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स्व: मोहनलाल बांठिया स्मृति ग्रन्थ
SUMASINA
20
Yet another Jaina cave with six stone beds has also been brought to light from a hillock lying about a kilometre west of Narayanapuram. Here also, datable evidence like inscriptions, sculptures etc., are not found, However, it's occupation by Jaina monks is roughly assigned to the 7th8th century A.D. 19
9. AN UNFINISHED ROCK-CUT TEMPLE AT
TIRAKKOL
Tirakkõl, 15 kms. north-west of Vandavāsi town, was one of the prolific Jaina centres of North Arcot district. The hillock oh the western end of the village boasts of having two Jaina caves, a huge boulder containing bold relief sculptures of Rishabhanatha, chandranatha, Parsvanatha-all executed in the 9th century style, some 10th century lithic records engraved under these images and a structural temple dedicated to Mahavira. 20
Apart from these vestiges, an unfinished miniature rock-cut temple, camouflaged for a long time by thorny bushes, has been noticed recently on the eastern outcrop of the hill. The rock-cut temple resembles three niches divided by plain pilasters having square shafts and trapezoidal capitals as seen in the rock-out temples of the early 7th century Pallava style. But it was abandoned shortly after the commencement of work and thereby remained unfinished. The areas or its abandonment is believed to be due to the widespread animosity between brahmanical and Jaina sects in the 7th century A.D.
19. Ibid., 6th June, 1991. 20. A. Ekambaranathan, Jaina monuments of Tondainadu,
Madras, 1989, pp. 168-170.
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