24th January 2020.
The visit to this rock cut Bhoothalingaswamy cave temple at Bhoothapandi in Kanyakumari District was a part of Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk organized by Yaaooyaakay and Celebrate Kanchi in association with Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24th to 26th January 2020. After the Kurathiyarai cave temple’s visit, our next destination was to Bhoothapandi, which was about 5.4 Km from Kurathiyarai. This place Bhoothapandi is on the banks of Pazhayar River, at the foothills of Thadaga malai. The freedom fighter Mr P Jeevanandham, hails from this place.
Moolavar : Sri Bhoothalingaswamy / Bhoothalinga Swamy
Consort : Sri Sivagami Amman
Some of the Salient features of this temple are...
This is a Rock cut cave temple facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the west side. Sri Bhootha Vinayagar is just opposite to the Rajagopuram. The Sanctum sanctorum is of Rock cut cave in a small hillock with out trees. Two stucco images of Bhoothas are on the Rajagopuram. The temple, has the circumambulatory path to reach the temple, around the hillock. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi are in front of the temple.
Sanctum sanctorum is a Rock cut cave and the moolavar is also excavated from the mother rock ( Banam cannot be taken out from the avudayar ). There is no circumambulatory path around the sanctum sanctorum.
In the prakaram Sri Sivakami Amman is in a separate temple like sannadhi with sanctum sanctorum, antarala, arthamandapam. In addition to this sannadhis for KanniVinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Sastha ( Iyappan with Ekathala Nagara Vimana ), Sandikeswarar and Dakshinamurthy.
ARCHITECTURE
The Temple complex consists of sanctum Sanctorum, arthamandapam, mahamandapam and a mukha mandapam. The pillars has the bas-reliefs like Ravana Anugraha moorthy, Ulakalantha Perumal, Dancers, Rathi, Manmathan and some erotic sculptures. Even though the temple complex has 4 entrances, only the west entrance has the 3 tier Rajagopuram. The base of the rajagopuram was built with stone and super structure was built with brick and mortar. The Sanctum don’t have the Vimana.
Bhoothaganas are in-front of arthamandapam as Dwarapalakas. Murugan’s arupadai veedu images are on the wall like mural paintings. There are mandapams which includes Chettiyar mandapam and Kalyana mandapam.
Ayyappan sannadhi was built with a Nagara Vimana. The Somaskandar is in a Temple like sannadhi with Sanctum sanctorum and Arthamandapam. A Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal Sri Sivakami Amman is facing east in a temple, like sannadhi with sanctum, antarala and arthamandapa. The Adhisthana is of kabothabhanda adhisthana with brick super structure.
Ayyappan sannadhi was built with a Nagara Vimana. The Somaskandar is in a Temple like sannadhi with Sanctum sanctorum and Arthamandapam. A Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal Sri Sivakami Amman is facing east in a temple, like sannadhi with sanctum, antarala and arthamandapa. The Adhisthana is of kabothabhanda adhisthana with brick super structure.
HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
This place is called in the name of Sangam period King Ollaiyur thantha Bhootha Pandyan. The Rock cut Cave temple is believed to be of 7th Century CE, based on the style of architecture and sculpture. The cave measures 1.71 meters by 1.38 meters with an entrance of 1.6 meters high and 0.67 meters width. There are 11 inscriptions, recorded and all belongs to 16th to 18th Century CE. Most of the inscriptions are inscribed on the walls of Ambal Temple.
A 1578 CE inscriptions, records the the donation towards 25 lamps and neivedhyam offered to Lord Shiva, by one Ayyappan.
The 1581 CE inscription mentions the donation of one measure of ghee and 10 bananas and arrange for the celestial dance of the prime deity. For this an amount of 100 panam was deposited by Kali-paappan of Perumanguzhi desam in Mudala Nadu of Malaimandalam ( மலை மண்டலத்து முடாலா நாட்டுப் பெறுமாங்குழி தேசத்துக் காளிப்பாப்பான் ) with the temple staff. And pooja to be conducted on every month Apara (Pitru ) Paksham, Ashtami thithi day.
Another 1581CE inscription records the land endowment for Poojas and offering to Lord Shiva on the Vasantham day, Tamil Month Chithirai by one Eswaran Kesavan of Makizhanjeru house in Kadaikkasu Desam (கடைக்காசு தேச மகிழஞ்சேறு இல்லத்து ஈஸ்வரன் கேசவன் ). The Village name of Azhagiya Pandipuram, Kadukkarai, Pallacha Peru and Veeraneri Kulam.
The 1583 CE inscription mentions about the endowment for Morning Thirupalli ezhuchi and pooja to Dakshinamurthy by Pasumpirathu Gangaiyadi Bhattar of Azhagan Chozha of Padmanabhanallur.
A 1607 CE inscription records the deposit of 300 panam for the Thirupalli ezhuchi, Abhishekam and offerings to Lord Shiva by Sooranai Vendra Adithan of Padmanabhanallur also called as Murugur of Nanjil Nadu.
A 1614 CE inscription records the deposit of 700 panam for the pooja rituals and offerings for the Chandrasekarar procession on new-moon day by Velayudha Perumal of Mulainallur of Nanjil Nadu.
The 1618CE inscription records the deposit of 900 panam for Lord Shiva and Parvati procession of Bharani star day of Chithirai month, by Setti Silaiyan Ariyakutti of Thiruvidangur Ravi Varmar Street. This gives more details on the expenses for the feeding of Brahmins, rituals of Maheswara pooja, rice flakes, Nambimar adangal, Salasambavanai, Nambimar Tantra Selavu, evening abhishekam, Champhor etc,.
The 1658 CE, inscription mentions about the royal order of Venattu King Ravivarman alias Mootha Thambiran, while he was staying at Bhoothapandi Palace. This speaks about the pooja rituals of this temple.
The inscription near Jeeva Library records the in formation of Anjinan Pukazhidam ( gave shelter who was frightened ).
The 1691 CE Inscription was inscribed on behalf of Adi Chandeswara endowment. This inscription records that Vadakku Saliyar, weaving community people ( Padmasalai ) of this Village migrated to Vadaseri. After lot of suffering they were colonized back to this Bhoothapandi Village.
The 1789 CE inscription mentions the installation of Dwajasthamba.
LEGEND:
A boy was taking care of the cow herds. He observed that, one cow gives less quantity of milk. Suspected the cow’s action he followed and found a demon/ Bhootha, was drinking the milk directly in side the cave. It was informed to the Pandya King who in-turn send his officials to investigate and find-out the truth. They found, that the Cow went inside the cave and showered the milk on a Shiva Linga. The mysterious action of the Cow was unfold and the King ordered to built a Temple and named it as Bhoothalinga Swamy. The locals calls as Salian Kanda Thirumeni. A Stucco image of a Cow showering milk on Shiva Linga is on the boulder.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is 13 KM from Nagercoil, 27 KM from Kanyakumari, 85 KM from Tirunelveli and 750 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station of Nagercoil.
LOCATION : 8.16.22 latitude and 77.26.24 Longitude CLICK HERE
Bhoothas inplace of Dwarapalakas
The left side hill peak looks like Lord Shiva's head.
Inscriptions
Inscriptions
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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