Jain Journal 1972 07

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

Page 17

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JAIN JOURNAL
of Tinnelvely District such as Alwar Thirunagar, Srivaikundam, Tenkasi, Velala Saivaits still hold on to the title and call themselves as Nayanar Pillai. Besides, in many parts of Tamilnadu one hears of conclusive evidence to show that the Jainas lived in large numbers in these places. From these concrete evidences, it can be safely said that the temple known as Thiruvalluvar temple was none other than a Nayanar temple.
Now, it may be of interest to enquire about the fate of the footprints that were worshipped in this temple. Apparently these were the foot-prints of the author of Thirukkural. The Jainas of ancient Mylapore who worshipped the foot-prints of the author of Thirukkural became extinct, their temple idols also have either been changed or buried. About 100 or 120 years ago, in the name of the author of Thirukkural, a hideous image was made and installed just behind the foot-prints, and soon thereafter one day the foot-prints just disappeared. At once agitation started against the miscreants, who got alarmed, and the footprints were brought out with certain changes and damage and installed in a hall outside the temple. In this condition the foot-prints remained in the hall for some years, after which they have disappeared again. This time they were set on the temple wall.
About two decades ago, the author heard the history of all the happenings as aforesaid from the elders who lived in the house opposite to the temple. This he conveyed to a few scholars who made personal enquiries and were satisfied. In 1945 the author made a block of the sacred foot-prints and published a pamphlet bearing the picture of the prints. In 1947 on the occasion of the anniversary of Thiruvalluvar, the author who presided over the function, brought to the notice of the gathering the true history of the temple urging them the need to preserve its antiquity. He also took the scholars of Indian antiquity round the temple and showed them the foot-prints kept on the temple wall. They saw it and were satisfied They even asked an old woman whom they met there whether she knew the name of the temple. Without hesitation she replied that that was a Nayanar temple. At this the scholars expressed their happiness that inspite of the introduction of a hideous figure in the name of Thiruvalluvar, the impression formed in the public mind of the Nayanar temple and the sacred foot-prints had not undergone any change.
It is, therefore, our sacred duty that we should come forward to instal the foot-prints of the author of Thirukkural to their original place and restore the temple to the Jainas to whom it originally belonged.