VIRUPAKSHI CUHA, Tiruvannamalai
12.233300,79.066700
Description
NOTE 1: Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle (undated): Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu.- on: asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp (accessed 2008.05.31). NOTE 2: »Cette grotte est assez ample, presque elliptique, en forme de OM, dit-on« (LE SAUX 1978, 1980: 26, 97-98).NOTE 3: »MT ARUNACHALESWAR … This 800 m high boulder-strewn hill, known locally as Girivalam, looms prominently over the town. On full moon and festival days thousands of pilgrims circumnavigate the 14 km base of the mountain. … More interesting for the superb view … is to climb paart or all the way up the hill (about four hours return)« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 962-963): NOTE 4: »Elle [grotte] contient le samadhi de Virupaksha Deva, un saint shivaïte qui y vécut il y a six ou sept siècles, au temps mêmes où Namashivaya vivait dans une grotte un peu au-dessous --qui fut plus tard transformée en temple« (LE SAUX 1978, 1980: 26, 97-98).
What probably is a modified natural cave with religious connotations is currently managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and filed, together with –>Skandashram Natural Cavern, under SI no. 205 »Virupakshi Cuha & Skandashram Natural Cavern and path leading from Ramnasharam« (note 1) at the locality »Tiruvannamali« (sic!). CAVE DESCRIPTION (after LE SAUX 1978, 1980: 26, 97-98): The ground plan of the almost elliptical "cave" resembles the letter "OM" (note 2). SITUATION 1978: The »Grotte de Virupaksha« lies on Arunachala hill (Mount Arunachaleswar, Girivalam, Tiruvannamalai) and 20 m uphill from –>Skanda Ashram Natural Cavern, the Skandasramam (LE SAUX 1978, 1980: 26, 97-98). SITUATION 2005: The cave Virupaksha lies on the »path that leads up through village homes near the north-east corner of … Arunachaleswar« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 962-963), where the latter is the Arunachaleswar temple to the top of Mt Arunachaleswar / Girivalam (note 3). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore: The »Grotte de Virupaksha« (LE SAUX 1978, 1980: 26, 97-98) is believed to have been used as a troglodyte hermitage retreat of the 7th century Shivaite saint Virupaksha Deva when Namashivaya lived at a lower troglodyte retreat (–>Skandashram Natural Cavern) which is now transformed into a temple (note 4). This "cave" (or so) is also reputed to have been used as a troglodyte hermitage retreat by Shri Ramana Maharishi and, later on, by Henri Le Saux.
Documents
Bibliography 04/07/2016- Housden, Roger 1996, 1999; Le Saux, Henri [alias Swami Abhishiktananda] 1978, 1980.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | NAMASHIVAYA (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | RADHABAI AMMEYAR (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SADEI SWAMI (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SKANDASHRAM NATURAL CAVERN | ||
| 0.0 | VANNATTI (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | VANNATTI PUITS | ||
| 1.8 | KURANGANILMUTTAM ROCK-CUT SHRINE | ||
| 1.8 | NARASAMANGALAM ROCK-CUT CAVES | ||
| 38.1 | RANGANATHA, Gingee - Singavaram (Cave of) |