Jain Journal 1989 07

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

Page 10

JULY, 1989
As in other places, here also the Brahmi records bring to light names of persons who carved stone beds for the comfortable stay of the monks. Kaninakan and Kaninantan who were the sons of one Ravi, Atan-a gold merchant of Madurai, Viyakankanatikan-a salt merchant, Nedumallan-a sugar merchant, Elacantan-an iron monger, Elavan Atan--a cloth merchant of Venpalli, Kalumaran and Tiyacantan were important among them. Besides, the names of a nun, Sapamita, and a monk, Kasyapan, also find place in the scriptal vestiges of the cave.16 The unflinching patronage extended by the merchant community to the Jaina institution at Alagarmalai is apparent from these label inscriptions.
A little below the cavern containing the stone beds is a huge boulder with a beautiful image of a seated Tirthankara. A Vatteluttu inscription of the 9th century A.D. inscribed by its side records that the work of having carved this sacred image was that of Sri Ajjanandi.17 This preceptor seems to have played a dominant role in the propagation of Jaina principles and during his sojourn to hill resorts, he had been instrumental in consecrating images of the Tirthankaras.
9. Karungalakkudi: Lying about eight miles to the north of Melur, Karungalakkudi boasts of natural caverns on the hillock locally known as Panca Pandavarkuttu. One of the caverns is formed by a boulder resting on and overhanging another. While the cavern containing the Brahmi inscription measures 33' east to west as well as north to south opening both on the southern and northern sides; the other caverns have mutilated beds cut into the rocky floor. Higher up the hill are three more natural caverns with rows of beds cut into the floor.
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The biggest cavern containing a short Brahmi inscription datable to the 2nd-1st centuries B.C. was the monastery presided over by a Muni Ariti who was a native of Elaiyur.18 The occurrence of a series of stone beds at Karungalakkudi would reveal that large number of monks inhabited the caverns even before the advent of the Christian era. Since the same place continued to enjoy religious importance in later times, the great Acarya Ajjanandi caused to be made an image of a Tirthankara on a boulder in the 9th century A.D.19 In fact, most of the early monasteries around Madurai had been provided with sculptural embellishments in the 9th and 10th centuries A.D.
16 I. Mahadevan, Op. cit., Alagarmalai, Nos. 1-13.
17 ARE, 396/1954-55.
18 T. V. Mahalingam, Op. cit., pp. 212-213.
19 ARE, 562/1911.