Cave temple of ancient origin
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The rock-cut temple at Varanasimalai is full of historical and religious significance. S. Padmanabhan
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Stone marvel: The entrance to the cave temple.
Thirumalapuram, situated in Sankarankoil, Tirunelveli, 16 km from Tenkasi and 6 km from Kadayanallur, has much historical and religious importance. Archaeological evidence is available to prove that people lived here even 10,000 years ago. Neolithic
tools excavated from this area bear witness to this fact.
On the hill of Thirumalapuram, also known as Varanasimalai, there is a rock-cut temple that dates back to 7th Century A.D. The village was also known as Varanasipuram in those days, according to a stone inscription of 11th century A.D. found in the cave temple.
There are two rock-cut temples in Varanasimalai. The one in the south bears an incomplete look. The northern temple houses a Sivalinga, hewn out of the rock. From the lingam it is evident that regular abhishekam was performed in ancient days. The temple also houses the idols of Brahma, Nataraja, Vishnu and Vinayaka, which are slightly damaged.
Hewn by the Pandyas
From the architecture of the temple and special features of the images, it can be concluded that the temple must have been hewn by the Pandyas in the 7th century. There is an 11th century inscription on one of the pillars. The Nandi in the front mandapam is in a dilapidated condition and the murals inside the temple also look faded.
A family from Kadampankulam is said to come to the temple every year on Thirukarthigai day and light a deepam with castor oil on a stone pit meant for the purpose.
On the eastern side of the front mandapam is an inscription of King Vallaba Devan (1090-1116 A.D.) from which it is evident that regular pujas and abhishekams were performed. Other inscriptions provide details about the gifts given by the Pandya king Sri Vallabha to this temple including fertile lands with trees, deep wells and tanks. However, there is no record of how the practice of taking water from the nearby well for puja and abhishekam for the presiding deity fell into disuse.
The ancient temple is now under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India.
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