Vettuvankoil, Kazhugumalai

Explore the early Pandya rock cut wonder deep down in Tamil Nadu!

Vettuvankoil: A view of VimanaFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Magnificent Monolith

Located 20 Kilometers from Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu,  is home to a majestic, monolithic rock-cut Shiva temple, called Vettuvankoil. Also known as "Ellora of S. India".  It stands as evidence for different types of architecture - cut-in, cut-out and structural.

Vettuvankoil: Overview of the hillFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

View of the Hill - Kazhugumalai

It stands as evidence for different types of architecture - cut-in, cut-out, structural, portraying the unique Dravidian style

Kazhugumalai: A view of 24 Jain TirtankarasFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Jain Palli

The hill also served as a Jain palli. These beds date back to the 8th and 9th century CE. They were excavated during the time of the early Pandyas. The names of Pandya king Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan and the sculptor Achutanandi are found in inscriptions below the bas reliefs.

Vettuvankoil: Bas relief of MahaviraFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Three tier bas relief of 24 Samana Tirtankaras

Images of 24 Jain Tirtankaras, Yakshi, and Yakshas are found sculpted on the hill. Three sets of all the Tirtankaras, can be found in bas-relief carvings.

Vettuvankoil: View of label inscriptionsFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

A closer look at bas reliefs

The sculptures bear label inscriptions in Vatteluthu script that refer to the hillock as Araimalai. They detail the Jain religious order, educational system, royal patronage, names of the sculptors and the donors. 

Kazhugumalai: Overview of the rockbedFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Rock cut beds

Rock cut beds were excavated for monks to rest in this Palli. We can spot more Tirtankara sculptures above the beds. Jainism has a set of iconographies to differentiate the depiction of the Tirthankaras. The lion is associated with Mahavira and the Naga, with Parsvanatha etc.

Kazhugumalai: A Sculpture of Dharanendra Yaksha and Padmavat Yakshi of JainismFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Artistic Yaksha and Yakshi

Dharanendra Yaksha and Padmavati Yakshi of Jainism  also sculpted alongside the sculptures of the Tirtankaras.

Vettuvankoil: A view of VimanaFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

A view of the Vimana

A view of the intricately carved Vimana with unique sculptures - a Pandya masterpiece. The unique feature on the hill is Vettuvankoil, 25ft in height, dating back to the 8th cent CE. The temple was chiseled out of a monolithic rock, using the top-to-down approach.

Vettuvankoil: A view of VimanaFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Architectural Wonder

The temple has two tala Vimanas with shikara and stupi while the wall (bhitti) and base (adhishtana), are incomplete. It has an octagonal shikara and highly decorated Vimana with kudus, kodipalayam karuk, etc. The bhutaganas have been carved on the temple prasthara or roof.  

Vettuvankoil: Intricate carvingsFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Exotic carvings

The intricate carvings of keerthi mukha, thorana can be witnessed. Each of the boodhaganas were given much importance that each is different from other, here we can observe the one boodhagana with beard and mustache, one with mustache while the other one is clean shaven.

Kazhugumalai: Dakshinamurthy is represented in a unique poseFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

Dakshinamurthy...in all his glory

Dakshinamurthy here is represented in a most unique pose, playing the  Mrithanga.  This is not found elsewhere, as he is typically portrayed playing the veena.

VettuvankoilFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

View of the Incomplete Vimana

The top portion of the temple is complete, with exquisite sculptures and decorations, while the lower part is rough-cut and unfinished. 

Vettuvankoil: Garbagriha of VettuvankoilFriends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu

The temple was originally dedicated to lord Shiva. Now it houses an idol of lord Ganesha, which was consecrated in recent times. The monument is protected by Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.

Kazhugumalai: Exquisite sculptures of Vishnu, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of Brahma, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of deva, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Intricate sculpture of deva, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of lord shiva, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of deva with halo depiction, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Exquisite sculptures of Siva along with Parvati, in a relaxed posture, Brahma, Narasimha, Dakshinamurti, Surya, Chandra, Skanda and other devas, along with a few sculptures of apsaras, can be found on the talas.

Kazhugumalai: Exquisite sculptures Apsara, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of Apsara, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of Apsara, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Vettuvankoil: Sculpture of Apsara, From the collection of: Friends of Heritage Sites, Tamil Nadu
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Some of the alluring sculptures of the Apsaras from Vettuvankoil

Credits: Story

Text: Akshatha A
Edited by: Sharmila Devadoss, Sudha R
Images: Sharmila Devadoss, Usha Jawahar, Manikanda Prabhu, Dr. Anitha, Arun MV, Dr. Arul Vijayakumar
Tech support: Sivakumar S

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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