Comments on: Pallava Cave Temple at Thiruchirappalli Rockfort - Lalitankura Pallavesvara Griham

By: Vijay

Vijay — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:09:02 +0000

Dear Karthik, Thanks for the feedback - first of all none of mahendra’s caves have two pits. This is with the view that the early caves had movable main dieties or were made of wood. Second there is never a provision for flow of Abhisega water out of the cave ( in such early period ) - infact the presence of a drain is taken to indicate a 8th C onward period. If you notice the depth of the pit and the circumference and its placement - means that it would have been trenched to allow for placing a devi - which is a rarity in the pallava period and Mahendra himself says he worships the Linga - so we can be certain that the main one is for the Linga - so when the Linga itself is placed there where is the question of devi alongside is the riddle.

By: karthik

karthik — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:40 +0000

There is no surangam in the cave temple of trichy. the bigger pit was for the linga and the smaller pit for collection of abishega thirtha. these are later day attempts.
there is no necessity to imagine rock fort without thayumanava swamy temple. in my opinion, thayumanava swamy must have existed at the time of excavation of this temple, since this lord had been sung by both appar and gnanasambandhar, who are contemporaries of mahendra. for them to have sung this temple it should have been in existance at their time and must have already been popular

By: Naga

Naga — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:01:28 +0000

I came across of our own rock fort temple and the mysterious tunnels. there seem to be a lot of stories or legends behind it. it is said that the kings of yore used to visit the pillayar temple without knowledge of their enemies and the tunnel extended to pudukottai?? and so on.
the mysteries are stranger but the truth is more stranger isnt it???

By: Vijay

Vijay — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:08:34 +0000

welcome Rahul. Most Trichy guys seem to share your passion for your soil

anbudan
vj

By: Rahul

Rahul — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:40:53 +0000

Trichy is ma hometown…..Glad that its its glory has been shared.!!!

By: Vijay

Vijay — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:45:26 +0000

its my pleasure kathie…vj

By: Kathie B.

Kathie B. — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:14:28 +0000

dear VJ
I’ve gotten the dvarapalaka murthis in the two caves mixed up.
Your article will give me the info to sort them out. Thank you.

By: Vijay

Vijay — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:41:36 +0000

dear virutcham,

These are shallow pits for installing deities. though there are some opinions that this could have been a much later effort, there are some puzzles in this cave. we will see them when we see the ganghadhara.

rgds
vj

By: virutcham

virutcham — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:42:38 +0000

மண்டபம் என்பதில் இவ்வளவு விஷயம் இருக்கா ?

I also remember seeing a tunnel (சுரங்கம் ) closed which also looked like the emty one you have mentioned.

making a place garbage is not by mistake. People take things for granted. Thats how many treasures are damaged physically and now thru literature.

I wonder how much care you take for minute things which many a time I just give a glance and pass away

By: Vijay

Vijay — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:56:39 +0000

Rudran sir, Its an honor to receive your words of support.

tks
vj