 The
serene location of the cave temple
|
The best-known monument in the district is this Jain cave temple with its
mural paintings belonging to the 9th century AD.
The cave lies on the west face of the hillock. The view is of the hill
from the footpath leading to the temple is somewhat frightening. The cave
temple stands beneath an enormous scarp, threatening of a sudden fall any
time. The sparse vegetation around, the huge hillock in the background,
aloofness of the cave, all these lend an aura loneliness and forlornness.
An easy climb of about hundred feet over the sloping rock takes the
visitor to the entrance of the cave temple, called Aivar-koil
(அறிவர்கோயில், ‘temple-of-the-Arhats).
 The
front view of the Jain Temple
|
There is still some uncertainty regarding the origin of this temple. The
temple in its architectural style resembles the cave temples built by the
Pallava king, Mahendra-varman (மகேந்திர வர்மன்). But it is also known that the Pallava rule
did not reach this far. The cave temple on the Rock-temple in Tiruchi (திருச்சி) – the
one found on to the left of the entrance to Uchi-pillaiyar Koil (உச்சிப்
பிள்ளையார் கோயில்) – is
considered the southern extremity of his influence. In the absence of any
foundation inscription it would not be possible ascertain the builder of
this temple. An inscription of the 9th century AD within the temple mentions
the addition of a mukha-mandapam (முக மண்டபம்) by a Jaina acharya from Madurai
(மதுரை) named
Ilan-Gautaman (இளங்கௌதமன்) during the reign of the Pandya king,
Srimaran-srivallabhan (ஸ்ரீமாரன் ஸ்ரீவல்லபன்)
(815-862 AD). From this it may be taken that the original temple is still
older.
THE CAVE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
 The
maha-mandapam (An old photograph)
|
The temple plan is simple and elegant. One enters the temple through a
veranda. This is built by the Maharaja of Pudukkottai in the 20th century.
It may be surmised that the maha-mandapam (மகா மண்டபம்) built by the Pandya king must have
collapsed. Some point out the debris lying about to prove this.
Beyond this is the ardha-mandapam (அர்த்தமண்டபம்). It measures 22½ feet by 7½ feet. It is
slightly taller than the garbha-griham (கர்பகிரகம்). The façade of this
ardha-mandapam
consists of two massive pillars in the middle and two pilasters, one at
either end. The pillars are squarish at the two ends and octagonal in the
middle. The pilasters are also of the same design. The living rock above the
pillars and pilasters is carved in the form of a massive beam, in front of
which projects a single flexured cornice (கபோதம், kapotam).
 The
entrance to garbha-griham
|
A doorway, five and a half feet by two and a half feet, approached by a
flight of steps flanked by surul-vyali (சுருள் யாளி) leads from the
ardha-mandapam to the
sanctum.
 The Dharma
chakra
|
The garbha-griham (கர்ப கிரகம், sanctum) measures 10 feet by 10 feet and of height 7½
feet. On either side of the doorway to the garbha-griham are ornamented
pilasters enclosing two niches, one on either side. These pilasters are
smaller but of the same type as the pillars. They have on the upper cubical
parts of the outer face lotus medallions carved in bold relief. There is a
large niche in each of the northern and southern walls in the ardha-mandapam.
The ceiling of the inner shrine shows a wheel with hub and axle representing
the Dharma Chakra (தர்ம சக்கரம்) or Wheel of the Law.
The sculpture and the matchless paintings of the cave are worth studying
in detail.
Sculptures
One of the Jaina Acharya-s in the ardha-mandapam
|
The veranda is bereft of any detail, except for a famous inscription. The
inscription is seen on the rear wall on the right. This records the
renovation of the ardha-mandapam and building the maha-mandapam in the reign
of the Pandya king.
In the niche of the northern wall of the ardha-mandapam is a figure of a
Jaina acharya seated in the meditative pose, cross-legged, with the hands
placed one over the other, palms upwards, resting on the folded legs. There
is a single umbrella over the head of the image, which proves that it is not
that of a Tirthankara (தீர்த்தங்கரர்).
On the opposite wall, placed in a similar niche, is the figure of
Parsvanatha (பார்ஸவநாதர்), the twenty-third Tirthankara, seated in the same posture, but
with a five-headed serpent spreading its hood over his instead of an
umbrella.
 Jaina Acharya-s
in the sanctum
|
On the back wall of the garbha-griham are three images carved in relief,
all in the same meditative posture. The northern and central figures have
triple umbrellas, showing them to be Tirthankara-s, while the southern has
single umbrella, and probably represents a Chakravarti or an acharya or an
Arhat.
|
