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Vardhamana Mahâvîra Sovereign Inspirer
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twenty-four Tirthankaras in Tirunatharakundram, the statue of a Tirthankara guarded by a hooded serpent in Tiruparuthikundram, the Parsvanatha image at Vilangudi, and the hundreds of copper icons of Tirthankaras in various Jain temples are witness to the desire of man for visible symbols of worship, so that he can train himself in the ideals propounded by the presence of these supernal guides to show him the way.
Jainism has also been a great inspiration for painters. Ellora has immortal representations of Vidhyadharas, birds, animals, flowers. The Jain symbol, Samavasarana, may be seen in Ajanta where the Kevala Jnanin (the World-teacher, who has attained omniscience) sits at the centre of a circle and draws men and beasts towards him to hear him speak on the Way to gain salvation. The painting of a lotus tank in Sithannavasal has aspirants, birds, elephants and lotuses in an artistic tangle.
While Jain literature in Sanskrit and Ardhamagadhi is considerable, Tamil has a rich treasure-house of writings inspired by the Jain way of life. Most of the Tamil volumes on ethics like Yeladi, Aranericharam, Sim Panchamoolam and Arunkala Cheppu are by Jain writers and minister unto our soul like a sympathetic physician. Thus Naladiyar.
It's best to opt for an ascetic's life,
And second best to wed a cultured wife, But basest of all would be, for money, To serve the utterly worthless and vile. The wise spend their time perusing good books; The average live within their means; But those that pine for what they don't possess And feel sore, are despicable indeed.
-verses 364, 365; (Tr.) K.R. Srinivasa lyengar.
The three important Tamil dictionaries, Choodamani Nighantu, Divakaram and Pingalandai were compiled by Jains. Jains have also gifted more than a dozen grammatical works which include Nannool, and have written works on mathematics, astrology and music. It is said that the authors of Tirukkaral and Silappadhikaram were Jains. Epics major and minor have been written in Tamil to expound Jain precepts. Of the available titles, Jeevaka Chintamani, Perunkathai, Choolamani, Neela Kesi and
