அதிரணசண்ட பல்லவேஸ்வர குடைவரைக்கோயில், சாளுவன்குப்பம்
As you travel south by road from Chennai along the coast, just before you reach Mahabalipuram, you come across a village called Saluvankuppam. On your left, between the East Coast Road and the ocean, lies a popular picnic spot called the Tiger Cave. This site is cared for by the ASI as part of the collection of monuments at or near Mahabalipuram that constitute the UNESCO World Heritage Site there. There is no entry fee except for a small payment for the parking. On weekends, it is thronged by picnic goers. We went on a week day and the place was deserted.
This site is home to some interesting monuments and rock inscriptions. The most popular one is the so-called Tiger Cave built by Rajasimhan or Narasimhavarman II in the early 8th century and likely served as an outdoor platform for the king to give audience to his subjects.
For some of us, the more interesting monument here is the small and elegant Pallava era cave temple called the Athiranachanda Cave Temple dedicated to Lord Siva. It is believed to have been built by Rajasimhan. Athiranachanda was one of his favourite titles. Although it was built in an era when the Pallavas were already starting to build grand structural temples, it is reminiscent of earlier cave temples built at Mamallapuram itself such as the Mahishasuramardini and Varaha cave temples.
The temple is possibly a remnant of a larger structure that has fallen into decay. The cave itself houses a 16 faceted dharalingam. The Pallavas were fond of these types of lingams. There are other classic Pallava elements like a Somaskanda panel in the cave and a small Mahishasuramardini panel on a rock. There is a lingam in the middle of the small stone courtyard in front of the cave that looks a bit incongruous. It likely was housed in a structure that has fallen apart.
It is located at Saluvankuppam just north of Mahabalipuram.
We visited in August 2017. We were based in Chennai.
Credits: Google Maps
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