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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Some of the alluring sculptures of the Apsaras from Vettuvankoil
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
