Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

Page 98

PROTECTED JAINA MONUMENTS 97
and refers to the figure of Ponni Yakshi whose image is also carved on the rock face.
Vallimalai
Vallimalai situated 32 kms. north-west of Vellore was a prolific Jaina centre in the 9th and 10th centuries.
There is a natural cavern with images carved on the inner sloppy ceiling and back wall of the rock and four inscriptions of the Western Gangas recording the founding of a Jaina shrine, setting up of Jaina images, etc. The Ganga king was Rajamalla, son of Bana Vikarama, grandson of Sri Purusha and the great grandson of Sivamara, as given in the record. He improved the cavern into a temple. An image of Devasena, a pupil of Bhavanandin who was a spiritual preceptor of the King. is also found here. This image and another Tirthankara carving, were set up by a Jaina preceptor Aryanandin. Even the back wall of the Subrahmanya cave shrine at this place contains Jaina carvings.
Kudagumalai
In the Kudagumalai, adjoining Ammachatram village, there are several natural caverns with polished beds on the floor, and drip ledge on the rock scarp face. Some Jaina images, damaged, including a standing figure of Tirthankara and circular stone pedestal with carvings (which might have been part of a manasthamba pedestal) are also found, ascribable to the nineth century A.D. Records from here of a Rajakesarivarman (9th or 10th century AD) refer to gifts of land in honour of the Tirthankara of the Triupallimalai in Vadasiruvai nadu.