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JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
part of Tamilnadu, due to the concentration of the Jaina population there. Besides, the establishment of the Jinakanchi matha at Chittamur by Virasenacharya also gave a fillip to construction of temples in places like Vangaram, Vilukkam, Venkunram, Elankadu, Kunnattur, Mudalur, Kil-idaiyalam, Melmalayanur, Viranamur etc. These temples, even though renovated in recent years, bear architectural features of the 15th and 16th centuries. Jaina families living in these villages take care of the temples. Provision for the conduct of daily pujas and annual festivals are being made by these Jaina adherents.
References 1.Transactions of the Archaeological Society of South India,
1958-59, p.41 ff. 2.Annual Report on Epigraphy, 41/1890. 3.A. Ekambaranathan, Jaina Temples of Tondainadu, p.98 4.T.N. Ramachandran, Tirupparuttikunram and its Temples,
p.49.
5.South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. VII, No. 826. 6.South Indian Temple Inscriptions, Vol. III, No. 26. 7.Ibid., No. 28 8.A. Ekambaranathan, History of Tirunarungondai, p. 32 9.Annual Report on Epigraphy, 306/1939-40 10.South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. VII, No. 1017. 11.Ibid., No. 1015 12.Ibid., Nos. 846, 848 13.Annual Report on Epigraphy, 416/1928-29
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