Jain Journal 1984 01

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

Page 48

JANUARY, 1984
119
In the prakara of the temple, there is a beautiful image of Adinatha, which may be dated on stylistic grounds to the 10th or 11th century A.D. Adinatha is flanked by two cauri-bearers on either side, his head is adorned by a chatravalli with three tiers, and the area adjoining it is filled with a creeper design. The eyes of the figure are suggestive of meditation, the lips are deep-cut, the ears are elongated and the hands are kept in yoga-posture. The nose and the lower portion of the right arm are slightly damaged. It is possible to suggest that it should have been originally enshrined in the sanctum and after its mutilation, it should have been brought to the present place.
The garbhagsha enshrines an image of Adinatha, slightly bigger in proportion, which in all respects resembles the other figure found in the prakara. This sculpture is highly polished and decorated and hence its date can not be easily determined.
The seven inscriptions (13th, 14th and 15th centuries A.D.) from Pulal (No. 482-488 of ARE 1920) are found in the TirumulasthanamUdaiyar (Siva) temple and they record land grants and other endowments made to the same temple during the time of Sambuvaraya and Vijayanagar kings. These inscriptions do not make any mention of the Jaina basti at Pulal or its Pallicchandam lands in this area.
So it is only from the Adinatha sculpture found in the prakara, we may tentatively fix the date of this temple to the 10th or 11th century A.D.