An Army Of Clones
Entrance to the Cave Shrine Nine rocky hills sprout from the barren region in and around the small town named Narthamalai . The name Narthamalai comes from " Nagaratthar " the wealthy mercantile community , now called Chettiars , whose trade centers and guilds ( or Nagarams) , once functioned in the region that is now Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts . Of the nine hills , the broadest one is known by many names : Narthamalai , Samanar Malai , Melamalai and Sivan Malai . On the summit of this bald outcrop are three ancient temples of different periods , two of them Rock Cut shrines . The structural temple complex Vijayalayacholeewaram, built by a Muttharayar chief , dominates the ledge , from below which spreads an expanse of cultivated fields , sparse woods , bald rocks and wastelands right up to the horizon . Opposite this temple , carved into the vertical face of a large outcrop , is the large rockcut shrine , called: Pathinen Bhoo...