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APRIL, 1978
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it. Later when Christian missionaries started settling in that area they excaveted many Jina idols and carved temple pillars of the Lord Neminatha temple complex. Father Hosten who personally supervised this excavation work has recorded in his book that for want of funds he was not able to continue the excavation work and burried most of the idols in the site itself. He also has recorded an inscription in Tamil which refers to the grant given to the Lord Neminatha temple. It is incomplete.
...vatapada neminatha Swamek ku kuduthom evai payanthebaraa...
The archaeological reports also show that many Jina idols were found in that site. Even now ancient Jajna families live around Mylapore and narrate the fate of the Lord Neminatha Temple handed down to them by their fore-fathers.
Antiquities of St. Thome and Mylapore, pages 74, 175.
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