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JAÍNA EPIGRAPHS IN TAMIL
193
disciples are referred to as kurattiyār or kurattigal (feminine form of kuravar from Sanskrit guravaḥ) and pațärigal (from Sanskrit bhaijārikā). The images which are carved out of the rocks by and for the merit of monastic or lay individuals are mentioned either as tiru-mēni (sacred image) or as paạimam (=Sanskrit pratimā).
It is interesting to note that the female teachers are mostly mentioned, not by any proper name, unlike as in the case of the male teachers, but with the vocational term kurattiyār or kurattigal meaning ‘lady teacher' suffixed to the name of a place. Examples are Milalūr-kurattiyār (No. 75), Tiruccāraṇattu-bhatāri (No. 53) Tiruccāraṇattu-kurattiga! (Nos. 55 and 57), Nalkūr-kurattigal (Nos. 61 and 62), llaneccusattu-kurattigal (No. 64), Tirumalaikurattigal (No. 65), Tirupparutti-kurattigal (No. 67), Perūrkurattiyār (No. 73) and Kūčarkuļi-kurattiyar (No. 74). It may be reasonably concluded that these places were important Jaina strongholds and that female lay followers were the mainstay of the Jaina faith in the Tamil country.
For further information on Kalugumalai and its inscriptions and their importance, see P. B. Desai: Jainism in South India (Sholapur 1957), pp. 64-68.
No. 76.
Tirumalai, Polur Taluk, North Arcot District. On a buried rock in front of the gõpura at the base of the hill. Dynasty : Cāla
King: Rājarāja I Date : Regnal year 21
Language and Alphabet : (1005 A.D.)
Tamil Purport: The inscription records that the great monk (ma-munivan) Guņavira constructed a sluice near Vaigai-malai and named it after the Jaina teacher Gaņiśēkhara-Maru-Porcūriyan. Guņavīra is eulogised as one whose feet are worshipped by kings.
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