Jain Journal 1968 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 53

OCTOBER, 1968
97
considered indispensable to the study of Coimbatore district's ancient geography and history.
Gunavira Mamunivar, the Jaina ascetic and missionary who lived in the 10th century A.D. during the time of Goraja Kesarivarman of the Cola dynasty is mentioned in inscriptions at the Nagaraja temple of Nagercoil and the Tirumalai (Trimurthimalai) hill temple near Pollachi. He was also associated with the Citral hill temple and Jaina monastery situated about forty two miles away from Nagercoil on eht road to Trivandrum.
The Vijayamangalam temple has five mandapams in which are several images, bas-reliefs and inscriptions in Tamil and Grantha-scripts. The temple is known by the name of Nettai Gopu, am and the image found there as Amanesvarar, the nirvāņa-mūrti of the Jainas. Besides the mahāsthambham in front of the temple, there is also the foundation of another temple the construction of which had not been carried out for unknown reasons. It is believed that this second temple was intended for the installation of an image of Lord Rsabha, the first Tirthankara of the Jainas. According to tradition, there were seventy-five Jaina temples in Kongunadu in the tenth century A.D. and Vijayamangalam was known as the Perumpalli, the big temple for its religious and cultural importance. In the light of inscriptions, it was in a flourishing condition from the 10th to the 14th century A.D. and began to decline in subsequent centuries from religious upheavals and internal disorders in South India.
There are four other temples near Vijayamangalam lying in a dilapidated condition. They are at Vellodu, Poothurai, Cheenapuram and Thingalur. Another temple which was at Arachalur has disappeared by the ravages of time. At Arachalur (Arasannamalai) about ten miles away from Vijayamangalam is a small hill with a cave in which could be seen some Brahmi inscriptions of the 2nd century B.C.
Vijayamangalam needs renovation and development to raise it as an important religious centre for the Jainas of India.