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Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple

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இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: நார்த்தாமலை சிவன் குடைவரை கோவில் ‎


Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple is a Mutharaiyar dynasty temple located in Kulathur taluk of Pudukkottai district. The Mutharaiyar ruler Sathan Pazhiyili constructed the temple in the middle of the 9th century CE.

Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple - Main Deity

Introduction

The Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple is located in Kulathur taluk of Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu. The temple was built in middle of the 9th century CE by the Mutharaiyar feudatory king Sathan Pazhiyili. Inscription names this temple as 'Pazhiyili Eeswaram'. It is currently under the custody of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The main deity of this temple is the Shivalingam. The details about the temple's Agama traditions, Sthala Puranas, and literary evidence are not available.

Location

The Narthamalai Shiva Temple is located in the town of Narthamalai, 19.5 kilometers northwest of Pudukkottai railway station and 40 kilometers south of Trichy railway station.

Northwest of the town is a rocky hill known as Melamalai that runs from north to south. This Shiva Rock Cut Temple is located on the hill's eastern side.

History

The primary historical information about the Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple has been compiled by historians including K.R. Venkatarama Iyer and S.R. Balasubramaniam. Details about the temple has been gathered from the inscriptions found in Narthamalai village and inside the temple.

Present name of the village, Narthamalai, is believed to have come from the name 'Nagarathar Malai'. Nagaram was an association of merchants who lived in the village. This association was also the local governing body that looked after public works such as administering temple properties, examining tax exemption of lands, and recording land transfer details in registers. The members of this association were called Nagarathar.

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple was built in the middle of the 9th century CE by the Mutharaiyar king Sathan Pazhiyili. The Mukhamandapa (front hall) of the temple was built later by Sathan Pazhiyili's son.

Views from Scholars

K.R. Venkatarama Iyer believes that the temple was built by Sathan Pazhiyili, a Pallava king who belonged to the era of Nandivarman III (826 - 849 CE) and Pandya king Sri Vallabhan (815 - 862 CE).

Contrary to this, S.R. Balasubramaniam believes that Sathan Pazhiyili, who might have lived between the end of the Pallava king Nandivarman III's (826-849) reign and the start of Nriputunga Varman's (862-888) reign, constructed the temple.

Mythology

During the Rama vs Ravana war in Sri Lanka, Hanuman brought the Sanjeevi mountain located atop the Himalayas, to Sri Lanka in order to treat wounds of the soldiers. It is believed that the small hills that fell from the mountain when it was carried back from Sri Lanka are the hills surrounding the village of Narthamalai. It is considered that these hills are rich in herbal plants and are hence a place frequented by doctors.

According to the Perungalur Sthala Purana, this village was initially named 'Naradar Malai' after the sage Narada and later changed to Narthamalai.

Deities

Main Deity

Shiva Lingam, the main deity of the temple, faces east. The granite lingam is positioned on top of the circular altar (Avudai).

Temple Architecture

Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple - Lower Part

The sanctum sanctorum of the Narthamalai Shiva Temple is carved out of rock. Mukhamandapa built with granite is in the front of east facing sanctum sanctorum.

Bull (Rishabam) sculpture is seen in front of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum.

Vishnu Rock Cut Temple is another rock cut temple located on the same rock to the left of this one. Vijayalaya Choleeswaram is a granite temple, situated directly opposite these two rock cut temples.

Sanctum Sanctorum

Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple - Left side Dvarapalaka

The sanctum sanctorum, carved out of rock, is rectangular in shape, measuring 2.3 meters long and 2.4 meters wide inside and it is 2 meters high.

Mukhamandapa

Mukhamandapa (front hall), built of granite, currently has only the foundation. Learning from the inscription and other damaged parts, it must have been a complete hall with a roof in the past.

Adhisthana (base) of the mandapa has elements such as Upapitha, Upana, Jagati, Vrutthakumuda and Kanta. There are Bhutavari's in the Kanta. Sculptures of warriors sitting on Yali are seen on the edges of the Kanta. This arrangement is classified as Pratibandha Adhisthana.

The Bull is located in the Mukhamandapa, in front of the sanctum sanctorum. According to the inscriptions, this Bull must have been placed in the ancient Rishabha Mandapa (now there is no Rishabha Mandapa) in front of the Mukhamandapa.

There are two Dvarapalaka (Door Keeper) sculptures, one each on each sides of entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Left Dvarapalaka sculpture is seen in a Tribhanga state and Svastika sthanaka, with Jatamakuta and Patrakundalas. Its right hand with Pallava hasta is on a Gada (mace) and its left hand is with Suchi hasta. The right Dvarapalaka sculpture is seen in a Urdhvajanu with Jatamakuta and Patrakundalas. Its right hand is with Pallava hasta on a Gada and its left hand is with Vismaya hasta.

List of Sculptures

Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple has sculptures such as the Shiva lingam: main deity, the Dvarapalakas and the Bull.

Inscriptions

Pallava Period Inscription
  • An inscription dating back to the seventh regnal year (869 CE) of the Pallava king Nriputunga Varman (862 - 888 CE) is found in the Kumuda area in the north of the Mukhamandapa. This 19-line Tamil inscription begins with the auspicious word Svasthi Sri. According to this inscription, the temple was built by Sathan Pazhiyili, son of Videl Vidugu Mutharaiyan. Sathan Pazhiyili's son constructed Mukhamandapa, Rishabha, Rishabha shelter and Altar for this temple. Pazhiyili Chiriya Nangai, the daughter of Sathan Pazhiyili and the wife of Mallan Ananthan, also known as Minavan Tamil Aadi Araiyan, donated three velis of land to the temple. This land, given as an Archanabogam, is a permanent property that cannot be sold or transferred. This land should be maintained by the Sathan (sabha head) of Peruvilathur Sabha of Annavayil Kootram and his heirs. Sathan and his heirs can enjoy the income generated by the land. The taxes such as irrigation tax paid for this land should be spent on the Pazhiyili Eeswaram temple. Those who violate these rules should pay 25 kalanju pon (gold) as a penalty to the temple and the income of the temple should be protected by Pattudayan Uzhuda Thiran, the inscription states.
  • The main points found in the inscription are: For Nriputunga Vikram, Videl Vidugu Mutharaiyan, Sathan Pazhiyili built a temple with a Sacred Relief temple, Mukhamandapa, Rishabha, Rishabha shelter and Altar, Pazhiyili Chiriya Nangai wife of Mallan Ananthan alias Minavan Tamil Aadi Araiyan, Annavayir Kutrathu Peruvilathur Savainj Sathan, Mooveli, whatever taxes come are to the temple, 25 kalanju pon penalty, Pazhiyili Eeswaram, Pattudayan Uzhuda Thiran.[1].

Related Personalities

  • According to the inscriptions at the Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple, the people who built and renovated the temple are Sathan Pazhiyili, son of Sathan Pazhiyili, and Pazhiyili Chiriya Nangai.
  • Modern period historians who compiled historical studies on the Narthamalai Shiva Rock Cut Temple are S.R. Balasubramaniam, K.R. Venkatarama Iyer, K.V. Soundararajan and K.G. Krishnan.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Compilation Texts of Inscriptions of Pudukkottai District (Inscriptions (Texts) of the Pudukottai State Published by Authority) Inscription Number : 19, Page Number: 11

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✅Finalised Page

First published on: 11-Mar-2025, 20:25:20 IST

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