The Siva rock-cut temple, dedicated to Sathya-girisvara (சத்திய
கிரீஸ்வரர்) is the earliest monument in Thirumayam. It is to the west of the
Vishnu temple. This cave temple, from its architectural style and epigraphs,
is attributable to the 7th century AD, in the same way as the cave temples
of Kudumiyamalai (குடுமியாமலை), and
Thirugokarnam (திருக்கோகர்ணம்).
THE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
Raja-gopuram of Siva Temple with the fort in the background
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The front gopuram is modern, but it is a fairly good imitation of a late
Pandya (13th century) structure. Immediately after the gopuram, to the left
is the shrine of Lord Ganesa. It has an ardha-mandapam (அர்த்த மண்டபம்) in
front. Behind this is the way to the temple tank.
The first pillared mandapam, as one enters the temple, contains the
shrines of Bhanu-uma-pathisvara (பானு உமாபதீஸ்வரர்) facing east. It has an
ardha-mandapam in front. The sub-shrines of Vinayaka, Durga, Gaja-lakshmi,
and Murugan are at the western side of the mandapam, behind the
Bhanu-uma-pathisvara shrine. In the eastern half of the mandapam are the
shrines of the Goddess Raja-Rajeswari (ராஜராஜேஸ்வரி), and Bhairava (பைரவர்),
facing south. Both of them have ardha-mandapam in front. There is one
Nava-graha (நவக்கிரகங்கள்) shrine also. Apart from this there are one
recumbent nandi (நந்தி), Surya and Chandra, and a dhvaja-sthambham (கொடிமரம்).
This group of shrines is known as the Keezha-koil (கீழக்கோயில்,
‘lower-temple’) and probably belongs to the Vijayanagara period (15th
century). There are a number of inscriptions on the floor of this mandapam.
Further up is another mandapam which can be reached by a flight of
steps. Here is the shrine of the principal Goddess, Venu-vanesvari (வேணுவனேஸ்வரி,
‘Goddess-of-bamboo-forest’). The east facing shrine has an ardha-mandapam
and two lady dvara-palaka-s (துவாரபாலகர்). It is a late Pandya (13th
century) structure, recently renovated. The two pillars in front of the
shrine have sculptures of vilakku naachchiyaar (விளக்கு நாச்சியார்,
‘lady-with-lamp’). A number of bronze idols are kept at the southern side of
the mandapam.
The
Nandi carved out of living rock
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The northern wall of this mandapam is the living rock. It is on this
wall, are the obliterated musical inscription (இசைக் கல்வெட்டு) and the
Appanna Danda-nayaka (அப்பண்ணா தண்டநாயகர்) tribunal verdict inscribed. This
is one of the largest inscriptions in South India. It records a settlement
of a long-standing dispute between the trustees of Siva and Vishnu temples
for the share of the produce of the temple lands. The special tribunal was
presided over by the Hoysala general Appanna Danda-nayaka.
Above this mandapam is the rock-cut shrine of Sathya-girisvara. It
consists of a rectangular ardha-mandapam (அர்த்த மண்டபம்), cut with its long
axis east to west. There are two massive, short cubical pillars and two
pilasters on the southern facade of this ardha-mandapam and four other
corresponding pilasters on the north.
The garbha-griham (கர்ப்பகிரகம்) faces east. It is a cubical chamber cut
into the western wall of this mandapam. Its floor is reached by short flight
of steps. The lingam and the yoni-pitham (யோனி பீடம்) inside the
garbha-griham, as well as the recumbent nandi on the floor of the
ardha-mandapam, are carved out of the living rock.
 Dvara-palaka
of Bhanu-uma-pathisvara shrine
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In the eastern wall of the ardha-mandapam and opposite the shrine is a
colossal Lingod-bhava (லிங்கோத்பவர்) cut in relief. This is one of the
earliest Lingod-bhava sculptures, reaching from floor to ceiling.
The niches flanking the entrance of the garbha-griham contain relief
sculptures of dvara-palaka-s. They appear to be portrait sculptures. They
are unconventional for each one is different from the other in pose,
ornaments and dress. The one on the north has its cloth reaching down to the
ankles, wears a yagnopavita of rudraksha beads and a peculiar hairstyle, and
holds up his right hand in adoration. The other dvara-palaka rests one of
his hands on a club.
A dvara-palaka in the rockcut
shrine
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The northern wall of the ardha-mandapam contains a short inscription in
the Grantha script that reads ‘parivadhinidhaa’ and a mutilated Tamil
inscription, which are ascribed to 7th century AD.
The Manual of Pudukkottai says ‘the walls and the ceiling (of the
ardha-mandapam) were once covered with stucco on which were paintings. All
that is left of them is a small patch on the ceiling with conventional
carpet design. This patch of painting covered with the dirt and soot of
centuries was recently cleaned”. Presently it is almost lost.
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