SUBRAHMANYA, Kalugumalai (Cave of)
9.150000,77.716700
Description
A man-made (excavated), daylight-lit monolithic temple (note 1) in the open air, which is dedicated to Subrahmanya (note 2), consider the IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 14: 321) and DESHPANDE (1992) as a »cave« (sic!). Compare the caves on –>Kalugumalai. SITUATION: Somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Kalugumalai (note 3), which currently lies in the north-westernmost corner of Tuticorin district (renamed Thoothukudi or Tattukkudi, the former Tirunelvely or Tirunelveli and Tinnevelly), is indicated on AMS sheet NC43-12 Rajapalaiyam (U502 series, 1955 edition) and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 119 E4) at travelling distances of about 20 km approximately west-southwest from Kovilpatti (09°10'N: 77°52'E), about 18 km east from Sankarankovil (Sankaranainer Koil, Sankaranayinarkovil, Sankaranayinarkovyil, Sankaranayinnarkovil 09°10'N: 77°33'E) and about 60 km approsimately north from Tirunelvely or Tinnevelli, Tinnevelly, Tirunelveli (note 4).
NOTE 1: This sort of "pyramid" towers above a 'garbha griha' (holiest / sanctum sanctorum), a tiny cell regarded by Hindus as "the cave" that houses the god and symbolizes the universe in a nut shell. Some monolithic temples confusingly regarded as "caves" are –>Chaturbhuj Cave (Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh), –>Dharmnatha (Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh), –>Kailash Cave (Ellora, Maharashtra), –>Maibong Cave (Mikir & North Cachar Hills, Assam), –>Masur Caves (Kangra, Himachal Pradesh), the cave of –>Ranachandi (Mikir & North Cachar Hills, Assam), the "Cave" of –>Subrahmanya "Cave" (Kalugumalai, Tamil Nadu), –>Thrikakudy Cave (Kaviyur, Kerala), and the –>Waswi Cave (Dhar, Madhya Pradesh). NOTE 2: Subrahmanya, also transcribed Subramanya, Subramanyar, etc., is an epithet (bachelor) of Murugan (Muruhan), the "Lord of the Hills" and son of Korrovai / Kottavai (literally: naked goddess): Her very name reveals her unambigously tribal roots. Only by the 7th century C.E. emerged Murugan as the paramount Tamil god (JAIN 2004: 198-199, 204). NOTE 3: Kalugumalai has been positioned not only at 09°09'N: 77°43'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) but also at 09°08'N: 77°42'E (Everest 1830 coordinates, IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 14: 321). NOTE 4: Tirunelvely (also: Tinnevelli, Tinnevelly, Tirunelveli) has been positioned not only at 08°44'N: 77°42'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) but also at 08°44'N: 77°41'E (Everest 1830, IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 23: 379).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | KALUGUMALAI (Caves on the) | ||
| 16.6 | TIGER CAVE, Kovilpatti | ||
| 37.2 | THALAIYANAI MALAI (Caves on the) | ||
| 63.7 | PERAYUR 1 (Cave at) | ||
| 66.8 | T-KALLUPATTI ROCK SHELTER | ||
| 67.6 | PERAYUR 2 (Cave at) | ||
| 68.1 | PERAYUR 4 (Cave at) | ||
| 68.6 | PERAYUR 3 (Cave at) | ||
| 83.4 | VIRAPATTI SHELTER |