Jain Journal 1986 07

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

Page 20

JULY, 1986
19
share from them. The queen of Aditya had taken special interest to revive an endowment which was discontinued for reasons unknown. Cola queens making rich endowments to Jaina temples was an important feature that was continued even in the later period.
Chittamur had attracted devotees even from far off places like Puttambur in Pudukkottai as early as the 9th century A.D. Matiyan Arintigai of Puttambur, a place nearly 300 kilometres south-east of Chittamur, had made provision for burning a perpetual lamp in the Malainatha temple. Incidentally, this reveals the active intercourse between Chittamur and other Jaina centres.
Lithic records of Rajadhiraja II are also found in places like Viranamur14 and Melsevur15 in the Gingee taluk itself. But it is the one from Chittamur that echoes the political episode of the Colas conquerring the Pandya country under the leadership of Sengeni Sambuvaraya. The same chieftain had endowed some lands to the Chittamur temple. Thus, the epigraphs from Chittamur attract special attention as they throw significant light on the religious and political history of this region.
14 ARE, 326/1937-38. 18 Ibid, 222/1904.