With an imposing rocky hillock, a village temple and a picturesque lotus tank, the bucolic beauty of Keezhakuyilkudi is beyond words. Ever since it became famously known as Samanarmalai, the idyllic hamlet in the far west of the city's periphery has become another landmark in Madurai. Of late, it has become a sought-after shooting spot for movies as well. Steeped in history and scenic landscape, Keezhakuyilkudi has more to it than what meets the eye. Thronged by archaeologists and research scholars of history, the place is among the numerous ancient Jain sites that dot the district. It's a well-known fact that the hillock bears some Tamil Brahmi inscriptions dating back to 300 BC and 2000-year-old bas-relief sculptures of which the one of Mahavira carved on the backside of the hillock, above a cavern is considered the biggest rock-embossed structure of the Jain Thirthankara in Tamil Nadu.
Not many know that the adjoining Melakuyilkudi too has Jain beds but in a dilapidated state. During one of the routine visits to the Keezhakuyilkudi Jain monument with his team of archaeology enthusiasts B. Athmanathan, assistant secretary, Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research, strayed into the neighbouring Melakuyilkudi hillock and found Jain beds beneath the collapsed rock boulders. As he moved behind, he noticed pre-historic rock art and black and red ware belonging to the Sangam period.
“Though the Archaeological Survey of India had already mentioned about the Jain beds in Melakuyilkudi in their report, they did not go further and the site sank into a condition of neglect. Though the reason for dilapidation is not known, people in and around the area say it might be due to the rampant quarrying prevalent till couple of years ago,” says Athmanathan
The rock art has a horse like figure with lines marked all over the body. “The art belongs to prehistoric period and it looks similar to the one recently discovered in Perumalpodavu near Dindigul. The art is yet another proof of the existence of hunting community,” says C. Santhalingam, retired archaeological officer.
As the name says, the potsherds are lustrous and are made of fine levigated clay, usually black but sometimes reddish in section, with a quality of glaze, ranging in colour from jet black to grey and a metallic steel blue, occasionally varied with reddish brown patches. “We collected the potsherds among the rubbles and it is surprising nobody noticed these fragments of history,” says Athmanathan.
“The potsherds belong to Sangam period. It is much similar to the one excavated in Keezhadi,” says Santhalingam. Black and red ware indicates the presence of peasant communities and the widespread agricultural activities in this area.
