________________
Fata faragha
attracted friars of the Jaina order in early medieval times. On the eastern slope of the hillock is a cave measuring 7 mts. in length, with three stone beds cut in an alignment. They are polished and are separated by a thin band from one another. Epigraphical records are conspicuous by their
bsence in this ascetic abode. However, on the analogy of polished stone beds in other datable caves, the occupation of Sivanathapuram cave by Jaina monks is tentatively assigned to the 7th-8th century A.D.17 8. THE NARAYANAPURAM CAVE
The low range of hill, locally known as Pañchapāņdavar malai, at Nārāyanapuram, situated 16 kms, south-west of Walajapet, has a series of natural caves at different levels. Among them, the one facing the eastern direction served as abode of Jaina monks in the 7th-8th century A.D. Seven polished stone beds with pillow lofts are caused to be cut in a row at the southern end of the cave. They do not contain epigraphical records mentioning either the names of resident monks or the donors of these beds.
A structural front mandapa was added to the cave in the 10th century A.D., to accommodate an image of a Tirthankara. With the passage of time, the structural addition collapsed and the sculpture of Tirthankara, exhibiting the 10th century style, got mutilated. Recently, it was recovered from the ruins of the structure, 18
17. M. Gandhi, "Jaina beds at Sivanathapur am", Mukkudai,
March, 1995, pp. 13-14 18. K. Kumar, "Jaina beds in north Arcot area" Dinamani, 6th
June, 1991.
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
