SAMANAR KUDAGU, Narthamalai

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A man-made rock chamber used for religious purposes (cave temple), which is suspected to have been modified from one of numerous low caves and rock-shelters … formed apparently by the weathering out of lenticular masses of more perishable rock (FOOTE 1879: 145). IDENTITY: This is possibly the SI no. 148 Rock-cut Siva Temple at the locality Narthamalai which is listed on an undated Internet website of the Archaeological Survey of India (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: In Tamil, the Jain (Jaina) community is called samanar (shramana) (note 2). The Samanar-kudagu (‘cave of the Jains) … is also called Padhinen-bhumi Vinnagaram. ‘Padinen’ refers to the ‘eighteen regions’ (seats of the corporation of Ainurruvar. Vinnagaram means temple for Vishnu. … Perhaps, it was originally a Jaina cave in the 7th century AD, but converted into a Vishnu shrine in 12th or 13th century AD. The date of this conversion is still under debate. After this conversion it came to be called as Thirumer koil or Merrali and Padhien bhumi Vinnagaram. Presently it looks like a Vaishanavite shrine (pudukkottai.org/places/narttamalai/03narttamalai.h… accessed 2008.06.01). SITUATION: In the heritage cluster of –>Narthamalai and opposite of the structural temple Vijayalaya Choleeswaram (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05) or Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram (pudukkottai.org accessed 2008.06.01). CAVE DESCRIPTION, undated: … there are two cave temples [man-made rock temples], excavated on the steep slope of the rock. Of these, the one on the northern side is … Samanar-kudagu … [note 3] The garbha griham consists of a rectangular garbha griham and an ardha-mandapam in front, both excavated from the living rock. Presently the garbha griham is empty, except for a broken stone pitham [note 4]. This pitham is also carved out of the living rock. The ardha-mandapam has two massive pillars and two pilasters in the front, also carved out of the rock. It houses twelve identical but wonderful relief sculptures of Vishnu on the walls [note 5] (pudukottai.org accessed 2008.06.01). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004: In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, one can see a brown Siva Lingam and in the Ardha Mandapam - in front of the sanctum sanctorum there are 12 brilliant rock-cut images of Lord Vishnu which are almost identical (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05). CULTURAL HISTORY: According to Dr. R. Kalaikovan, Director, Dr. Rajamanickanar centre for historical research, though the rock-cut temple houses the broken Siva Linga and Vaishnavite statues, it is surprising that the structure is termed as Samanar Kudagu, since so far there is no structural or epigraphical evidence of Jain rock-cut temples in this place. There might have been a Mukha Mandapam in front of the Ardha Mandapam, housing the Vishnu statues. Though there are no walls or roof, the base of the Ardha Mandapam is full of brilliant sculptures of Yalis [note 6], Elephants, a combination of elephant and makara [note 7] etc … (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05).en bhumi Vinnagaram. Presently it looks like a Vaishanavite shrine (pudukkottai.org/places/narttamalai/03narttamalai.h… accessed 2008.06.01). SITUATION: In the heritage cluster of –>Narthamalai and opposite of the structural temple Vijayalaya Choleeswaram (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05) or Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram (pudukkottai.org accessed 2008.06.01). CAVE DESCRIPTION, undated: … there are two cave temples [man-made rock temples], excavated on the steep slope of the rock. Of these, the one on the northern side is … Samanar-kudagu … [note 3] The garbha griham consists of a rectangular garbha griham and an ardha-mandapam in front, both excavated from the living rock. Presently the garbha griham is empty, except for a broken stone pitham [note 4]. This pitham is also carved out of the living rock. The ardha-mandapam has two massive pillars and two pilasters in the front, also carved out of the rock. It houses twelve identical but wonderful relief sculptures of Vishnu on the walls [note 5] (puduen bhumi Vinnagaram. Presently it looks like a Vaishanavite shrine (pudukkottai.org/places/narttamalai/03narttamalai.h… accessed 2008.06.01). SITUATION: In the heritage cluster of –>Narthamalai and opposite of the structural temple Vijayalaya Choleeswaram (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05) or Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram (pudukkottai.org accessed 2008.06.01). CAVE DESCRIPTION, undated: … there are two cave temples [man-made rock temples], excavated on the steep slope of the rock. Of these, the one on the northern side is … Samanar-kudagu … [note 3] The garbha griham consists of a rectangular garbha griham and an ardha-mandapam in front, both excavated from the living rock. Presently the garbha griham is empty, except for a broken stone pitham [note 4]. This pitham is also carved out of the living rock. The ardha-mandapam has two massive pillars and two pilasters in the front, also carved out of the rock. It houses twelve identical but wonderful relief sculptures of Vishnu on the walls [note 5] (pudukottai.org accessed 2008.06.01). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004: In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, one can see a brown Siva Lingam and in the Ardha Mandapam - in front of the sanctum sanctorum there are 12 brilliant rock-cut images of Lord Vishnu which are almost identical (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05). CULTURAL HISTORY: According to Dr. R. Kalaikovan, Director, Dr. Rajamanickanar centre for historical research, though the rock-cut temple houses the broken Siva Linga and Vaishnavite statues, it is surprising that the structure is termed as Samanar Kudagu, since so far there is no structural or epigraphical evidence of Jain rock-cut temples in this place. There might have been a Mukha Mandapam in front of the Ardha Mandapam, housing the Vishnu statues. Though there are no walls or roof, the base of the Ardha Mandapam is full of brilliant sculptures of Yalis [note 6], Elephants, a combination of elephant and makara [note 7] etc … (GANAPATHY 2004.11.05).