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116: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
Kalugumalai, in Tirunelveli district, a huge Jain cave-temple with three rows of Tirthankara statues cut into the rock,
Karuppankunru, an ancient cave and nearby a statue of Mahāvīra cut in a big block of stone,
Kundavai, a religious Jain complex with a temple dedicated to Mahāvīra, another with beautiful pillars carved in the “mandapa" and images of Ambikā, Bāhubali, Ādinātha and Pārsva. At the top of the hill, one can admire a statue 15 feet high of Nemi, dating from the XI" century, that is a masterpiece of Chola art,
Madurai, hills with numerous caves inhabited in ancient times by Jain ascetic communities, especially of the Digambara “drāvida saṁgha”. In the museum is a lovely statue of Mahāvīra of Chola style.
Mangaulam, ancient Jain centre, five caves with inscriptions,
Mannargudi, 34 kms from Tanjore, a Jain temple dating from the Xirth century with beautiful statues of Malli, Sarasvati, Padmāvatī and Dharma,
Melsithamur, two main Jain temples with very artistic sculptures, a big statue of Pārśva and another of Nemi. In front of the sanctuary is a pillar with at its top a statue of Bhairava and a dog. They are the guardian spirits of the temple and of the village. This place, seat of a Bhattāraka, has ancient manuscripts and each year, in April, a great Jain religious festival takes place,
Mullipattu, a Jain centre with a temple,
Munigiri, 15 kms from Kanchipuram, a Jain complex of temples with beautiful statues of Adinātha, Pārsva, Mahāvīra, Ambikā, and a
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