This Sunday was surely different. An encouraging and surprise turnover of more than 200 enthusiastic nature and heritage lovers set out to rediscover a lesser-known corner of their own city. Brought together by a group of like-minded individuals who call themselves “Green Walkers”, these new and experienced trekkers explored the foothills of the Alagar Kovil hill range.
The hills have had different names through history. They have been called the Solaimalai, Ingundram, Idapagiri, Thirumaalkundru, Thirumalirusolai and, most commonly, Alagarmalai. Their most interesting detail is the Jain cave in the hills around Sundarajanpatti and Kidaripatti on the Alagarkovil-Melur road. It is an eye-shaped cave with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on the peak and also around the Jaina beds.
Green Walkers founder S. Muthukrishnan, artist Babu and epigraphist C. Santhalingam led the trek. They stressed the need to protect these ancient monuments, which bear the evidence of evolution of people and their society. The significance of this cave also lies in the fact that it carries the name of the city as “Mathirai”.
But we, the trekkers, were sad to see how the aesthetics of the place has been spoiled by people who have written their names, slogans and other unwanted things in oil paint around the cave. When told the chemicals used are a threat to rock art forms, many youngsters in the group immediately took to wiping them off. Mr. Santhalingam briefed the trekkers on the Jain period and said the city of Madurai has lots of such caves and beds. “This specific bed was home to the tribals before the Jain monks took shelter here. This cave belonging to 9-10th century B.C. had a beautiful water body which made this place a retreat in the scorching sun. The rock art on the walls is dated to 1st century B.C., depicting interesting figures like bird-headed man, different animals and man-animal conflicts and drawn with animal tail brushes using red oxide.”
On the face of the cave, we were shown the inscription "Mathirai Pon Kollan Adan Adan", which denotes the name of a goldsmith from Madurai, Adan Adan. The next cave had an inscription "Mathiraikey upa Vanikan Viyakkan Kaanathikan", about a salt merchant named Viyakkan who hails from Madurai. There were more inscriptions bearing the names of a camphor and sugar merchant, Nedumallan, and an iron merchant, Santhan, who sold agrarian tools.
There are also some rare signs and symbols in this cave which belong to the Sangam period. The same signs have been found in excavations in Kodumanal and Aanaikottai in Sri Lanka. Mr. Muthukrishnan regrets that the TN Archaeology Department seldom bothers to explain to the public the significance of these historically important sites and the need to preserve them. “When we bring people for such walks or interact with the local villagers, explaining to them the historical treasure they are sitting on, they get very excited.”
“It is time we involve the local communities in the protection of the abundant priceless treasures lying around us,” he adds.
