Jain Journal 1991 10

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

Page 16

OCTOBER, 1991
met with in early Jaina resorts, are however conspicuous by their absence here.
The Tenimalai ascetic abode was in continuons occupations by Śramaņas till about the 9th century A.D., as is evidenced by epigraphs and sculptural representations of Tirthankaras. The adjacent boulder has bas-reliefs of three Tirthankaras each canopied by triple umbrellas and flanked on eitherside by cauri-bearers.13 They are shown seated in yogasana and, bear stylistic features of the 9th century A.D. Among the three images, the first was caused to be made by one SrivallaUdanaseruvotti as is revealed by a lithic record inscribed underneath the sculpture.14
An inscription engraved on the nearby rock states that while the ascetic Malayadhvaja was performing penance at Tenurmalai, a certain Irukkuvel chieftain visited the place and gave an endowment of land pallicchandam for the maintenance of the monk.15 It is worthy of note that a local chieftain of the Irukkuvel family whose name is not indicated in the record, had extended patronage to the Jaina recluse Malayadhvaja. The Irukkuvels were feudatories of the Cola monarchs and they held sway over the region around Kodumoalur in Pudukkottai.
3. Narttamalai
101
Narttamalai, situated about 18 kms from Pudukkottai on the way to Kiranur, is one of the important Jaina centres in early medieval times. The hill in the village, commonly known as Samanarkudagu or the hill of the Jainas, contains two rock-cut temples, one dedicated to Śiva and the other to Arhadeva. The Jaina rock-cut got converted into a Vişņu temple probably in the second quarter of the 13th century A.D. and thereafter came to be called a Patinenbhumi-vinnagaralvar Koil.
The temple in its original form contained a rectangular sanctuary and an ardhamanḍapa supported by massive pillars. It is not possible to ascertain which Tirthankara was the principal deity of this temple as the shrine is empty now. A fragmentary inscription in characters
13 C. Minakshi, Administration and Social Life under the Pallavas, p. 259 14 Pudukkottai State Inscriptions (PSI), No. 10
15 Ibid., No. 9