chakra, Maha Vishnu rests his left hand on Garuda and holding some thing in the right hand. He wears Kundala, sarapalli, Tholvalai, bangles and Yagnopaveetham. Garudan is in folding hands which is an unusual posture.

Bhairavar, Raishabam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are in front of the Cave. There is a Vinayagar Sculpture carved on the right side of the rock. Out of 41 Rock Cut caves in Pandya country, 18 Caves has Vinayagar sculptures and this is one of the cave.

The First cave is with panels of Murugan, Dwarapalaka, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Sankara narayanar, Natarajar in Chathura nadanam with 4 hands and two Shiva ganas playing musical instrument to Natarajar’s dance,  Kotravai with 8 hands  holding various weapons. Two Navakanda and Arikanda sculptures are shown below. All the original sculptures are finished with lime motor and colourful painting was done. Some of the Pictures are down loaded from the website. My sincere thanks to Saravanamanian P A and the unknown Photographers.

The rock cut Cave was extended with structural mandapam, in which two shrines are also during Vijayanagara Nayakas period.  Part of Saptamatrikas and Jyeshtadevi / Thavvai/ Mootha Devi  Sculptures are kept in front of a shrine.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This rock Cut Cave was excavated during early 8^th century Pandya period. Pandya period Tamil vattezhuthu inscriptions are found on the pillars. Latter maintained and extended during Chozhas and Vijayanagara’s period. One of the Pandya period Vattezhuthu inscription mentions a name of  this rock cut cave as “Masilicchuram” means “Mayil Malai eswaran koil”

The Chozha period inscriptions recorded from this Rock Cut Cave Temple belongs to Rajraja-I and Kulothunga Chozha-I. Kulothunga Chozha-I, defeated Pancha Pandya Kings ( 5 Pandya Kings ) and Pandya Country was brought under the fold of Chozhas. Out of 5 to 6 Titles, the title starts with “‘புகழ்மாது விளங்க’… is very much popular. As per his inscription the Pandya Country was called as “Rajraja Pandya Mandalam”.  This place was called as “ThennaRu” ( ..?) and Lord Shiva was called as “ThennaRRu Nayakar” ( .. ?), “ThirukkunRakkudi Thirumalai Udaya Mahadevar”. The inscription reads as …  ( Thanks to Pon Karthikeyan )

1. ஸ்வஸ்தி ஶ்ரீ புகழ்மாது விளங்
2. க ஜயமாது விரும்ப நிலமகள் நி
3. லவ மலர்மகள் புணர உரி
4. மையிற் சிறந்த மணிமுடி சூடி மீநவ
5. ர் நிலை கெட வில்லவர் குலை தர விக்க
6. லன் சிங்கணன் மேல் கடல் பாய திக்
7. கனைத்துந் தன் சக்கர நடாத்தி விஜய
8. (ப)பிஷேகம் பண்ணி வீர ஸிம்ஹாஸ
9. நத்து அவநி முழுதுடையாளோடு
10. ம் வீற்றிருந்தருளிய த்ரிபுவன சக்கரவத்திகள்
11. ஶ்ரீ கொலோத்துங்க சோழ தேவ
12. ற்கு யாண்டு நாற்பதாவது இராஜரா
13. ஜ பாண்டி நாட்டு இராஜேந்த்ர சோ
14. ழ வளநாட்டு தெநாற்றுப் போக்குத் தி
15. ருக்குந்றக்குடித் திருமலை உடைய ம
16. ஹா தேவற்கு நாட்டாந் வீரசேகரநாந
17. விருதராஜ பயங்கர அதலையூர் நாடா
18. ழ்வாநேந் தெநாற்றுப் போக்கில்
19. எந் ஜீவிதமாய்யுள்ள ஊர்கள் திருக்கு
20. ந்றக்குடியிலும் வேழவூர்ரிலும் படை
21. காணியிலும் வெட்டங்குடியிலும் மகா
22. ஞ்சிரங்குடியிலும் சாழியிலும் பாதிரி
23. க்குடியிலும் பாரிவயர மங்கலதும்
24. மேற் கண்ண மங்கலத்தும் இத்தே
25. வர் தேவதாநமாய்யுள்ள நிலங்களெ
26. ல்லாம் இவ்வாண்டு முதல் எற்றைக்கு
27. ம் இறைய் தவிர்த்துக் குடுத்துக் குடுத்
28. தமைக்குக் கல்வெட்டிக் குடுத்தேந்
29. விருதராஜ ப(பு) யங்கர அதலையூர் நா
30. டாழ்வாநேந் திருக்குந்றக்குடித் திருமலை
31. உடைய மகாதேவக்கு இது பந்
32. மஹேஸ்வர ரக்ஷை”

HOW TO REACH

This Rock cut cave is on the west side of the hill, Kundrakudi Murugan Temple.

Kundrakudi is 14 KM from Karaikudi, 40 KM from Pudukkottai, 47 KM from Sivagangai, 88 KM from Tiruchirappalli and 414 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Karaikudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---