VIZHINJAM CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A man-made rock chamber (rock temple) or rock-cut cave (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193) and one-celled shrine (note 1), which has been interpreted as reminders of the 7th to 11th century Ay kingdom (LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 469), SITUATION: At Vizhinjam (note 2), a small fishing village just a kilometre south of Kovalam (Kovalam Point 08°24'N: 076°58'E) and about 20 km south of Trivandrum (08°29'N: 076°55'E, also: Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruvananthapuram, Travancore). ETYMOLOGY: Vilinjam … also called Rajendracholapuram, situated in 8° 23' N, and 76° 59' E., 12 miles [19.3 km] south of Trivandrum (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, xxiv: 314); 08°22'00”N: 76°59'36”E nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003); India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 121 E1). Vilinjum nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003). Vizhinjanam travel.indiamart.com/kerala/caves/vizhinjanam-cave… (accessed 21.05.2001) Vizhinjam rock-cut cave (India Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193); LONELY PLANET, South India (2001: 469). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half complete reliefs of the Hindu god Shiva with goddess Parvathi (travel.indiamart.com/kerala/caves/vizhinjanam-cave… accessed 2001.05.21), also: Parvati. CULTURAL HISTORY -- human use / abuse: Rock-cut cave, Vizinjam, District Trivandrum.-- The protected area was levelled and dressed up. It was also fenced with random rubble masonry wall and barbed wire in angle iron posts (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193).A man-made rock chamber (rock temple) or rock-cut cave (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193) and one-celled shrine (note 1), which has been interpreted as reminders of the 7th to 11th century Ay kingdom (LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 469), SITUATION: At Vizhinjam (note 2), a small fishing village just a kilometre south of Kovalam (Kovalam Point 08°24'N: 076°58'E) and about 20 km south of Trivandrum (08°29'N: 076°55'E, also: Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruvananthapuram, Travancore). ETYMOLOGY: Vilinjam … also called Rajendracholapuram, situated in 8° 23' N, and 76° 59' E., 12 miles [19.3 km] south of Trivandrum (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, xxiv: 314); 08°22'00”N: 76°59'36”E nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003); India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 121 E1). Vilinjum nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003). Vizhinjanam travel.indiamart.com/kerala/caves/vizhinjanam-cave… (accessed 21.05.2001) Vizhinjam rock-cut cave (India Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193); LONELY PLANET, South India (2001: 469). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half complete reliefs of the Hindu god Shiva with goddess Parvathi (travel.indiamart.com/kerala/caves/vizhinjanam-cave… accessed 2001.05.21), also: Parvati. CULTURAL HISTORY -- human use / abuse: Rock-cut cave, Vizinjam, District Trivandrum.-- The protected area was levelled and dressed up. It was also fenced with random rubble masonry wall and barbed wire in angle iron posts (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193).