Jain Journal 1985 07

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

Page 18

Antiquity of Adinath Jain Temple at Polal
V. G. NAIR
The antiquity of Adinath Jain Temple at Polal, near the Red Hill Lake, not far away from Madras city, is shrouded in obscurity. There is no direct evidences-documentary, epigraphical and archaeological to prove the exact age of the original temple. But indirect evidences are available from investigations based on legends and traditions which give credence to the view that the original temple and the Adinath image installed therein belonged to the 1st Century A.D. or even to a much earlier period.
In the foreword to my booklet about the antiquity of the temple under the title of Adisyar Temple published in 1969, I have stated that "the history of Adisvar temple at Polal is inter-related to the birth and development of traditional Jainism in Tamilnadu. The original temple is of hoary antiquity and its sanctity is beyond doubt.”
Historians like Pargiter have testified that legends and traditions contained much truth to fix up the chronology of kings who ruled India in ancient times.1
I have also stated in my booklet that Tiruvalluvar, author of Tirukural who has been accepted by eminent Tamil scholars as Jaina by faith was a constant worshipper of the image of Adinath installed in the temple. The first couplet in the Kural opens with adoration to Adi Bhagavan which proves that Tiruvalluvar professed the Jaina faith.
Sri Mailai Seeni Venkataswami, a noted scholar in Tamil classical literature and the ancient history of Jainism and Buddhism in Tamilnadu, in his Introductory Note to a booklet in Tamil written by Sripal, and published by the Jain Mission Society, Madras, in 1970, under the title of Emman Koil has stated that the Adinath Jain Temple at Polal is an ancient temple-pande kalathu, built during the ascendency of Jainism in Tamilnadu. Further, Sri Venkataswami has also stated in his popular Tamil work entitled Jainism and Tamil that Puzhal was a Jain village in pande kalathu or in ancient times. What is the definition of pande kalathu ? In popular terms accepted by historians these words mean either before Christian era or in its early centuries.
1 Dynasties of the Kali Age.