Etymology
There are several interpretations of the word Sittanvasal. In Tamil language, ''Sit-tan-na-va-yil'' means "the abode of great saints". Another explanation is that this was a suburb of Annalvayil, called ''chiru-annal-vaayil'', meaning "smaller Annalvayil". It is also said that the word Sittanavasal is a derivative from two Sanskrit words, ‘'Siddhanam’' and ‘'vasah'’ meaning "abode of siddhas". Alternative suggestions are that Sittanavasal is aGeography
The Sittanavasal village is about to the northwest of Pudukottai, just before Annavasal village and about from Trichy. The entrance to the village has a welcome arch. Within its geographical setting there is a prominent hill of height, which runs in the north–south direction, where many Jaina cave monuments are located. Megalithic sites of the 1st century BC have also been excavated near the village, on the road to the monuments. It was a flourishing village during the Jaina period from the 7th to 9th century AD. Before entering the Sittanavasal and on the road to the monuments, remains of prehistoric burial sites are seen. The Jain natural caverns, called Ezhadippattam are approached from the foothills. On the western slope of the central part of the hill is the cave temple which is approached by climbing a few 100 steps.History
The village was settled during the megalithic period from the 1st century BC according to excavations of several megalithic sites near the village. Jainism flourished here from 1st century BC to 10th century AD. The Arivarkovil or the Temple cave is initially dated toArchitectural monuments
The archaeological monuments found in the area surrounding Sittanavasal village are the architectural features of the Arivar Kovil (Sittanvasal Cave), on the western side of the hill towards the north and the painting and sculptures found within its precincts, the Jaina beds, also known as Ekadipattam or Ezhadippattam in a natural cavern on the eastern side of the hill, the Samavasarana, a place of assembly of a tirthankara in the form of mural paintings on the roof of the cave temple, megalithic burial urns, stone circles, cairns, dolmens, cists from the Iron Age called ''mudu-makkal-thaazhi'', and a submerged tarn called the ''Navach-chunai'' to the north of the natural cavern in the hill. The Archaeological Survey of India is responsible for the maintenance of the Arivar Kovil and the Jaina beds.Sittanavasal Cave
The Sittanavasal Cave, also known as Arivar Kovil, is a Jain monastery of the 7th century, small in size, excavated in a bluff on the western slope of the hill in its centre. It is noted for its paintings which have been painted inEzhadippattam
Ezhadippattam or Jaina beds is a natural cave, marked by a horizontal floor space which is laid out with well-polished rock beds that were used by Jaina ascetics. There are seventeen beds at the top marked on the floor. These carved beds have headrests cut in them in the form of a raised pillow. The oldest Tamil Brahmi inscriptions seen inscribed on the beds are dated to the 3rd century BC, although recent research by Iravatham Mahadevan dates it to the First Century BC and extending to the 10th Century AD. On one of the oldest and largest beds, the inscription in Tamil is of Tamil Brahmi script of the 1st century BC, considered as the oldestJambunatha Cave
Jambunatha Cave or Navach-chunai, in the style of late Pandya temples of the 13th century AD, is a tarn located between Ezadippattam and Arivar Kovil caves. It is on the eastern slope on the central part of the hills. This is a small rock-cut temple which is submerged in a small lake (tarn). Hill climbing is required to reach the cave temple. An old jambu tree ('' Syzygium jambolanum'') is seen near the lake, which gives its name to the cave. It is a Shiva temple with a lingam in the centre, which is worshiped by baling out water from the lake.Megalithic sites
Excavations carried out in 1934–35 in the Sittanvasal village have revealed manyReferences
{{Pudukkottai district Cities and towns in Pudukkottai district Jain rock-cut architecture