All India Jain Temples and Tourist Places

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

Page 94

is here with bas-relieved sculptures of Lord Parshwanatha.
Festival : Brahmotsav 268. VALATHY:(13 kms north of Gingee, South Arcot Dist.)
Temple of this village is of 400 years old and the main deity is Sri Adinatha Thirthankara.
There is a small cave on the outskirts of the village known as “Nalgnana Kundru”(Samyakgnan Hill) where there is bas-relieved statute of Lord Parshwanatha. This place is supposed to be the abode of some saints in the past.
Festival : Pongal, Akshay Thrithiya, Navarathri. 269. VEEDUR: (24km south of Tindivanam, South Arcot Dist.)
The temple of this village is of 1200 years old and the deity is Lord Rishabhadevar. This village is noted for many philosophers who wrote a large number of books on jain philosophy.
Festivals : Akshaya Thritiya, Pongal , Navarathri. 270. VEERANAMOOR : (20 kms north east of Gingee, South Arcot Dist.)
The temple here is of 500 years old, the presiding deity is Rishabha Thirthankar. Three religious heads of Tamil Nadu jains at Melsithamoor hailed from this village and from the same family.
Festivals : Akshaya Thrithiya, Navarathri. 271. VELLIMEDUPETHI : (10 kms north of Tindivanam, South Arcot Dist.)
The temple here is 200 years old and the deity is Sri Anantha Thirthankara. At Anandamangalam near this village(6kms) there is a hillock with jaina sculptures.
Festival : Pongal, Amman Festival. 272. SITTAN VASAL:( 10kms from Pudukottai and 142 kms deviation)
This is a place of great archeological interest. The hillock with a beautiful surrounding has cave temples. One such cave is carved out for munis. The other one has Thrithankara statues carved as bas-relieved on the rock face. It has few fair clear fresco paintings comparable to those of Ajantha. These caves were excavated by Abhinava Shekara Vallabha Pandya, during 8th Century A.D. Munisangh of “Ajja Nandi” stayed here.
87