We need to come for a final understanding on ganesh.
1. The Appar's "ganapati ennum kaliru" is minimum 30 years before Narasimha Pallavan's Vatapi conquest. No doubt here.
2. What is the final freeze on Pillayarapatti cave's period?
3. Does any of the Pandya Cave including Thirupparamkundram ganesh is prior to Pillayarpatti? What is there period
4. Is the thanipadal part of Thirumurugatrupadai?
5. Sambandar found out Thirumandiram under the balipeedam of Thiruvavaduthurai temple according to legends. ( Ingu Tamil manam veesugirade endru sambandar thedinaram) Can we then date thirumandiram prior to Sambandar.
there is a wonderful article about exactly what we are discussing - titled Pillayar vazhipattin thotramum valarchiyum, in the book Pen Deiva Vazhipaadu.
its reproduced here ( in tamil )
www.varalaaru.com/Default.asp?articleid=575
The book has some excellant photos /plates as well
The pillaiyar chapter in "Pen theiva vazhipaadu" says though pallava's, pandiya's, Mutharaiyar's created number of kudavarai, the number of pillaiyar in north tamilnadu is 1/7th of the others. Following are the list of kudavarais having pillaiyar.
Hi VJ, So much of this discussion throws in Tamil words, that I'm having a heck of a time following the argument [discussion]. Well, I'll wait until it's all sorted out, I guess. Just didn't think the Pillaiyur Vathapi looked very Calukya, or that early. Pillaiyarapatti certainly does look Pandya. Undavalli Caves is an interesting place, have you been? there's a Gajendramoksha on one of the pillars. I was surprised - only one I've seen in the South. What's a thanipadal? Reply only if you have time, you do so much. Kathie