Jain Journal 1992 10

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

Page 34

Jain Origin of a Hindu Temple
S. Padmanabhan
Nagercoil, the name of which is derived from the five-headed serpent shrine which is now the headquarters of Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu was a part of Travancore State upto 1956. The temple of Nāgarāja is situated in the heart of the town. The attention of every visitor to the temple is drawn to the two big stone images of hydra-headed serpents and the five inscribed granite slabs that are erected nearby. There are nine separate inscriptions on the five slabs.1 The eight inscriptions which are dated from Kollam Era 681 to 697 refer to the gifts of lands made at different times for the conduct of worship and the supply of offering to the serpent deity in the temple. The lands were left in the custody of Kerala Narayanan alias Gunaveerapandithan and Jeevakarudaiyan alias Kamalavahanapandithan who were supervising the temple affairs. The small slab containing the inscriptions of the Kollam Era 820 gives a list of donors for making an ornamental lamp stand and donation of oil for its use.
Of the nine inscriptions on the granite slabs eight of them mention the names of Gunaveerapandithan and Kamalavahanapandithan and call the name of the place as Kottar and not by the present name Nagercoil. The words Palli and Pallichantham also occur in all these eight inscriptions. One of the inscriptions which was dated Kollam Era 696 mentions the name of the Venad King Bhuthala Sri Veera Udaya Marthanda Varma. The inscription dated Kollam Era 764 (1588 A.D) found on the western wall of Anandakļşņa shrines which does not mention Palli or Pallichantham denotes that the temple might have passed into the hands of the Hindus during this period. The particulars mentioned in these inscriptions thus unfold a glimpse of the history of the town, the temple and the ruler of the period.
1 Inscriptions of Kanyakumāri, Part 3 Nos. 1968/275, 276, 277, 281, 282, 283, 284.
285, 286. 2 Ibid., No. 1968/281, 3 Ibid., No. 1968/279.