am off to trivandrum next month..shd have gone this weekend actually..would like to see this..are there more such cave temples there ?

விஜய்,

வரலாறு.காம்-ஐச் சேர்ந்த வரலாற்று அறிஞர்கள் திரு.கலைக்கோவன்,குடவாயில் திரு.பாலசுப்ரமணியம் மற்றும் பல வரலாற்று வல்லுனர்கள் இதைப் பற்றி நிச்சயம் அறிந்திருப்பார்கள். அவர்களைத் தொடர்பு கொள்வது இந்தப் புதிருக்கு விடை அளிக்கும்.

Quite possible Kathie. You see I have remarked to VJ (in the 2nd article on the subject) that the period of this sculpture has to be between 400-700 AD when the Pallavas reigned supreme in South India and founded the first large empire and were feuding with the Chalukyas also. At that time the Pallavas were lording over the Cholas and the Pandiyas but had very close ties with the Cheras who ruled over Karur-Kovai and over all of the Malainadu (modern Kerala). With such striking and stark resemblance between Mallai and Vizhinjam sculpture surely the common sculpting guild or at least the lead artisans were common to both the sites. In fact, when one analyzes the sculptures of the Hoysalas especially during the time of Veera Ballala II and his son Narasimha, both Chola and Pallava artisans are supposed to have made immense contributions to the temples at Halebid, Somnathpur and Belur, among others.

When you consider that between Somnathpur (built around 1265 - when the Chola empire was collapsing) and Belur (built around 1120 - when Vishnuvardhana Hoysala became independent after defeating the Chalukyas in Kannada country)… the continuation of architectural traditions of at least the Pallavas for almost four centuries after their extinction around 910 AD, the mind really boggles.