ROCK ENGRAVINGS ( PETROGLYPH ) IN THE EDAKKAL CAVES, IN WAYANAD DISTRICT, KERALA.

23^rd June 2019.

The main purpose of this visit was to see the 6000 years old pre historic Petroglyph or the engravings of Edakkal Caves in Kerala. These two Caves are on the Ambukuthi Hill near Ambalavayil in Wayanad District of Kerala State erstwhile Malabar State, which is about 12 KM from Sultan Bathery.  The site consists of Two caves one above the another at a height of 1200 meters above MSL. The visit to the bottom cave was closed. The top cave was formed by three rocks ( Two rocks and a big rock in between ) hence called as Edakkal ( idaikal –இடைக்கல் ). As per the legend this Hill Ambukuthi hill was formed by shooting of arrows by Sri Ram’s sons Lava & Kusha. And the Surpanakai was killed in this hill by Sri Ram.

The Caves has the engravings / Petroglyph of Neolithic period. Experts of the opinion that these Petroglyph belongs to 6000 BCE. The petroglyph depicts the human beings, animals like Elephants, hand tools, symbols, etc. It throws light on the culture and habits of Neolithic human beings.  This petroglyph is the largest one in South India.

In addition to the Petroglyph,  Old Tamizhi ( Brahmi – 1800 years old ), Sanskrit and Vattezhuthu ( 6^th Century ) inscriptions are   found. The 12^th to 14^th Century Tamil inscription reads as “Palpuli Thathakari” ( பல்புலிதத்தகாரி )( There is a place called Pupally in Wayanad District ). The Tamizhi ( Brahmi ) inscription says as “Chera“ (“கடுமி புதசேர”) ( This place was known as Chera Nadu before 14^th Century). Archaeologist Natana Kasinathan identified “O Pazhami “  (  ஒ பழமி ) (means “பழையோள்” the earliest Tamil Goddess ) as Tamil inscription.  In 2012 a Tamil Brahmi / Tamizhi inscription was also identified.

This cave was identified in 1890 AD, by F Fawcett, Superintendent of Police of erstwhile Malabar District. In addition to the masonry steps Stainless steel  steps are provided to climb up the hill.

CAUTION:

The visiting of Caves is the combination trekking on the hill and climbing of stainless steel steps. Hence those who are suffering from Heart problems are advised not to venture.

CAVE VISITING HOURS:

The visitors are allowed  between 08.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs and the holidays are All Mondays, Republic, May Day, Independence day, Gandhi Jayanthi and Thiruvonam.

HOW TO REACH:

The trekking distance is about 3 KM.

12 KM from Sultan Bathery

The Edakkal caves may be easily approached through Gundlupete  ( Night hours are permitted travel on this road  due to animal movement ) of Karnataka is 70 KM, Kozhikode 110 KM  and 103 KM from 0oty.

LOCATION:   11°37′28.81″N  and 76°14′8.88″E -- CLICK HERE

  

 An elephant

The neolithic tools

 Edakkal - இடைகல்( the center one )

The Team

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

JAIN TEMPLE AT KIDANGANAD, SULTAN BATHERY, KERALA.

23^rd June 2019.

The Visit to this Jain monument  was a part of Edakkal Caves and Karnataka Temples Visit. After our Karnataka temples Visit, we started  from Gundulupet to Edakkal Caves.  On the way we had been this Jain Temple restored by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) from ruins at Kidanganad a part of Sultan Bathery. Usually the custom of buildings temples in Kerala  are with Wood, on the contrary this Jinalaya was built with full of granite stones.  It was told that Tippu sultan used this Jinalaya to store arms and ammunitions.

As per ASI, This Jinalaya is one of the few  9^th to 15^th Century ancient Jain Temples exists in Kerala.  The Jainism received patronage of the Chera Kings of the Magothayapuram and Ay ( ?) Kings of South India. However the Jainism declined after 11^th to 12^th Century. As per the records in and around Sultan Bathery ( Battery ) 12 streets are with Jain populations. The Hannera bidi ( 12 streets) is one among the traditional Jains settlements in Sultan Bathery. The Sultan Battery was Known as Ganapathi Vattam in inscriptions.  This Jain Temple is datable to the 14^th Century AD on stylistic grounds. This is an example of the cloistered temple facing east consists of a Sanctum, antarala, closed mahamandapa, muka mandapa and a Namaskara mandapa.

The sanctum is square shaped with out any images. The lalata Bimba  of the sanctum and the closed mahamandapa has sacred Jain images. These are shown in padmasana with dhyana mudra. The image has Lotus depiction. The door jambs are decorated with different motifs. 

THE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum has a circumambulatory mandapa as a path way. The Mahamandapa followed by a mukamandapa is accessed through a flight of steps. Its balustrade is decorated with yazhi motifs. The muka mandapa stands on molded padma banda adhistana  containing upana, Jagathi, Padma, tripatta Kumuda, gala and Pillars are highly evolved type and are decorated with  various designs such as floral motifs, serpabanda ( entwined serpents ), garland decorations, stylized Vajra, Tirthankara, goose, etc,. All Tirthankaras are not shown with Mukkudai ( triple umbrella ).

The detached Namaskara mandapa is supported on 4 pillars. The two pillars has the Tirthankara ( ? ) reliefs. In addition to this old structural parts also kept on display. Its roof is missing now. The temple originally  had cloistered wall which is now in ruins. This monument is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).

HOW TO REACH:

Sultan Bathery is easily accessible from Gundulupet of Karnataka through Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park forest. ( Please note this route is closed during night times for the movement of animals. ).

From Mysuru

Sultan Bathery is 97 KM from Kozhikode.

      

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Pillars of Namaskara mandapam 

 Pillar Pothyal / Capital

A Nagabandam relief

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI VIJAYANARAYANA ( JANARDANA ) TEMPLE, GUNDLUPETE, IN CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA.

22^nd June 2019.

The visit to the temple was a part of Karnataka Temples Visit, on 22^nd June 2019. It was around 16.00 hrs when we landed Gundlupete Sri Vijayanarayana Temple and the  temple was opened around 16.15 hrs. As per ASI this temple was inside the fort. Now there is no traces of the old fort.

Moolavar  : Sri Vijayanarayana

Thayar     : Sri Kamalavathy Thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a Vaiajayanagara period Mukamandapa. The front side 4 pillars are intricately carved Lion / Yazhi pillars with beautiful capitals/ pothyals. The palipedam and Dwajasthambam  are in the Vijayanagara period mukamandapa.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapa, mahamandapa and mukamandapa. The mahamandapa has lateral entrances, which are closed now after constructing the mukamandapa. Moolavar Sri Viajayanarayana is in standing posture. Urchavars are in antarala, Alwars are in Arthamandapa and Paravasudeva with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Mahalakshmi, Kamalavathy and Andal are in the mahamandapa.

The temple also has the images of Anantha, Garuda, Visvaksena, Hanuman and Sculptures like Durga, Yoga- Dhakshinamurthy, Sapthamathas are assignable to the period of Gangas and Chalukyas.

HISTORY:

The temple was built by the 12^th Century Hoysala Dynasty King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate the victory over the Chozhas at Talakadu   along with 4 more Vishnu temples in Karnataka. The Sri Keerthi Narayana Perumal temple of Talakadu, Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple at Thondanoor, presently called as Thonnur  are included in the 5 temples.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is in the Taluk Headquarters Gundlupete on the Junction of Chamarajanagar Road, Mysuru to Gundlupete Road,  Gundlupete to Wayanad and Gundlupete to Ooty Road.

Gundlupete is 100 KM from Mysuru, 120 KM from Chamarajanagar, 146 KM from Wayanad ( Night route ).

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

The Team

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

ANCIENT RUINED JAIN TEMPLE, AT DODDATHUPPUR IN CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT KARNATAKA.

23^rd June 2019.

After visiting the Kelasuru Chandraprabha Tirthankara Basadi, on the way to Gundlupete, we happened to see this ruined Jain Temple by theside of Chamarajanagar road.

This  ruined temple comprises of Two structures. One is on the Ground level and other one is on the 1^st floor. Steps are built to climb to the first floor. The basic structure are built with granite stones. And the super structures,  the triple arch and vimana are built with brick and mortar.  Even now the structure seems to be in good condition, then why the same was abandoned is not known. Going by the Structure details this Jain Temple might have been constructed during 14^th to 15^th Century.

HOW TO REACH:

The Ruined Jain Temple is on the side of Chamarajanagar road and 2 KM from Gundlupet.

This ruined Jain temple is about 40 KM from Chamarajanagar and 61 KM from Mysuru.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 

The Laladam relief looks like Krishna / Kannan of Hindu deity. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

CHANDRAPRABHA TIRTHANKARA BASADI / TEMPLE AT KELASUR, CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA.

22^nd June 2019.

After the visit to Triyambakeshwara Temple at Triyambakapura, we planned to stay on 22^nd June night at Gundlupet. Our visit was not restricted to Shiva and Vishnu temples alone, but we also covered three Jain Temples and monuments. These Jain temples and monuments has the Chozha’s contributions. On the way to Gundlupate, we diverted to a living ancient Jain Basadi at Kelasuru.

The place Kelasur and the places around Gundlupete has the 1300 and odd years old Jain History. During  8^th- 9^th Century Jaina Acharya Virasena ( 792-853AD) believed to be lived at Kelasur. He wrote explanations and commentaries of the sacred Jain Shastras, Dhavala, Jayadhavala and Mahadhavala, at this Basadi/ temple.

The Deity: Chandraprabha Tirthankara.

Some of the salient features of this Basadi/ Temple are…

This Basadi is facing North with Sanctum Sanctorum, Sukanasi/ arthamandapa and a Navaranga / Mahamandapa. The Mahamandapa is supported by the Hoysala syle pillars exclusively used for the devotees to sit and worship. The Arthamandapa has the Marble idol of Lord Chandranatha in Standing posture ( Kayotsarga ). On the left of Chandranatha, idols of Brahmayaksha, Goddess Padmavathi and Goddess Kushmandini. Regular poojas and abhishekam are conducted daily.

At the entrance to the sanctum on the left is the 5 feet high idol of Shyama Yaksha and on the right side Jawalamalini Yakshi, the guardian deities of 8^th Tirthankara Chandranatha. In the sanctum is the 3 feet high idol of Chandranath Tirthanka in Padmasana on a raised pedestal. The specialty of this temple is the three idols, Tirthankara Chandranatha, Shyama Yaksha  and Kushmandini Yakshi are made of stucco ( Clay – in Kannada it is called as Leppa ).

The sanctum sanctorum adhistana is simple with Jagathi and virutha Kumudha, padmam on it and patti. There is no vimana over the sanctum. The Parapet wall has the simple designs.

On the back side of the sanctum sanctorum A 6 feet Parshvanatha and Nisithikai ( installed in memory of those who took sallekhana ) memory stones are installed. Parshvanath idol seems to be in good condition. It was told that these idols are unearthed from this Village.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS: ( Ref Article by Nitin H P )

Acharya Virasena, in his works, mentions this place as “Udyogapura” and this was the capital for the Jaina villages around this place. There were around 600 houses in this village. This place Kelasur is mentioned in the work “Rajavali Kathasuru”, written by Devachandra. The Tamil inscription mentions this place  Kelasur as “Kellasuppulaicheri” in Kudugunattu, Gangaikonda Chozhavalanattu Mudikonda Chozhamandalam.

There are Five  inscriptions found in this Basadi adhistana in Tamil with grantha ( two inscription of one, on the east side adhistana is not recorded), Kannada and Sanskrit. Of the 5 inscriptions, the Tamil with grantha inscription is the earliest.

The 12^th century Vikrama Chozha ( also called as Solagangan ) 1118- 1135 AD, period Tamil inscriptions mentions about two grants. The 1^st one records the gift of 12 kanduagas ( a measure ) of land  to this temple. The second one records the gift of a Village Tenkottai as “Pallichantham”/ gift to this temple.

The 13^th Century Hoysala King Vira Narasimhadeva-II ( 1220-1235AD), period Kannada inscriptions records as two persons Gopuyya and Ranganna gifted a house and income from the house to be used for the worship of this temple.

The 19^th Century ( 1829AD), inscription  of Mysuru King Krishnaraja Vodeyar-III, records the renovation of this temple.

The temple was recently renovated under Kanagagiri math,  Swamiji Swati Sri Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattaraka.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The Basadi is kept open between 07.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs and the priest K T Dharanendraiah is staying in this Kelasur Village.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Basadi is under the control of Sri Kanakagiri Jain math at Maleyuru in Chamarajanagar district may be contacted on the land lines 08226 210786 and 08226 211786 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Kelasur is about 9 KM from Gundlupete, 17 KM from Kanakagiri Jain Math, 46 KM from Nanjangud and 68 KM from Mysuru.

The nearest Railway station is at Nanjangud.

The nearest airport is Mysuru.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Sukanasi or the arthamandapa

  Shyama Yaksha  and Kushmandini Yakshi 

Sri Chandranatha Tirthankara ( moolavar  made of Clay- leppa )

 Parshvanatha Tirthankara  

 Nisithikai ( installed in memory of those who took sallekhana ) memory stones

 Nisithikai ( installed in memory of those who took sallekhana ) memory stones

The Tamil inscription on adhistana virutha kumuda

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

TRIYAMBAKESHWARA TEMPLE AT TRIYAMBAKAPURA, CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA.

22^nd June 2019.

Visit to this temple was a part of “Chozha period temples Visit” in Karnataka on 22^nd June 2019. After Terakanambi Shiva and Vishnu temples Visit, our next visit was to this Triyambakapura Shiva Temple, which is about 2.5 KM from Terakanambi.

Moolavar  : Sri Triyambakeshwara

Consort    : Sri Parvathi Triyambakeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 12.2 meters high Deepathamba with a mandapa. The mahadwara is a base of a Vijayanagara style Rajagopura base. Nandhi and Balipeda are immediately after the mahadwara. There is an entrance on the south side also.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapa and muka mandapa or the Navrangamandapa.  In prakara  Brahma, Vishnu, Durga Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Shiva Linga. In the outer prakara Dharbar hall, Pancha Lingas and Ambal Temple. Sri Parvathi is in a separate temple adjacent to Sri Triyambakeshwara Temple with sanctum, antarala and arthamandapa.  The Gurukkal showed us the light from the out side is focused towards Ambal after switching off the sanctum lights.

LEGEND: Before renovation, the temple was completely covered with vegetation. A local resident ventured in  inside and found tears came from the right eye of Durga. On seeing that, the Villagers cleared the  weeds and plants and started worship.

HISTORY: This temple was believed to be built between 1250 to 1350 AD, a classic Vijayanagara Style. But it was told that this temple was built by Chozhas. The front and Dharbar hall were built by Vijayanagara.

As per the 1521AD inscription, a gift of  income 477 gadayanas from Kodihalli  near Terakanambi and its two villages Anniyur & Channayyanapura to this temple Lord Triyambakeshwara, at the instance of Vijayanagara King Krishnaraja maharaya by Saluva Govindaraja.

The 1492AD Inscription mentions about the rental amount of 12 hons per annum paid  for the betel palms planted to Lord Triyambakeshwara.

In another inscription it mentions about gift from the taxes levied to be remitted to the treasury. This has to be utilized for the supply of Camphor and betel leaves.

The 1535 AD inscription records sale of lands in Hullana alias Kamalapura agrahara  for 250 Varahas. The amount was made to the treasury, by one Ayyapa son of Nanjinatha Joyisa.

Renovation work was started in 2012 and completed in 2014 at a cost of Rs 214.50 Lakhs by the Karnataka State Archaeology Department.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 120.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The Village Triyambakapura is about 20 KM from Chamarajanagar, 175 KM from Bengaluru and 78 KM from Mysuru.

Nearest Railway station is Chamarajanagar.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Navaranga mandapa pillars 

 Dharbar hall

   Dharbar hall pillar reliefs

 A Koshta 

 Ambal sanctum sanctorum

A Beautiful Nandhi

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---