Jainism in Tamilnadu

Author(s): S Gajpathi
Publisher: Z_Rajendrasuri_Janma_Sardh_Shatabdi_Granth_012039.pdf

Page 10

Verse 85 :
Oh good mind ! Just think of (Jina) the God under the Asoka tree, praise him and practice a little of right conduct (prescribed by him) and these are quite enoughJina lifts all of those who reach him to his own status that needs no more worship of Jina too and hence he will make you like him in no time or shortly.
Thirukkalambagam : is another devotional work by Udisi Devar the Jaina ruler of Arpaga : in Vellore Taluk. This is composed of verses of different metres. Hence known as Kalambagam.
Verse 2:
If I decorate the holy feet of the Lord seated over the golden lotus with the garland of my verses strung of mean words in affection, can it stand worth before the praises of the 100 Indras each with their 1000 Vikriya mouths ? Temples and Caves of Tamil Nad:
Arungulam (Tiruttani Taluk) contains an ancient and big temple dedicated to the 15th Tirthankara Dharmanatha.
Even though history records existence of over 100 Jain temples in the Sth century A.D. in the Pallava capital Kanchipuram, now there is only one temple at Jina-Kanchi dedicated to Lord Vardhamana honorific name Trilok yanatha. The place is also known as Thirupparuttikunram. Here are inscriptions and foot prints and paintings on the ceilings. Dr. Ramchandran, the Director of Archaeology, brought out some fifty years ago the book the Thirupparuttikunram Temple Paintings. He has explained that the paintings depict episodes of Lord Mahavira's birth, his anointing ceremony, Indra's dance etc. The Lokantika Devas extolling Lord Rishbha's decision to renounce. Nami and Vinami demanding kingdom from the ascetic Rishabha and Dharmendra crowning them kings at Vijayarta. Also episodes from Lord Neminatha and Lord Krishna's Bala Lila.
Arpakkam : About five miles from Kanchipuram at Arpakkam, there is an old temple dedicated to Lord Rishabha Deva.
Karandai Munigiri Temples : Twelve miles from Kanchipuram are the Karandai-Tiruppanamoor villages. There is a very old temple dedicated to Lord Kunthu Tirthankara. In the same temple exists the Samavasarana type temple dedicated to Lord Vardhamana Mahavira. In both the Garba Grahas there are large mortar built images of Lord
Kunthunatha and Lord Mahavira respectively. On the walls surrounding it are the figures of Indra and Devas etc. Even though they are over a thousand years old yet they look fresh. The Samavasarana temple has 27 steps.
Ponnur Hills : Next in importance is this place situated five miles from Wandiwash town. There are at the foot of the hills Dharmasala and temple. On the hill top exists the old foot prints of Kundakundacharya
Cittamur : This is the seat of the pontiff Lakshmi Sena Bhattaraka Bhattacharya Varya Swamigal of Jina-Kanchi Cittamur Mutt. There is a very big and old temple here. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Neminatha.
Vallimalai Cave Temple : Vallimalai is in North Arcot district. Inside the cave are rock cut images of Lord Mahavira, Lord Parswanatha etc.
Panca Pandavar Malai : This is near Arcot town. Here are also rock cut images and inscriptions.
Ennayiram : This is near Tindivanam. In the caves are foot prints.
Tirumala : Tirumalai hills and the temple is four miles from Vadamadi Mangalam Railway station. On the top of the hill stands the rock cut images of Lord Neminatha of 16 ft. high In the temple down below exists a cave and paintings. Kundavi Devi a Cola princes took interest in the development of this temple. It is known from the inscriptions.
There is a rock cut image of Lord Parsvanatha on the hill near Tirakkoil near Wandiwash town.
Thrunarungondai : This is most famous in Tamil Nad. This is also a hill temple with cave and old inscriptions. The deity is Lord Parsvanatha. It is near Villuppuram in South Arcot District.
Vijayamangalam : This is near Erode. There is an old temple here. Excepting the priest there are no Jains.
There are several hills surrounding southern. Madhura. They are Samanar Malai, Alagar Malai, Anai Malai, Thirupparangunram etc. There are caves with beds of stone for the Jaina ascetics. Rock cut images and inscriptions are abundant.
Rock cut images are in Uttama Palayam also. Tiruccaranam Hills :
Sri N.P. Hariharan in the Swadesa Mitran weekly dated 14-12-1958 has written that there existed a Jain University at Tiruccaranam (Citral). There are lot of rock cut beautiful Jaina images.
V.N.S. 2503
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Jain Education Intemational