Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

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72 JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
expounded with the help of graphic depictions in the form of paintings and sculptures by the monastic orders of the Jaina religion. They were able to highlight the important tenets of the Jaina religion in a succinct manner and were also able to underscore the importance of an austere life and a life of renunciation as exemplified by the Tirthankaras and acaryas. While for the laity it was an introduction to the path which could lead them to this "Idyllic" state. For the young ascetics also, it was their ultimate aspiration which was portrayed and it would have served as an inspiration for them to attain a similar state of bliss. In a sense, it was an adulation of the "Ideal" state for mankind, as against the worship of an "Idol".
As already seen, Armamalai was one such centre where perhaps efforts in this direction were initiated, another such effort at burgeoning these ideas of the idyllic state seems to have resulted in Sittannavasal.
Sittannavasal
Sittannavasal or Annavasal as it is known today is a village about sixteen kilometres north west of Pudukottai. On the outskirts of the village towards the east, is located a small hillock. On the eastern side of the hillock is located a cavern which has Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. This cavern cannot be reached easily, as on the eastern side, it overlooks a sheer drop and the western side is rather steep and one is exposed to heavy winds as one climbs the cave.The Tamil Brahmi inscription in this cave testifies to the Jaina antecedents of the site which can be pushed back to the 2nd century B.C.
On the northern end of the same hillock facing the western direction is an easily accessible rock, where a cave temple has been excavated. The selection of