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Holy Abodes of the Sramanas
A. Ekambaranathan
M. Satyabhama
The earliest extant religious monuments in Tamilnadu are the natural caverns, which once served as the resorts of Jaina monks, found in some of the hills in Tirunelveli, Ramanad, Madurai, Pudukkottai, Trichy, South Arcot and North Arcot Districts. More than hundred such abodes of the Śramaņas, commonly known as pallis, have been brought to light so far. These caverns which are located at inaccessible heights and amidst picturesque surroundings contain stone beds with one side raised a little to serve as pillows. They also bear epigraphic records in Brahmi characters palaeographically assigned to a period from about the 2nd century B.C. to 3rd or 4th century A.D. Interestingly, the lithic records contain names of resident monks and the laity who caused to be made such 'holy residences'. The early resorts of the Jaina recluses found in Tamilnadu and their significance are described hereunder.
Madurai District
1. Anaimalai Anaimalai is a village about five miles from Madurai and is considered to be one amongst the eight sacred Jaina hills in Tamilnadu by the Digambara sect. Not far from the top of the rock at Anaimalai is a cavern so naturally formed to afford shelter from sun and rain. It measures roughly 22' in length and 18' in breadth, while at the entrance its height is 3', but this diminishes as one goes interior. The cavern contains 3 double beds and one single bed which is slightly lower than the other and four other contiguous beds covered with earth. Eight other beds are found outside the cavern. The dimensions of the beds roughly vary from about 6' to 7' in length and 14' to 2' in breadth. All are chiselled smooth with pillow lofts. Above the cave entrance, the overhanging rock is cut to a depth of 2' 3" in breadth and 15' in length. Below this drip-line cutting is a solitary Brahmi
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