Jain Journal 1994 04

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

Page 12

APRIL, 1994
The Vardhamanesvara Śiva temple at Tiruppugalur is considered to be originally a shrine dedicated to Vardhamana Mahāvira Even after its conversion, the temple continues to bear the name Vardhamaniśvaram, revealing its Jaina affilication 10 Though the brahmanical literature provide evidence in support of conversion of Jaina shrines into Śiva temples, none of the above centres of conflicts contains any epigraphic or architectural evidence of a struggle and displacement of one by the other.11
Manuscripts:
The Mackenzie Manuscripts add that the Jaina temples at Koliyanür and Mylapore were destroyed due to religious animosity. Matanga, a local chieftain of Gingee, is supposed to have caused the destruction of one of the three Jaina temples at Koliyanur near Viluppuram.12 In fact, a Jaina temple of the late medieval times existed at Koliyanur and it was reported to have been in ruined condition in the last quarter of the 19th century. But it is doubtful whether its demolition was a sequel to the indifferent attitude of Matanga as this chieftain does not figure in the history of Gingee.
163
When Venkatapati Nayaka, the Vijayanagar agent at Gingee in the 15th century A.D., was denied of a bride from the Jaina community, started annihilating them, which resulted in large scale exodus of the Jains from villages in and around Gingee and Tindivanam. Some of those who remained in their villages became even Hindus while some others secretly professed their religion.13
Mylapore in the heart of Madras city once had a Jaina settlement with a temple dedicated to Neminatha. Tradition has it that the brāhmaṇas of the Cola country converted the local Jains to their faith and established Sivalingas in the place of their worship.14 The existence of a Neminatha temple at Mylapore is attested to by an epigraphical record and the Jaina literary composition, Tirunūṛantāti of Avirōtialvar.15 Stone and bronze images of Neminatha belonging
10 Mayilai Seeni Venkatasamy. ainism and Tamil, p. 140
11
R. Champakalakshmi, Op. cit., p. 12
12 Mackenzie Manuscripts, No. 13: 7
13 Ibid., 11:2
14 Ibid., 13:2
15 H. Hosten, Antiquities from santhome and Mylapore, p. 74, Tirunurɣantati verses, 4-60