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CHAPTER 24]
THE DECCAN & SOUTH INDIA
Vijayanagara ones in the mand apas and gopura. Vijayamangalam in Coimbatore District has a Jaina temple of moderate proportions built in the Ganga and Vijayanagara periods.
Instances of this kind are numerous. Sittamur, in South Arcot District, which is even now the headquarters of a Jaina pontiff, may also be mentioned as a leading example. The temple-structures in Sittamur belong to two distinct stages of construction, the Coļa and Vijayanagara (plate 207). They have emerged around a natural cavern, which has been modified and converted into a sort of shrine. Buildings of a very recent date are also to be found in this centre (plate 208).
Mention may also be made of two other Jaina centres, where similar architectural activities have taken place, Karandai in North Arcot District and Tirunarungondai in South Arcot District.
R. CHAMPAKALAKSHMI
Among the most impressive remains of Jainism in Tamil Nadu are to be classed the groups of shrines forming the Trailokyanātha complex at JinaKāñci or Tirupparuttikkunram in District Chingleput and the natural caverns and structural temples at Tirumalai in North Arcot District and the additions made in Vijayanagara times in the form of the outermost pillared mandapa to the original Candranātha temple of the Ganga period at Vijayamangalam, District Coimbatore.
The Jina-Kāñci complex at Tirupparuttikkunram, entered through a lofty gopura-dvāra set on the north side of this compact prākāra-bandha, derives its importance from a good variety of gaja-prstha types of southern vimāna-order displayed for the various shrines (plate 209). These range variously from a square base and apsidal upper part, apsidal from base to top, and circular from base to top. The first-mentioned, for Vāsupūjya, has a stone plinth of the late Coļa times and brick-and-stucco wall-superstructure. The temple also is noted for the wooden images of the Triküta-basti temple. The sangita-mand apa of the temple is most precious for its inscriptions and labelled painted scenes of the Jaina Sri-puräna.
The Trailokyanātha temple-complex consists of two blocks, an inner, central and outer one, peripheral, within the high präkära.
TL
The apsidal shrine, dedicated to Vardhamāna and located in the central block is part of two more shrines, one on either side, consecrated for
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