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SEHEME
SHENI
NAYANAR TEMPLE
T. S. SRIPAL
Thiruvalluvar temple in Mylapore, Madras, is well-known to many.
Although the temple is now called Thiruvalluvar temple, about twenty years ago it was known as 'Nayanar temple'. The word ‘Nayanar' means a 'Jina'. From ancient times, the Jaina Tirthankaras and Munis were addressed as Nayanar by the Jainas. Ilangova in Silapathikaram, begins the chapter entitled Madurai Kandam with prayers to Arhat. In his commentary on the prayers, Adiyarkku Nallar says that Arhat temple stands for Nayanar temple. Even today it may be seen that in Kalugumalai (Eagle Mountain), particulars of Jaina Munis are written on stone indicating that they were Nayanars. Stone inscriptions found in Thiruvadikai speak of Jaina temple as Nayanar temple.
The details in the stone inscription at the Thiruparithikunram temple speak of Tirthankaras as Nayanars. Mylainather in his commentary on Nannul grammar introduces a Jaina scholar as Avi Nayanar. In some other very ancient stone inscriptions, Jaina Tirthankaras and Munis are described as Nayanars. In one of the inscription of the Jaina temples in Koliyanur, Villupuram Junction, is inscribed Svasti-Sri Nayanar temple and in another Koliyanur Nallur Nayanar temple. Thus the Jaina Tirthankaras were the first to be addressed as 'Nayanars'.
With this background we shall trace the history of Thiruvalluvar temple or the temple of the author of Thirukkural in Mylapore and
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