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1914.) . JAINA GAZETTE.
Mr. C: A. Santhanatha Nainar writes from Madras :
On the sides of the Great Northern Trunk Road from Aladras to Nellore in villages Vichoor, Vallyvogil, Sholaveram, Puduvoyil and Puru.voyil of Ponnemi Taluq in Chingleput District there are numerous Jain images of granite stone scattered on the bare ground.
In the year 1907 when I was employed in the above Haluq on my tour to Chinnambedu alias Saravarambedu village, I found a Jain temple of Parsvanath which is about 2 feet in height and this village is about 5 miles from Pormeri Railway Station. The temple and the Mandapam in front of it are in good condition and the idol is a beautiful one; the compound wall has fallen down in many places, but is no hindrance to offering worship. I have ever since: wished for the establishment of a regular daily worship of the sacred image.
Now I am glad to inform our Jain brethren that one Sannyasi named Varthamana Swami, a native of Yalangadu village in North Arcot District, came to the temple with his. parichalaka accidentally some 3 months ago and is looking after the temple affair by performing daily worship. There is also a house belonging to the temple and adjacent to it, where this Sannyasi and his parichalakan are putting up. There are no other Jains in the village. We propose to purchase one Cany of land for the maintenance of the wor.. ship I shall be happy to report further progress..
With a pardonable pride we beg to quote about our: selves the opinion of Mr. F. W. Thomas, of the I'ndia Office Library, London :
“I note with pleasure that the Gazette maintains a high standard of sincerity, good-will, and interest, and am glad to. say that it testifies to an awakening of social consciousness and worthy aspirations in the community."
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
