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100 JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU lime medium. The colours used are black, green, yellow, orange, blue and white.
The side face of the temple carries an inscription of the Pandya King Avanipasekhara (Sri Mara Sri Vallabha) during whose time the mukhamandapa, apparently structural in stone, was added to preserve the main cave. The style is of the Pandyan cave-art, as found in several centers elsewhere, in southern Tamilnadu.
BAS RELIEF
Sirukadambur
The village is located about 3 kms from Gingee where a group of 24 seated Tirthankaras in low relief are shown in two rows on the hill known as Tirunatharkunru. The panel can be dated to the 9th century A.D. Found near the Tirthankara panel is a Tamil inscription in vatteluttu script. It records that one Candiranandi Asiriyar performed sallekana ie., fasting unto death, observing vow for 57 days. Another inscription found on the same rock records that one Ilaiyaparadar performed the same sacrifice in 30 days. On paleographic grounds the inscriptions are dated to 6th century A.D. The importance of the inscriptions is that they are the earliest records, referring to sallekana in Tamilnadu.
STRUCTURAL PHASE
Tirumalai
This important Jaina center situated in Polur taluk contains on the top of the hillock, at middle level (in the form of caverns) and at the foot level (in the form of two structural temples) richest historical and
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