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JAINA MONASTERIES
109
NATTAR PERUM PALLI
- 928 AD
CHOLATUNGAN AALAVANDAN PUGALIDAM (ASYLUM)
CHITRAMEZHI PERUM PALLI - Arasang Kalani,
Saidapet TK 16th AD VEERAKERALA PERUM PALLI - Salukkai 1020 AD NARPATHENNAYIRAP PERUM PALLI MELAIPALLI, KEEZHAIPALLI - Thirunarung Kondai
11th AD AIYNURTTRUVA PERUMPALLI - Kayampatti,
Thiruvenayal 753 AD KURANDI THIRUKATTAMPALLI - 8th cent. 10th AD KATTAMPALLI
- Sithamoor 10th Cent Jaina samgha is a four-pillard structure; monk, nun, male and female lay votaries - Yati, aryaga, Sravaka and Sravaki; Thuraviyar and Illara Nonbigal: Ulaga Nonbigal - Savakar (Cilappathikaram). The Jaina church had organised itself into several monastic orders that crystalised into Samghas - Ganas - Gachchas. In the monasteries there will be a hierarchy of monks and are introduced by mentioning the sangas, Gana and Gachchas all over India.
This widely prevalent practice in other parts of the South India is conspicuous by its absence in Tamilnadu. Darsanasara, a prakrit work written by Devasena, mentions that Vajranandi, the pupil of Pujyapatha, founded the Dravida Sangha in Mathura in Vikrama Era 525 i.e. 468-69 A.D. This sangha was a famous one and referred to in Kannada inscription from Karnataka. Scholars are of the opinion that it is likely that the Sangha though a Jaina monastic institution, acted also as an assembly for the
cultivation of Tamil language and literature". Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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