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The Jaina Antiquary
I Vol. XIV Even the Government records also give us the information that throw sufficient light over the existence of the ancient Pataliputra in South India, as described up till now in the above paras. It says thus" ln Cuddalore which is the old THIRUPADARIPULIYUR, there is the big temple honoured by the songs of Siva Saints. There is the CHOLA ir:scription in the temple. It appears that during the times of Appar, the JAIN TEMPLE in this place was dimolished and a Temple of Siva called "GUNAPATISWARAM" was built by Mahendravarman20 at THIRUVADIHAI, on the river Gadilam. F:uther we get reference in the publications that Pataliputra was being called also as "PALIBOTRA"?) which was destroyed by the river that was flowingly, near the town in the middle of the 8th century A. D. Besides the distruction inade by the nature-river etc. of the old city of Pataliputri, it was more the scene of dreadful and tremen kus siistruction made by the Kind Mahendravarman 1 of Madun and Saint Appar, the new converts to Saiva Sect, and jointly began to give such a crushing how to Jain religion that it Wis absolutely rooted out from the land of Tamil, by converting the Jains and ibeir associations and possessions and ultimate result was no ancient Hiin temples-Bastis or Pallis, Mathias mina taris, Chaityis, Cáies, Caverns, Holy pluces, Jain Idols and inages curved on the Jain temple pillars, Mahamandapam“, etc, remained safe hut completely distroved, which can be seen hy any layman with his nacked myrus chariy, even this day t:right light. It is said that theasans- Jains had to sacrifice to sav. their nost valuable religion with all its possessions and associations from the hands of these new converis.
In the vicinity of this ancient Pataliputra there are good many ancient Jain places still in existence, such as Thirunarunkundram, Thirukkoilur, Devanur, Tondur, Perumdur, etc. In some of the villages round about them there are many ancient Jain Samadhi. sthanam NISHADHIS and as such a tradition is that nearly 6000
20. “District History of South Arcot" by Mr. P. V. Jagadisha Ayya of the Archaeological Survey of India, page No. 35. 21. (a) Mr Aple's Dictionary page 1046 and "Clasical Account of India.
llb: The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Medival India by Mr. Nundalal Day, M.A.B.L
