Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

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JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
of the Sarakkumalai at Kilarasampattu, Vellore taluk and district records that Srikalikkuri arasar caused to have made a pali for the sake of Sri Mallan Tukkili, a Jaina monk. Sri Kalikkuri arasar seems to be a local chieftain under the Pallava king Nandivarman III.
Another Pallava inscription is found in the Kusaladum kuhai of the same place cited above. This inscription belongs to the 19th regnal year (888 AD) of the King Nirupatungavarman. This inscription records a 'Srikoyil dedicated to Simhanandi battarar of Periya Pennagadam by Siriya Nangai, the wife of Pangalanadudaiyar. The suffix battarar clearly indicates him a Jaina monk. There is a huge cave on the hillock measuring 40 feet length and 25 feet width. This is the same as the 'Srikoyil' referred to in the epigraph. It is also significant to note here that the donor of the Srikoyil had the honorific title Sulegal, a Kannada term equivalent to the Tamil Devaradiyal of the later usage. It shows the influence of Karnataka in the northern part of Tamilnadu on Jainism and it is a known fact that this region is much influenced by the Jains of Karnataka during this period. Pangalanadudaiyar may be the Chief of the region comprised of the modern Vellore and Gudiattam taluks of Tondaimandalam region. Pangalanadu retains its earlier name even at present and lies near Kaniampadi, situated about 6 km from the find-spot of the inscription. Periya Pennagadam, the native village of Simhanandi may be the same as Pennattur located on the foot hill of the Sarakkumalai.
Mangadu
Another Pallava inscription had also been documented at Mangadu, near Chennai. This stone
record belongs to the period of Kampavarman's 5th