Temple

On the bank of river Nandhi aaru stand the temple of the Siva. Which is the fourth temple of the Sivalayam. The conical vimanam of the temple reflect the Kerala art and Architechitecture. There is also a temple of Vishnu facing Siva. In the northern side of this Sivalayam, there stands an a rock cut cave temple and this one is an ancient one, and probably, upto the ninth century AD, it belonged to the Jains. In the tenth century AD, during the reign of Raja Raja Chozha, they kept a Siva lingam there.

According to research, in 1003 AD, King Raja Raja Chola celebrated his birthday there. He conquered Muttom, and named Mummudi Chola Nalloor as stated in the stone carvings available in the temple. An ascetic named Veeranandi came from Thirunarunkondai Melappalli and stayed there and preached Jainism it seems.




This took place in the eighth century AD and carved this a rock cut cave temple. That is why, the river is called the Nandhi aaru, and the place of the temple is Thirunandhikarai. Many of the sculptures in these temples are extinct and the remains bear witness to this. Now this temple is under the care of Archaeological Survey of India.