Jain Journal 1985 07

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

Page 28

JULY, 1985
The present Adinath temple before its renovation by the Svetamvara Jainas of Madras city about four decades ago was in the possession of a Digambara Jaina. He was an elderly person. It was by hereditary right, he got possession of the temple. This Digambara Jaina was a scholar and an astrologer. He told me about the ancient glory of the original temple. The destruction of the Brahmi inscriptions set up by Kundakunda, the numerous temples around the main shrine and the flower garden. All these informations were handed down by his ancestors generation after generation and he has heard this authentic history of the original temple from his father and uncles. The old man passed away about two decades ago.
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Svami Rishabhadas who negotiated the transfer of the temple to the Svetambara community of Madras city had also heard the history of the original temple from the Digambara old man and he believed in the entire informations given to him. Svamiji who practised austere penance lived in the premises of the temple. He died about twenty years ago. Another inmate of the Ashrama started by Rishabhadas Svami was Baffna Svami, a Digambara ascetic of Karnataka. He was a scholar and knew the history of Karnataka. He also told me that whatever the Digambara old man had told him, Svamiji and the writer is entirely true. Baffna Svami was inmate of the Wardha Ashram for a few years and known to Mahatma Gandhi.
Another image of a Yaksi holding a baby in her hand was unearthed from the grounds of the temple. As desired by the Hindus the image was placed underneath a Banyan tree covered by a shelter for the worship of the Hindus, especially women, who believed that all ailments of children would be cured by offering worship to the image. A large number of women could be seen almost everyday worshipping the ancient image. The discovery of the image would prove that there may be more relics of the original temple buried deep in the grounds.
The Adinath temple associated with Kundakundacarya and Tiru Valluvar is the most sacred centre of worship to the Jainas of modern India.
A word about the temple dedicated to Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara on the sea shore of Mylapore. According to tradition this temple also was founded by Kundakundacarya in the 1st century A.D. This temple was washed away by the sea but the image of Neminatha was saved by the Jainas of Mylapore who removed it to Sittamur in South Arcot District where there is a muth and a temple. The Gazetteer of South Arcot District contains the information that "a large Jaina image has been brought to Settamur long ago from Mylapore near Madras."