Jinamanjari 1998 04 No 17

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 23

mentions that Ajjanandi was responsible for the creation and consecration of the sacred image."
KARUNGALAKKUDI lying about eight miles north of Melur has several caverns on the hillock. In the lower side, a cave 33 ft in eastwest axis contains a short inscription datable to Scond and Fist B.C.E. It was the monastery presided over by a monk Ariti, a native of Elaiyur." The adjunct caves contain several carved berths which are severely damaged. At the higher elevation of the hill, there are three caves, each with a row of beds cut into the floor. It appears that this palli enjoyed its importance as a religious center well into the Ninth and Tenth Century 20 Adjacent to the complex, a boulder has an icon of a Tīrthankara which was commissioned by Ajjanandi.
KILAVALAVU village also lies about six miles from Melur. It contains an ancient palli approximately one mile southwest. The hill comprises several large boulders with narrow bases that gradually spread towards their tops. A number of berths with pillow-lofts have been carved under the concave slopes giving them the appearance of the budding petals of a lotus. An inscription engraved directly below the chiseled portion mentions the name of a pious devotee, Ilavan, a native of Tondi, and he was responsible for the cutting of the berths. In the Ninth C.E., Sankaran-Srivallavan commissioned an icon of a Tīrthankara and gave thirty sheep for a perpetual lamp to be lit for the Jina. Two more images of Tīrthankaras have been sculpted on the same rock by Srilokabhanubharata, a monk and Srikatti, a lay devotee. 22
VIKKIRAMANGALAM village has a hill known as Nagamalai, one mile from it. Except at the entrance of the cave, it is diminutive in size with a low ceiling. Narrow stone berths cut into the rock floor are in rows of two and eight. No pillow-lofts, but there are three inscriptions, containing names like Antaipikan, Kuviran and Cenkuviran, who in all probability were instrumental for the beds. Kuviran was a native of Petalai village and Cenkuviran was a member of the family.23
SIDDHARAMALAI is located at approximately one mile north of Mettupatti, and five miles south of the town Nilakottai. Not quite halfway down the southern slope of the hill is an enormous cave, 97 ft
18 For Private & Personal Use Only