________________
118
JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
pura was appointed as receiver and later became the Madathipathi.
Madathipathi has religious as well as social duties. He is to initiate both boys and girls into religious life by the ceremony called upadesa (some what equal to sacred thread wearing ceremony); looks after the construction of new temples, their consecration; maintenance of the temples (Sarva Jinalaya Paripalaka), conduct of annual festivals - Brahmotsava at Sithamoor; a car festival - (the only Jain centre to celebrate car festival on the Lord Mahavir Jayanthi Day); maintenance of landed property and increasing the revenue of the Math. Previously each and every Jaina family in Tamilnadu contributed an annual tax - Aduppuvari - Stove tax - to the Matha; also during the marriages - a tax Homavari - was paid. Whenever there was a famine, the Matha lent paddy seed as well as cash as loan for nominal interest. Previously the math received land grants that fetched an annual income of 4000 varahan. Col. Mackenzie manuscript informs that the income was reduced to 100 varahan during Nawab's period due to Brahmana officers under them. This had come down to 60 varahans in British rule.
Presently only a very meagre income accures from lands owned by the math. Thereby the various religious and social activities cannot be satisfactorily carried out.
Once they assume the Pontifficial seat, they renounce their family connection. Even during the cremation, the pyre is lighted by the archaka of the math and not by the family member. They also take the vow of Sallekhana - fast unto death - at their last days when death is imminent. It is remiscent of the Palli tradition of the Jaina Monasteries of the ancient days. For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
Jain Education International
