Sittannavasal, a small hamlet in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukottai district, is a muse for historians, archaeologists, anthropologists and art lovers alike. Located 50 km from Tiruchi, the Sittannavasal rock-cut cave temple, with its beautiful frescoes, sculptures of Jain Theerthangaras and stone beds atop a hillock, is believed to be an ancient abode for Jains when Jainism flourished in the region till the 10th century A.D. While the numerous dolmens, stone circles and other forms of megalithic relics in the vicinity of Sittannavasal indicate the prehistoric and proto-historic antiquity of the region, the village itself dates back to the 1st century B.C.
The temple is now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The archaeological and cultural remains nearby at Kodumbalur, Narthamalai, Kudimiyanmalai , Thirumayam and Avudayarkoil are proofs of its rich cultural heritage.
(Photos and text by M. Moorthy)
The decorative paintings on the ceiling of the sanctum and Ardha Mandapam of Arivar-koil, a rock cut temple carved in the 9th century, are comparable to the classical cave painting seen in the Ajanta caves, both in terms of use of the materials and the styles.
Paintings on the ceilings inside the cave-temple have recurring illustrations of a lotus tank with images of men, animals, flowers, birds and fish, representing the Samavasarana faith of Jainism.
The paintings have been painted in fresco-secco technique with several mineral colours.
Several sculptures of Jain Theerthankaras with umbrella shaped domes are seen in the sanctum, outside the entrance of the temple. The temple is believed to be the ancient abode of Jains dating back to the 2nd century B.C. Other interpretations state that the rock-cut cave was “the abode of great saints”.
The walk-way along a rocky cliff guarded with rails leads to Jaina beds or Ekadippatham atop a hillock. The beds on the hill-top are attributed to the Jain era pilgrimage center which lasted till the 9th Century A.D.
There are 287 steps which lead to the top of the hillock, which has about 17 rock beds. The ascent to the top gives one a panaromic view of the village below, dispersed with small agricultural fields and tanks.
One of th 17 stone beds or Ezhadippattam with inscriptions of Jain saints at the rock cave temple.
The temple cave was initially dated to a Pallava king Mahendra Varman (1) (580-630 A.D) prior to his conversion from Jainism to Hinduism as a Saivite. The village later came under the reign of the Pandians in Tamil Nadu.
An aerial view shows the Sittannavasal village in Pudukottai district.
Steep steps leading to the cave temple. There are 287 such steps which lead to the hillock.
There are inscriptions in the temple in “Vattaezhuthu” which depict the time and the Pandian king who renovated the temple. One of the inscription names the village as Siru Annalvoyil, meaning a small entry point, which in the course of time has come to be known as Sittannavasal.
Sculptures of Jain Theerttankaras seen in the sanctum. The mysterious reverberating sound of 'OM' up to the entrance of the temple is an architectural marvel.