Mamandur

It is known for the 7th-century rock-cut cave temple, housing a Tamil Brahmi inscription, one of the monuments of national importance as declared by the Archaeological Survey of India.

[1] Brahmi is the earliest Indian alphabetical script with regional variations, dated between 300 BCE and 300 CE.

Two pillars made up of cubes above and below with an octagonal shaft in the middle make up the façade of this cave.

Two steps in front, with a low stone rail shaped like the back of an elephant lead into each garba griha.

The dvaarapalas of the central sanctum stand in tribhanga, one hand on the waist and another resting on their heavy clubs which are intertwined with serpents, wearing huge jatabhaaras on their heads, yajnopavita (sacred thread) and ornaments.

Wearing a yajnopavita and jatabhaara on their heads, they were obviously intended to be sages or brahmanas, and the deity within must have been Brahma.

The five shrines at the back of the cave share a common platform, with staircases in front of each, consisting of three steps.

The façade suggests a three shrine cave, but the work was stopped due to cracks in the rock and load above the roof.

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