Jain Journal 1986 07

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

Page 16

New Light on the Cola Epigraphs
from Chittamur
A. EKAMBARANATHAN
Chittamur, situated 20 kilometres north-west of Tindivanam and 10 kilometres east of Gingee in the South Arcot district, is a reputed Jaina centre of the Digambara sect in Tamilnadu. There are two Jaina temples in the village, one known as Malainatha temple enshrining an oblong panel representing Neminatha, Adinatha, Parsvanatha and Bahubali carved on a boulder, and the other, a huge structural edifice dedicated to Parsvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara. Chittamur has been the head-quarters of the Digambara Jaina community with a mațha presided over by a succession of pontiffs, catering to the spiritual aspirations of the people, from the time of its inception down to modern times.
There are three important Cola inscriptions from the Malainatha temple, one of a Rajakesarivarman, the second of Kadavarkonpavai and the third of Rajadhiraja II. When these records were published, the history of the Colas had not crystallised and hence the importance of these documents was not focussed in the proper perspective. Besides, two of the epigraphs contain instead of personal names only titles of the rulers and thereby remained unascribed to any particular king of the dynasty. An attempt is made hereunder to reassess these lithic records and bring new light on the history of this region-political and religious.
Rajakesari's Inscriptions :
The earliest among the three epigraphs at Chittamur is that of a Rajakesarivarman, engraved on a stone slab which had been lost at the time of renovating the temple. It reads that in the 17th regnal year of king Rajakesari, one Matiyan Arintigai of Puttambur in Tenkaraikulamangalanadu, a sub-division of Colanadu, endowed a grant for burning a perpetual lamp in the Otturaikkummandapa of the Kattampalli at Chittamur, situated on the eastern way of Singapuranadu. The gift was entrusted with one Arambanandi of the temple, Padamulattar of the village and the members of the village assembly (ürār).2
1 SII., Vol. VII, Nos. 828, 829, 830 ; ARE., 201, 202 & 203/1902. 2 SII., Vol. VII, No. 828 ; ARE., 201/1902.