STRUCTURAL STONE CIRCULAR TEMPLE

STRUCTURAL STONE CIRCULAR TEMPLE.

Narthamalai is 17 kms from pudukkottai. Here, on the hill side, several Jain monasteries can be seen. There are several rare medicinal plants and herbs such as black gooseberry (Karunelli), Jathi tree etc in forest here. It was also the capital of mutharayar chieftains. The important visiting places here are the earliest structural stone temple, circular in shape built by Mutharayars. This temple has six large skillfully carved statues of Vishnu in the central hall.

Narthamalai is a place of historical importance and the headquarters of the Mutharaya chieftains. The earliest structural stone temple, circular in shape, built by the Mutharayr. In the movement of scooping out live rocks for divine abodes minor dynasties like the Atiyas and Mutharayars also participated, though stylistically their excavations are much akin to those of their political master.

The cave at Namakkal is evidently an Atiya enterprise while Mutharaya involvement may be seen at Thiruvellarai, Narthamalai, Kunrlandarkoil etc.