Jain Journal 1984 01

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

Page 35

108
the darsan of Ilamko Adigal at Vanchi. On her way to Vanchi, she remained for a few days at Palghat and its suburbs. Today, the Hindus are offering her worship in temples in the name of Bhagavati. There are a number of such temples in the Palghat area. Kannaki reached Vanchi and passed away underneath a tree. King Sen-Kuttuvan raised a temple in her honour at Vanchi. Today, this Kannaki temple has also become a Bhagavathi temple famous in Kerala. Silappadikaram composed by Ilamko Adigal in classical Tamil is known as the 'Story of the Anklet' in the western countries. Mahakavi Ullur Paramesvara Iyer, the noted poet of Kerala in his History of Malayalam Literature has stated that Bhagavathi worship commenced in Kerala after the advent of Kannaki in Cera land. There were several Jaina temples at Vanchi erected by Ilamko Adigal and the last one near about Guruvayur Krsna temple of the present day was destroyed by the Portuguese in a battle with the Maharaja of Cochin about 500 years ago according to Sri K. V. Krishna Iyer, the noted historian and epigraphist of Kerala.
JAIN JOURNAL
Ilamko Adigal was the Sangha Nayaka of Kerala in his time, and there were more than 100 temples scattered in different parts of the land. The Kallil Rock-cut Jaina temple is believed to have been erected by Ilamko Adigal although there is no inscriptions to prove this view. But Kallil was a noted centre of Jaina studies and pilgrimage for several centuries.
Aryabhata, in the benedictory verse-Mangalācaraṇam of his work on Mathematics and Astronomy, the Ariyabhaṭiyam has invoked the blessings of Brahma and Parabrahma instead of the customary prayer to Mahavira or some other Tirthankara and it would prove that he was not a Jaina by faith, according to some of the critics but this view is erroneous. These critics are not aware of the fact that one of the cardinal doctrines of Jainism is anekantavāda or non-absolutism and not ekāntavāda or absolutism. Even Eienstein's Theory of Relativity is not the final discovery in natural science but it is also relative according to the philosophy of non-absolutism. The pivotal concept of this philosophy is consider, reconsider, conciliate, reconciliate, absorb and unite for avoiding all recriminations and misunderstandings, chaos and confusions, social disorders and global wars for the sustenance of peace. Accordingly, Jainism has absorbed several Hindu gods, goddesses and demi gods in its patheon. Jainas venerate and worship them as Sasanadevatas and Dikpalas. Yaksas and Yaksis are demi-gods of the Jainas. Mahalaksmi, Sarasvati or Padmavati, Visnu, the four-headed Brahma and Gomukha, Nandi of Siva, Ganesa, Kuvera and Cakresvari are equally