This is the shrine, which is nearer to the road. This shrine has a marvelously
carved image of Vishnu as Seshasayi (சேஷசாயி, ‘God- lying-on-the-serpent-Sesha’).
All the sculptures in the cave temple, including the dvara-palaka-s (துவாரபாலகர்)
and main idol are covered with stucco decoration and painted.
Vishnu temple: an outside view
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The Temple Architecture:
The shrine is surrounded by a compound wall, which seems to be very
recently renovated. The entrance gopuram has a flat roof and has friezes
of vyali-s (யாளி) and bhutha-gana. Perhaps it belongs to 13th century
and was renovated in the 15th century.
On the compound wall, on the right side of the gopuram, is a small
sculpture of Ganesa inside a niche, which is under worship by the local
people.
As one enters the temple compound, on the right hand side, there is
a structural shrine of Goddess. It consists of a sanctum, with a flat
roof, measuring about 9 feet long and 8 feet wide and an ardha-mandapam
(அர்த்த-மண்டபம்) of the same size. According to an undated Tamil inscription,
in 17th-18th century characters, one Mangan Tenkondan (மங்கன் தென்கொண்டான்),
a devotee, built this shrine.
On the north-east corner is a structure, which might had been the
kitchen (மடைப்பள்ளி).
Dhvaja-sthambham
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In front of the main shrine, there is a dhvaja-sthambham (கொடிமரம்)
and sculptures of a goddess facing north and a Garuda facing south.
The sculptures are loose sculptures and seem to be recent additions.
The north facing rock-cut shrine has a structural addition in front,
which forms part of the front mandapam. There are two inscriptions on
this structural addition. They may be dated to the 10th century. There
are three entrances, of which the middle one is bigger.
The front mandapam is a kind of a hall, running east to west, formed
partly by the structural addition and partly by the rock-cut cave. This
hall measures 37 feet long and 8 feet wide.
The lion pillar
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The dvara-palaka-s in this mandapam are carved out of the living
rock and seems to be portrait sculptures. They are covered with stucco.
Dvara-palaka
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The rock-cut ardha-mandapam measures about 32 feet long, 6 feet
wide and 8 feet high and has two pillars and two pilasters. They
are more elegant than the ones found in the Siva temple. The base
is carved in the shape of beautiful lion sitting erect and carrying
the pillar on its head.
On the side walls of the ardha-mandapam there are large panels
in high relief. They depict Nara-simha (நரசிம்மர்), Varaha-moorthi
(வராகமூர்த்தி) and Vishnu in the standing pose along with Lakshmi.
The image of seated Vishnu with his devi-s on the eastern wall is
a sculpture in the round.
Nara-simha
Maha-vishnu
Varaha-moorthi
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To the right of the Nara-simha sculpture is a painting
of a dancing lady. There are platforms of one to two feet
height, in front of these sculptures in the ardha-mandapam.
The Dasavatharam (தசாவதாரம்) of Vishnu is beautifully painted
on the ceiling.
the Garbha-griham
Above this is the garbha-griham, the floor of which is
about 2 feet above that of the ardha-mandapam. It has got
two pillars and two pilasters, which are round and ornamented.
The principal idol in the garbha-griham (கர்பகிரகம்) is
a marvelously carved 11-foot long image of Vishnu as Seshasayi.
The five hoods of the serpent are spread out like a canopy
over the God’s head. From his navel rises a lotus stalk crowned
with a lotus flower on which Brahma is seated. The feet of
the God rest on another lotus. The theme depicted here is
similar to that of Thirumayam (திருமயம்).
The legend that is associated with this group of sculptures
is similar to that depicted in the
Vishnu temple of Thirumayam.
When the demons Madhu (மது) and Kaithabha (கைடபர்) approached
in an aggressive attitude, Brahma, Lakshmi and Bhumi-Devi
were frightened. Adisesha, in his sudden wrath, spat poison,
which consumed the demons. He was immediately stung with remorse
at his hasty action of acting without his Lord’s permission.
But the passionate God comforted him with an assurance of
his approval of the act.
the paintings
There are paintings on the ceiling of the reclining Vishnu
idol which are badly damaged.
A piece of painting on the ceiling of ardha-mandapam:
Balarama
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The idols in the garbha-griham and the sculptures on
the ardha-mandapam are all covered with stucco decoration.
The paintings in this cave temple are now considerably defaced.
According to the Manual of Pudukkottai State (1944) these
paintings belong to 16th century or later. Some point out
its resemblance to the Lepakshi paintings of Andhra.
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