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JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
depicted in symbolic manner in another stone slab very near to this pillar inscription. Generally, piramani is the suffix of a Jain or saint who is well-versed in sastras and mantras. So, this person Kuppai might have been well-versed in all Jaina moral codes.
Uranitangal
An inscription palaeographically assigned to the 9th - 10th century A.D. is noticed infront of a rectangular seat carved on the floor of a cave at Uranitangal, Gingee taluk of Tiruvannamali district.14 The cave contains 18 stone-beds cut at different places. Except two of them, others have pillow-lofts. From this it can be inferred that this cave had been used by a number of Jaina monks. The label inscription containing the name Parasenarvaru, may be a chief of the monks.
Vadugapatti
Two Vatteluttu inscriptions were found at Vadugapatti, which is located at the 25th km on Madurai - Dindigul road, Madurai district, '• They are palaeographically dated to 11th century A.D. One of these inscriptions found engraved on the back side of the image of a Thirthankara refers to the renewal of an endowment and restoration of a tank which were not utilised for a long time in the name of Vardhamanar in the village Malaikkulam alias Manasidhanallur (modern Vadugapatti) in Paganur kurram. This endowment is entrusted to Aththanis who served as the body guards of the guilds Tisaiyairam. Undoubtedly, this place was once a mercantile settlement in Paganurkurram of Pandya country. The place name Pakanur already occurs in the 2nd
century B.C. Tamil Brahmi inscription of Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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