Jinamanjari 1998 04 No 17

SR No.: 524017
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 96
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, Canada_Jinamanjari, & Canada
File Size: 6 MB

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fold and in the mainstream. Their social and cultural activities, though resemble Jains in other parts of Southern India, the language and architecture they follow are purely indigenous. Generally speaking, Tamil Jains are socially conservative and they are indigenous people belonging to Digambara tradition.
The Jaina holy hills and the atisaya kṣetras in Tamilnadu are conservatively placed in the order of five to six hundred. And the places presented here are the temples which are still worship-worthy
Of the four ancient Jain mathas, only one at Jina Kanchi has survived. It is presided over by Bhaṭṭāraka, who is referred by the name of Laxmisena. He is the spiritual and religious head of Tamil
Jains.
Survey of the Shrines
The District of Chengalpattu
Arugkulam: The village is located 88 km from Madras, and the nearest town is Tiruvellore, on the bus route between Madras and Tiruttani. It is an ancient Jain center, dating back to ninth century. The Tamil text Choolamani was composed here by Thola Mozhi Devar, dedicated to fourteenth Tirthankara, Dharma.
The temple has a unique architecture. On the birth day of Tirthankara Dharma, the rays of the rising sun fall at the feet and slowly rise to the face of the idol.
There are no Jains living, except for the purohit.
Aarpakkam: It is about 25 km from Kanchipuram to Uthiramerur. It is a small ancient village. The temple is dedicated to Rṣabha, locally referred as Athi Pattarakar. A local poet, Udiche Devar has composed a work called Thiru Kalampakam.
Except for the purohit, there are no Jains living in the village. However, Jains from North Arcot visit the shrine for ear-piercing ceremony of their children.
Jinakanchi: It is just four km from Kanchipuram, located on the southern bank of the Vegavati river. The antiquity of this place can be traced back to the time of Samanthabhadra (120-185 C.E.) who had visited the place. The earliest epigraphic record, the Pallankoil copper plate issued by Pallava king Simhavarman (556 C.E.) refers to saint
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