Narthamalai
| Narthamalai நார்த்தாமலை |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
| State : |
 India
|
||
| State : | Tamil Nadu | ||
| District : | Pudukkottai | ||
| Sub-district : | Kulathur | ||
| Location : | 10 ° 31 ' N , 78 ° 46' E | ||
| Height : | 125 m | ||
| Area : | 6.6 km² | ||
| Residents : | 2,189 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 332 inhabitants / km² | ||
 |
|||
Narthamalai or Nagarattar Malai ( Tamil நார்த்தாமலை ) is a village with about 2,200 inhabitants in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . A little outside the village, two rock temples and several outdoor temples were built on the flank of a large granite rock .
location
Narthamalai lies at a height of approx. 125 m above sea level. d. M. about 20 km (driving distance) northwest of the district capital Pudukkottai . The Jain temple of Sittannavasal is only about 10 km to the southwest . The almost tropical climate is mostly humid; Rain falls mainly in the monsoon months October to December.
population
The inhabitants of Narthamalai are almost exclusively Hindus ; Members of other religions are rather rare among the rural population in South India. The male population is slightly higher than the female.
economy
The inhabitants live almost exclusively from agriculture. Small traders and craftsmen have settled in the town center, who also benefit from the good transport links.
history
The area around Nagarattar Malai belonged to the Pallava Empire in the early Middle Ages , which was gradually taken over by the regaining strength of the Chola Empire in the 9th century . In the 13th century, the Madurai- based Pandya dynasty took power, but gave it to the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14th century .
Attractions
- About 500 m northeast of the town is an approximately 60 to 80 m high rock mass, were carved into the edge numerous inscriptions, statues of gods and two rock temples, which probably originally Jaina served -Asketen, but later by the Hindus adopted and were redesigned - so In the early 7th century, two rock temples of the Pallavas , consecrated to the main Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu , with - probably added in the Chola period - bricked outer platforms.
- In the 9th or 10th century, the Chola built a temple complex in honor of the god in front of it, with a main temple ( Vijayalaya Choleeshwarar temple ) standing on an approx. 1 m high base and several accompanying shrines, one of which has a dome-like structure. In front of the main temple, which is structured by pilasters and niches but largely unadorned on the ground floor, is the obligatory lying Nandi bull; the portal is guarded by two life-size side guard figures ( dvarapalas ). The surrounding eaves cornice shows a window decor ( kudus ); the roof of the vestibule ( mandapa ) has collapsed. The tower structure ( vimana ) above the cella ( garbhagriha ) is downgraded several times - here there are pseudo-architecture, figures of gods and other Nandis. The tower ends in a large "umbrella dome" typical of the Dravida style of South India with a small vase ( kalasha ) at the top.
- In the village itself is the approx. 300 year old Muthu Mariamman Temple , built in honor of the mother goddess Mariyamman , who is venerated in large parts of South India . Its gopuram- like, colorfully painted tower built on a rectangular floor plan is striking.
Web links
- Narthamalai, Vijayalaya Choleeshwarar Temple - Photos + Info (English)
- Narthamalai, Vijayalaya Choleeshwarar Temple - Photos + Info (English)
- Narthamalai, Vijayalaya Choleeshwarar Temple - Photos + Info (English)
- Narthamalai, Shiva Temple - Photo Video (English)
- Narthamalai, Muthu Mariamman Temple (English)