Sittannavasal Monuments
by Subramanian Swaminathan
e-mail: sswami99@gmail.com
February 2008
Navachchunai
The Navach-chunai is a tarn situated
on the eastern slope of central part of the rocky hillock. It is about
one kilometer north of the Ezhadippattam, at a somewhat lower level than
it. Reaching there requires a lot of rock-climbing and trekking and would
need somebody to guide.
naval-maram or jambu
tree near the tarn
The submerged cave temple of Jambunatha
The pool takes its name from a naval-maram
or jambu tree (Syzygium jambolanum) close by. Like the Talai-aruvisingam,
tarn of Narttamalai (on the Mela-malai), this contains inside, a submerged
rock-cut shrine. Stylistically it is a late Pandya temple (13th century
AD). It contains a Siva lingam in the centre and a narrow passage to walk
round. The water is occasionally baled out, and the lingam worshipped.
This is
locally called the Jambunatha's
cave.
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