All India Jain Temples and Tourist Places

Author(s): B C Nagraj
Publisher: ITI Jains Association, Bangalore

Page 92

258. GUDALOOR:(25 kms South of Vandavasi, North Arcot Dist.)
The temple here is dedicated to Sri Kunthu Thirthankara. The festival here is Pongal 259. KIL-SATHAMANGALAM : (5 kms west of Vandavasi, North Arcot Dist.)
The temple here is very ancient one, believed to be 1400 years old. The Manasthambha of the temple is 33feet high and is made out of a single stone. The main deity is Sri Chandranatha Swamy.
Festivals are celebrated on Akshaya Thrithiya and Pongal. 260. NELLIANGULAM : (25 kms south of Vandavasi, North Arcot Dist.)
The jain temple of this village is about 150 years old and has the idols of all the 24 thirthankars. The presiding deity is Lord Neminatha.
Festival here is on Akshaya Trithiya. 261. PONNUR: (12 kms South west of Vandavasi, North Arcot Dist.)
The small hillock over here is referred as “Kanagagiri” (Hillock of Gold). The temple here is of 700 years old and deity is Kanagagirinathar (Vrishabha dev). It is believed that Sri Kunda Kunda Acharya stayed here, hence foot prints of Kunda Kunda Acharya has been installed.
Facility is there to stay in the building at the foot hill. 262. ARAHANTHAGIRI (TIRUMALAI) : ( 40 kms from Arni on the Arni-polur road, North Arcot dist.)
This is an ancient jaina centre. The temples here were built during Chola reign. The temples here have main deities Lord Vardhamana and Lord Neminatha (known by the name of Sigamaninathar). By the side of the second temple, rockcut panels are there and lead to the caves with their ceiling painted. The rockcut panels depict yaksha and yakshini figures. Over the hillock there is a rock cut beautiful statue of Lord Neminatha which is 16 feet tall.
Recently a mutt with Gurupeeta has been started here with the guidance of Jagadguru Sri Charukeerthi Swamiji of Shravanabelagola.
This mutt is headed by Sri. Dhavala Keerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji.
Festival here is Pongal. Dharmashala is here with good facilities for stay.
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