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JAINISM IN INDIA
Three generations of teachers, Gunasena I, Vardhamana and Gunasena II, who belonged to this monastery, are known from the inscriptions. Of these Gunasena I was highly renowned and he is spoken of as the president of the monastery. It might be this same Gunasena who figures again as the head of the institution in three inscriptions from Pechchi Pallam. The four generations of teachers headed by Kankanandi, who figure in another inscription from Settipodavu, were also connected with this monastery and might have belonged probably to a slightly later age.
Another important fact that strikes one in the study of the antiquities of the Madura region is the great personality of Ajjanandi or Aryanandi and his contribution to the promotion of the Jaina religion in the Tamilnad. He was responsible for the carving of the sculptures on the rocks of hills at Vallimalai in the North Arcot district and at Anaimalai, Aivarmalai, Alagarmalai, Karungalakkudi and Uttamapalaiyam in the Madura district. Going further south we again find his name at Eruvadi in the Tinnevelly district and even at a distant place in the corner of the land on a hill called Tiruchchanattumalai near Chitaral in the Trivancore State. Ajjanandi might be assigned approximately to the age of 8th and 9th century A.D.
During the later part of the 7th century and after, a very grave situation arose in Tamil country against the followers of the Jaina doctrine. Saint Appar in the Kanchi area and Sambandhar in the Madura region launched their crusades against the supporters of the Jaina religion. It was in this critical situation that Ajjanandi appears to have stepped on the scene. Inspired by the noble ideals of his faith and sustained by indomitable energy, he, it seems, travelled from one end of the country to the other, preaching the holy gospel, erecting the images and shrines and popularising once again the principles and practices of Jainism.
Tinnevelly Region-Proceeding further south we approach another extremely interesting hill which was highly picturesque stronghold of the Jaina faith. This is Kalugumalai near the village of the same name situated in the Koilpatti taluk of the Tinnevelly district. It has treasured natural caverns with beds and inscriptions in Brahmi alphabet which show that it was a resort of ascetics in as ancient a period as the 3rd century B.C. The Jaina sculptures lie at a higher altitude and are carved in relief on the smooth surfaces of the overhanging rock. The richness of imagery, the wealth of details and refinement of execution exhibited in them are really admirable. This imperishable gallery of art created by the superior intellect of man on the strength of nature's bounty will ever stand as a unique monument of Jaina culture in south India. For Private & Personal Use Only
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