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19: HE THIC OITOY Fyfa Tree
kanan of Chennādu, Sättan of Kampolal, Kasyapan of Korkai, Nakkan and Pentodan. Besides, reference to a tank also finds place in this inscription. 15 It appears that these lay devotees were instrumental in digging a tank in the vicinity of the abodes of monks. 6. THE URANITANGAL CAVE
Uranirtāngal is a village situated 4 kms. east of Gingee in South Aroct district. On the southern slope of the hillock near the village is a natural cavern of about 13.50 mts. length and 3 mts. height. Small steps are cut on the steep portion of the rock in order to have easy accessibility to the cave. Eighteen stone beds are scooped out a different levels of the cave, out of which only sixteen have pillow-lofts, while the remaining two are plain. All of them are smooth and polished, and measure 2 mts. in length and half a metre in width. The central part of the cave contains a rectangular platform, the front part of which has a fragmentary 5th-6th century label inscription, mentioning the name of a monk, Parasēna.16
Very likely, Parasēna was the head of the monastery, who occupied this raised platform during his expositions to disciples. Similar special seats meant for the Chief recluse have also been reported from some of the cave-resorts in Tamilnadu. 7. THE SUVANATHAPURAM CAVE
The hillock adjacent to Sivanathapuram, about 15 kms. northwest of Vellore town in North Arcot district,
15. K. Rajavclu, op.cit., pp. 11-12 16. M. Chandramurti & R. Vasantha Kalyani,
"Jaina beds of Uranitangal" MUKKUDAI, Feb., 1995, pp. 6-8.
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