The rockcut temple
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The oldest part of the Kudumiyamalai temple is the rock-cut cave shrine
called Melak-koil or Thiru-merrali. Once thought to be of Pallava
authorship, this rock-cut temple is now considered as early Pandya, belonging to
seventh century. It may be pointed that the cave temple in
Sittannavasal (சித்தன்னவாசல்) was
also originally considered to be of Pallava origin.
TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The original rock-cut temple, facing east, measures twelve feet by
thirteen in the sanctum and an ardha-mandapam (அர்த்த-மண்டபம்) twenty-three feet by eight.
The two pillars and the two pilasters here are different in style from all
the cave pillars in Tamilnadu in their being of the Chalukya prototype.
Dvara-palaka
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The Dvara-palaka-s (துவாரபாலகர்) are two-armed, and while both wear rudraksha beads,
only one wears the yagnopavita (யஞ்ஞோபவீதம்). They may be portrait sculptures. Over the
entrance to the inner shrine are four figures representing flying gods.
There are also a valamburi (வலம்புரி, the trunk curled to right) Ganesa carved on the
rock and two free standing, loose sculpture of the early Cholas period
(9th-10th century) one representing the Chandikesvara (சண்டிகேஸ்வரர்) and the other the
Somaskanda (சோமாஸ்கந்தர்) group.
The maha-mandapam (மகாமண்டபம்) in the front of the cave temple was built up in the
reign of Kulottunga Chozha I (முதலாம் குலோத்துங்கச் சோழன்) (1070-1120) and the front mandapam was built by
a Tondaiman (தொண்டைமான்) ruler.
To south of the rock-cut shrine, by the side of the celebrated musical
inscription, is a large, about five-foot high figure of 'idampuri' (இடம்புரி, trunk
curled to left) Ganesa cut in bas-relief.
Rishabha-rudha (ரிஷபாரூடர்) with 63 Nayanmar-s (நாயன்மார்கள்) relief on the cut in the vertical
hillock.
Far above this shrine, but a little to the north of it, cut in the
vertical surface of the hillock and approached by a narrow and dangerous
ledge are figures of sixty-three Nayanar-s and of Siva and Parvathi on the
bull have been carved.
Relieves of 63 nayanmar-s with Siva, Parvathi on the bull
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