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RECENTLY DISCOVERED JAINA INSCRIPTIONS * 141
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regnal year (875 A.D.)11 and it speaks about the donation of paddy by a female disciple (Manakkiyar) of Ananda Veerak Kuravar, a Jaina monk of the Jaina palli at Mangadu. Manakkiyar (her name is lost in the inscription) was a daughter of Purisaikilar Amar Nilaiyar of Paripandatturai of (Arka)ttukurram. Mangadu was a village in Mangadu-nadu in a sub-division of Puliyurkottam in Tondaimandalam. The existence of a Jaina temple at Mangadu attested to by this inscription, no longer remained until 13th century AD. The temple became probably ruined and the stones were used for the construction of Kamakshi Amman temple in this village. An inscription of Sundara Pandya dated 1256 A.D. found on the floor of the Kamakshi Amman temple refers to the gift of land to the palli of the Mangadu.
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Kuvanur
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An interesting Jaina inscription palaeographically assigned to the 10th century A.D. is reported from Kuvanur, Tirukkovilur taluk, Viluppuram District. This inscription is found engraved on either side of a pillar. This is a memorial pillar referred to in the inscription as panittari.It states that the pillar was erected in memory of a Jaina monk Kuppai Piramani, who died after fasting for twelve days. It indicates the practice of sallekana even during 10th and 11th centuries AD by strictly adhering to the codes and conducts of Jainism which was prevalent in this region from the 3rd or 4th century A.D. Besides this, the term, Kaipani also occurs in the inscription. This interesting term reveals its close association with the Jaina tradition, particularly on the last day of the Sallekana. Interestingly, this Jaina tradition is also
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