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JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA
Pallis or Jaina monastic institutions and a shrine dedicated to the god Ohatarmukha. The latter appears to have been attached to the monastery called Kilaippalli. A little to the north of this cavern is a cavity formed by the meeting of two big boulders. This has served as a shrine for the figure of Pārsvanātha cut in relief on the inner face of one the boulders. This deity was worshipped as Kanaka Jinagiri Appar in the period of the 13th century A. D. as known from an inscription. Kanaka Jinagiri Appar means the Father or Lord of the Golden Jaina Mountain and the hill itself appears to have been designated as Kanaka Jinagiri. Latterly, the name was changed to Appāņdār (= Lord, the Father) by which the deity is recognised to the present day. As at Chittājūr, constructions of a later age and introduction of other deities like the Chandranātha and the Păliyilālvār have thrown the original shrine of Pārsvanātha into the back-ground.'
4) A mile to the north of the valley of Singikulam, a village in the Nanguneri taluk of the Tinnevelly Dt., is a hill called Bhagavati Malai or the hill of the Goddess. The hill contains several hollows inside the rooky boulders and commands the convenience of water supply through its natural springs. Interesting Jaina vestiges have been discovered on this hill; and these viewed in the natural setting of its being a fitting resort for ascetics and recluses lead to the reasonable surmise that it might have flourished 88 a colony of Jaina monks at one time. This surmise is very happily confirmed by an epigraph engraved on a wall of the Bhagavati temple on the hill, wherein the hill is referred to as Jinagiri Māmalai,? The name Jinagiri Māmalai which means the Great Mountain of the Jina, is full of significance pointing to the fact that it must have been a sacred spot dedicated to the Jaina gods and inhabited by pious monks who held the torch of Jaina religion aloft during the early age of its history.
TACHOHAMBĀNI, A Jaina CENTRE: As noticed previously, the area of the Põļūr taluk in the North Arcot Dt. was a stronghold of Jainism. We may take note of one more notable place in this tract which has still preserved to an extent the ancient inspiration of the Jaina religion. This is Tachchambadi about 15 miles from Pölür. It contains a well-built temple dedicated to Vardhamāna Tirthařkara. The temple might be assigned to the 15th century A. D. considering its architectural features. One interesting fact that deserves our attention in connection with this shrine is that it possesses & large number of beautiful metallic images. These represent the main deities Vrishabhanátha, Supārsva, Sāntinātha, Nēninātha, Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra
1 An, Rep. on 8. I. Epigraphy, 1939-43, pp. 1-2 and 272-73. It is interesting to note
tbat PaliyilAlvår literally means the god without temple'. 3 Ibid., p. 4. and Appendix B, No. 269 of 1940-41,
