17th March 2019.
It was a long wish to see this prehistoric Mesolithic period ( 8000 BC to 2700 BC), rock arts in a naturally formed rock shelter at Porivarai near Karikkaiyur in Nilgiris District. The guides who led us showed the boundary line of Nilgiris Districts and Erode District and pointed out that Porivarai is in Erode District ( Kongu Nadu ). This visit was nicely organized by Mr Gireesh and Mr Kumaravel with good food and transport. Thanks to both of them and the participants.
We, 15 heritage enthusiasts started in a van from Coimbatore and reached Sholurmattam near Kothagiri. The Karikkaiyur is about 15 KM from there. Since the road from Sholurmattam was very bad, we hired two Jeeps/ Vans and reached Karikkaiyur. Karikkaiyur is dominated by the Irula, a hill tribe community. From the Karikkaiyur village, the local boys guided us to reach the spot, which is about 3.5 KM. The path was narrow with thorny bushes on both sides. The slopes are slippery due to the tree leaves on foot paths. Also it was frightening to see the elephant’s dung on the path. Finally reached the spot.
The spot was identified in the year 2004 by Mr G Chandrasekaran and K T Gandhirajan. The rock shelter is about 300 feet high and 500 feet long facing east. Honey combs are hanging from the top. The Shelter’s entrance is narrow and a deep valley in front, which makes this shelter as a secured place. It can easily accommodate 100 to 150 peoples. The Rock arts are drawn from about 3 feet to 20 feet high. What sort of arrangement has been done to draw above 8 feet is not known. The Rock arts are done during different periods by different artists. There are more than 500 images drawn of which few of them are eroded due to weather & Climate. These arts are drawn with white ochre and few are colored with kavi on the white ochre. Kavi colored arts are believed to be of earlier period.
The images are from animals to Humans. A series of Bulls, taming and domestication of bulls & wild animals, Deer, Elephants, domestic fowl, men riding on the animals, men carrying a boar after hunting, war scenes, Training for the war, a mongoose and snake fight, cattle herds with calf. Some of the group arts represents the celebration of functions with playing musical instruments, animals hunting for food, fighting scenes and cattle herds. The painter remembers the scenes that he had seen/ witnessed and reproduced in the form of rock arts. Group paintings are more compared to the individual paintings.
The prehistoric arts gives us the information of Social & economic activities, the way of their life, ideology, Culture, environmental context, the stages of changes in the activities of human beings, the materials & tools used. It was also told that a group of people with a bull indicates that, the recent period game of “Jallikattu” was played about 5000 years before itself.
It is a sad to notice that recent paintings with names were done by the miscreants, which spoils the prehistoric paintings.
It is a sad to notice that recent paintings with names were done by the miscreants, which spoils the prehistoric paintings.
HOW TO REACH:
The Site Porivarai is about 3.5 KM from Karikkaiyur, which is about is about 40 KM from Kothagiri, 15 KM from Sholurmattam. Bus facility is available from Sholurmattam. Since road is too bad, Jeep / Van may be hired form Sholurmattam.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Mr Kirushnamurthy may be contacted through his mobile for help and guide on 904749699 and 9487342108.
It is possible that members of the tribes were recruited in to the royal armies and become acquainted with army dress. Since they are standing in a straight line, the war might have taken in plains.
Cattle herd moving for grazing
a cattle with its calf
Celebrating the boar hunting
Celebration with playing of drum
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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