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JAINA MONASTERIES
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Thirupparuthikkundram
Tirupparuthikkundram is popularly known as Jinakanchi. The temple and the monastery of this centre is known from 6th cent. A.D. The Pallankoil copper plates mention one Vajaranandi as the preceptor in-charge of this monastery. The inscriptions from here datable to 12th to 16th cent. A.D. furnish more information about the Vardhamana temple and the pontiffs of the monastery.
Jinakanchi is hallowed with the names of Holy Acharyas MALLISENA and PUSPASENA who administered the monastery. Their memory is celebrated in the form of votives under a Kura tree. There are separate cells within the compound of the temple labelled as Munivasam, the monastery.
Mallisena Vamana was the author of the Tamil work Merumandra Puranam and he is believed to have written a commentry to Neelakesi. The Trailokianatha temple and the ceiling paintings are extant. Presently, the Archaeology Department of Govt. of Tamil Nadu execute large scale renovation of the temple.
Thirumalai
Thirumalai, a hill replete with Jaina antiquities, was a seat of Jaina monastery. This centre had more of patronage from Karnataka region. The earliest epigraph of this centre belongs to Chola King Parantaka I assignable to 910 A.D.
Monk Gunavira was associated with the monastery and he undertook the task of constructing a sluice for irrigation of the lands of this village. In the inscriptions the hill is referred to as 'Arahanda Sugiri'
in Sanskrit and as 'Enguna Iraivan Kundru." in Tamil. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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