RUDRALISHVARA, Kanchipuram (Grotte de)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A man-made rock chamber dedicated to the rudra (face) of Shiva and used for religious purposes was identified as an interesting grotte de Rudraslishvara (JUBERTHIE et al. (2001: 1787). ETYMOLOGY: The Sanskrit -ishwara- signifies master, lord and hence god (a superhuman being worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes) and, for that matter, is more often than not an epithet of Shiva, but also of Durga or any other female shakti; the Supreme Spirit. IDENTITY: Compare the Caves at –>Mamandur. SITUATION: At an unidentified location somewhere in the vicinity of Kanchipuram (note 1), from where IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 10: 378) reports a 100 m long infiltration gallery (note 2) or surangam (note 3). At a travelling distance of about 10 or 12 km along the road approximately south-west of Kanchipuram (Conjeevaram) is the village of –>Mamandur … situated in 12°45' N and 79°40' E … chiefly remarkable for its rock-caves. The embankment of the large tank to which the villag gives its name rests upon two low hills, and in the eastern face of the more southerly of these are the excavations. They were probably the wok of Jains; and possibly a party of mnks from Conjeevaram, which is only 7 miles [11 km] distant, may here have hollowed out for themselves a retreat with narrow cells into each might retire to indulge in solitary meditation (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 17: 105-106).A man-made rock chamber dedicated to the rudra (face) of Shiva and used for religious purposes was identified as an interesting grotte de Rudraslishvara (JUBERTHIE et al. (2001: 1787). ETYMOLOGY: The Sanskrit -ishwara- signifies master, lord and hence god (a superhuman being worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes) and, for that matter, is more often than not an epithet of Shiva, but also of Durga or any other female shakti; the Supreme Spirit. IDENTITY: Compare the Caves at –>Mamandur. SITUATION: At an unidentified location somewhere in the vicinity of Kanchipuram (note 1), from where IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 10: 378) reports a 100 m long infiltration gallery (note 2) or surangam (note 3). At a travelling distance of about 10 or 12 km along the road approximately south-west of Kanchipuram (Conjeevaram) is the village of –>Mamandur … situated in 12°45' N and 79°40' E … chiefly remarkable for its rock-caves. The embankment of the large tank to which the villagA man-made rock chamber dedicated to the rudra (face) of Shiva and used for religious purposes was identified as an interesting grotte de Rudraslishvara (JUBERTHIE et al. (2001: 1787). ETYMOLOGY: The Sanskrit -ishwara- signifies master, lord and hence god (a superhuman being worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes) and, for that matter, is more often than not an epithet of Shiva, but also of Durga or any other female shakti; the Supreme Spirit. IDENTITY: Compare the Caves at –>Mamandur. SITUATION: At an unidentified location somewhere in the vicinity of Kanchipuram (note 1), from where IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 10: 378) reports a 100 m long infiltration gallery (note 2) or surangam (note 3). At a travelling distance of about 10 or 12 km along the road approximately south-west of Kanchipuram (Conjeevaram) is the village of –>Mamandur … situated in 12°45' N and 79°40' E … chiefly remarkable for its rock-caves. The embankment of the large tank to which the villag gives its name rests upon two low hills, and in the eastern face of the more southerly of these are the excavations. They were probably the wok of Jains; and possibly a party of mnks from Conjeevaram, which is only 7 miles [11 km] distant, may here have hollowed out for themselves a retreat with narrow cells into each might retire to indulge in solitary meditation (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 17: 105-106).