________________
MONUMENTS & SCULPTURE 300 B.C. TO A.D. 300
[PART I
In the absence of any notable Jaina remains such as temples or monastic buildings belonging to the early period, the natural caverns with their beds and Brahmi inscriptions acquire greater importance as the only datable series of monumental remains in the Tamil country of this period.
The terms that are met with in the Brahmi records for these Jaina foundations are pali (cave), palli (cave and by extension a school), atiftānam (seat or bed) and kañcanam (bed). Architectural terms such as kůra (roof), pina-u (fronds) and mušagai (covering) are also commonly used.
.
A somewhat puzzling tradition relating to these Jaina sites is that which connects them with the five Pāņdava heroes. Epic associations are indeed very strong in the local traditions relating to all the important historical sites containing monumental remains in south India. This is as much true of the Brāhmaṇical centres as of the Jaina and Buddhist sites. Hence, the hills, their caverns, beds and water-springs are generally referred to locally as Pafcapāndavamalai, Pascapāņdavar tippa (or kufțu), Pañcapāņdavar padukkai, Aivarsunai, etc.
The following survey of these early Jaina strongholds in the Tamil country is mainly topographical and regional and attempts to indicate their chronological position, wherever possible.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVES
MADURAI DISTRICT
Madurai Taluk
1. Anaimalai (first-second centuries A.D.). Situated not far from the Vaigai river this village has a natural cavern with one Brāhmi inscription refering to the cutting of several beds. On the huge overhanging rock are sculptures of Jaina Tīrthankaras and the Yakşi Siddhāyikā, belonging to a later period, mentioned one of the greatest Jaina teachers of eighth-ninth century, is also Ajjanandi, here in a Vaffeluttu record.
The Brāhmi inscription has been assigned to the first-second centuries A.D.
2. Arittapatti (second-first centuries B.c.). Eight km. from Metur on the way to Alagarkoyil from Madurai is a village called Arittapatti with a bill locally known as Kalinjamalai. On the eastern face of the hill is a cavern with a drip-ledge cut on the outer face of the rock. A Brahmi inscription on the
96
