In the Melaimalai hillock of Narttamalai, a rock-cut cave temple lies inside a tarn. Narttamalai is a small hamlet on the northern part of Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu and about 19 kms from the district headquarters Pudukkottai. The village is nestled between nine rocky hillocks and one among the hillock is Melaimalai lying west and south-west of the village. Narttamalai and its neighbourhood are rich in cultural deposits viz., megalithic burial sites, Jaina vestiges, rock-cut cave temples, structural temples, manmade tarns etc. Melaimalai is a treasure trove of early stone architecture, it houses a structural temple and five rock-cut caves, all belong to the early medieval period. Vijayalaya Choleeswaram, the rock-cut cave temples viz., Pazhiyiliswaram, Pathinenbhumi Vinnagaram and two other unfinished rock-cut caves are in the top ledge of the hillock. A big man-made tarn is seen at the foot of the Melaimalai hillock, the inscription at its bunt
mention it as Animattaeri excavated by Tamilathiaraiyan alias Mallan Viduman.
The rock-cut cave temple that lies inside the tarn is on the way to the
Vijayalayacholeswaram and the rock-cut cave temples. The tarn is a naturally formed one, continuous filling of rainwater on naturally formed crater at the apex of the hillock created this tarn and in course of time came to be called as a Thalavarasinga thirtha. The rock-cut cave temple is visible only when the water is dried up or drained. Nearly some hundred and fifty years after, by the work of a service-minded team called ‘Yathum Ure Yavarum Kelir’ the rock-cut cave temple was brought to the public sight.
The rock-cut cave temple is a well-formed cellar excavated on the western precipice of the tarn and housed a rock-cut Linga in the name Jvarahareswara. The cellar is excavated 50cms inside the surface of the hillock which gives shaved extensions on sides and top. The side extensions are 50-55 cms in the upper level whereas 30-32cms at a lower level due to natural tapering of the face of the hillock. It is 196cms width between the side extensions. The cellar has a doorframe with rock-cut jambs, lintel and sill. The aperture between the jambs is 167cms and between the lintel and sill is 203cms, forming the doorway to the cellar. The cellar shrine is a cubical chamber; it is 257cms in the east-west and 263cms in the north-south directions and its height is 237 cms. The walls, roof and the floor of the cellar are well-formed and with smooth finishing. A rock-cut Linga to a height of 161cms is formed in the centre of the cellar. The square avudaiyar is 131 cms on all sides and 49cms height with the features of adhishthana. Jagati, kumuda, gala complex, pattika and the upari kampa are the features seen. The usual overhanging spout is absent instead the square avudaiyar has a very small spout facing north. The rock cut cylindrical bana is 49 cms.
An inscription 1 and line drawings are seen just above the rock-cut cave temple on the surface of the hillock, that is, on the western brim of the tarn. The inscription mentions three calendars viz., Saka 1781, Kaliyuga 4958, Gregorian calendar 14th May 1857. Besides, the inscription mentions the tarn as Talavarasinga thirtha and the deity as Jvarahareswara. It details about the worship of the deity Jvarahareswara by the then King and Queen of Pudukkottai kingdom. Above the inscription, inside a square, line drawings of a trident and axe are shown.
The inscription further reveals that the water of the Talavarasinga thirtha was baled out completely and the deity Jvarahareswara who had been consecrated in the rock-cut cave temple inside the thirtha was offered with abhisheka, puja and offerings. Brahambadas Sri Sivaramsvamidas Excellency Raja Ramachandra Tondaiman Bahadur with his wife Rani Janakibai Saheb worshipped the deity Jvarahareswara. It is quite interesting to see that the inscription possess an English word ‘Excellency’ transliterated in Tamil. Besides, a new inscription has been discovered on the northern jamb of the rock-cut cave temple. The inscription reads சீரங்கராய(ரின்) முன் பூசை (seerangaraya(rin) mun poosai). On palaeography ground, it can be assigned to the period of the late eighteenth century C.E.
Foundation inscription is absent in this rock-cut cave temple hence, architecture and corroborative evidence are the only way to assign its period. The inscription at Pazhiyili Iswaram authenticates its excavation by Sattam Pazhiyili son of Videlvidugu Muttaraiya and also recorded the contributions of his daughter Pazhiyili Siriyanangai wife of
Tamizhadiaraiyan alias Vaalan Anandan for the temple. Besides, the inscription at Vijayalayacholeeswaram authenticates its constructor as Ilangoadi Araiyar and renovated by Mallan Viduman alias Tennavan Tamiladiaraiyan. The sluice at the foot of the hillock was also excavated by the same Mallan Viduman. All these pieces of evidence strongly establish Muttaraiyas activities in the region. Hence, we can assign the Jvarahareswara rock-cut cave temple to the Muttaraiyas and its period as 8th or 9th-century C.E.
- Inscriptions of Pudukkottai State, No. 892