Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

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JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
miniature sculpture of a seated Tirthankara at Panchapandavamalai near Arcot town is referred to as "Tiruppaanmalaidevar". 19 ie, lord of the milk- white mountain. In conformity with the puranic tradition of Adinatha attaining nirvana on the snow-clad Kailasa mountain, here, the image is elegantly styled as "Tiruppaanmalaidevar", and thereby its identity is made clear.
The fine protrayal of a Tirthankara adorning the cave at Valutalanguanam, near Tiruvannamalai, was known as "Marutupirasuraidevar".20 Although this epigraphical name is incongruous, it appears to mean the Deva born to Marudevi, ie, Adinatha. Arittapatti near Madurai has an exquisite specimen, commissioned by the reputed monk Ajjanandi in the 9th century A.D. The clue for its identification lies in the name of the hillock, "Tiruppinaiyanmalai",21 which means hillock of that Tirthankara who served as a saviour and protected human beings from disintegration when the bhoga-bhumi lost all its charm and wealth. Obviously, Adinatha is indirectly alluded to in this epithet "Tiruppinaiyan". Similar names, occuring in lithic records as well as literary compositions, may also help to reslove the identity of Tirthankaras and thier attendant deities.
It was an art convention to depict the first and last Tirthankaras together, symbolizing the chaturvismsatimurtis. Such specimens are found at Karuppankunru, Eruvadi, Melapparaipatti, Muttuppatti, Uttamapalayam, Vallimalai etc. In all these examples, the image of Mahavira is shown with a stouter and sturdier physique than that of Adinatha, Besides, his shoulders possess a horizontal countour, while that of Adinatha are sloping. Thus, Mahavira's sturdy physique and horizontal countour of the shoulders differentiate For Private & Personal Use Only