Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

Author(s): A Ekambarnathan
Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha

Page 132

JAINA EPIGRAPHS
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Yapaniya samgha
A 9th century inscription at Kirappakkam in Kanchipuram district records the construction of Desavallabha Jinalaya to the north of Kiraippakkam by Amaramudalguru, the disciple of Mahaviraguru of the Yapaniya samgha and Kumili gana. 16 The inscription further states that provision was made for feeding the monks of the samgha who stayed in the Jinalaya. This samgha is also an important monastic order of medieval South India.
In the inscriptions of Tamilnadu, there are some scanty references to the divisions of the monastic order such as Virasamgha, Kumili gana and Nandisamgha or gana. Virasamgha figures in the inscription at Vijayamangalam in Erode district, Aiyampalayam in Dindukkal district and Tirunarunkondai in Vilupuram district." An inscription from Tirunarunkondai refers to one Gunabhadracharya who was also called Virasangha pradishtacharya. It shows that he founded the Virasamgha at this place. The earliest reference of Nandi samgha is mentioned in the Pallankovil copper plate of Simhavarman of 6th century A.D. It refers to the Jaina ascetic Vajranandi who was well versed in sacred literature belonging to Nandi samgha of Vardhamanesvara tirtha.
It is evident from this that the Nandi samgha was the earliest monastic form that prevailed in Tamilnadu as early as 6th century A.D. Probably, it might have been attached with the Mulasamgha. Besides, quite a number of Jaina monks' names were suffixed with Nandhi and it gives the clue that these ascetics were probably attached with the Nandi samgha; for instance Ajjanandi, Vajranandi,
Pushpanandi Srinandi, Chandranandi etc.