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JAINISM IN INDIA
ment at the hands of the Pallava rulers in the beginning, but some of the early members of the house became its direct adherents. The famous instance is that of Mahendravarman I who ruled during the first quarter of the 7th century A.D. and was a staunch adherent of the Jaina faith in the early part of his life.
Tirupparuttikkunram, popularly known as Jina-Kanci, is situated at a distance of about two miles from the modern town of Conjeevaram. This place has preserved a Jaina shrine to this day. The presiding deity of this shrine is Lord Mahavira who is also styled Trailokyanathasvami. It is the biggest temple, adorned with artistic splendour, in the Conjeevaram taluk and owns a large number of well-preserved icons of the Jaina pantheon.
Vicinity of Kanci. Anandamangalam has revealed the existence of a group of Jaina sculptures carved on the rock of a hillock lying near the village. On another rock near this group is a solitary Jaina figure with attendants. Jaina relics have been also discovered in the village of Arpakkam, Magaral, Aryaperumbakkam, Vishar and Siruvakkam. Arpakkam has preserved a temple dedicated to Adi Bhattakalar which is the Arugar Tamil version of the term Arhat.
North Arcot-From the region of Kanci we proceed first towards the west and thence towards the south and enter into the tract of Panca
pandavamalai and Tirumalai, which represent roughly the modern
district of North Arcot. The word 'malai' in these names means 'a hill'.
The hill popularly known as Pancapandavamalai is situated at a distance of about four miles to the south-west from the town of Arcot. Tiruppamalai is another name of the hill. This hill contains two caves, with sculptures and inscriptions. It seems that the region of Pancapandavamalai was once a busy centre of Jainism. An image of a Tirthankara has been traced in the village of Vilapakkam which is about a mile towards the south-east of Pancapandavamalai. But more illuminating than the image is the inscription found near the Naganathesvatra temple in the village. The epigraph is dated A.D. 945 and speaks of the sinking of a well at Vilapakkam by Pattini Kuratti Adigal. The well and a house were afterwards converted into a nunnery and placed under the supervision of the Twentyfour of the village. Pattini Kuratti Adigal as the name signifies appears to have been an eminent lady teacher.
A few miles towards the north of Pancapandavamalai is another hill by the side of the village Vallimalai. It has a natural cavern on its
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