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RECENT JAINA DISCOVERIES IN
TAMIL NADU DR. A. EKAMBARANATHAN Reader, Deptt. of Archology,
University of Madras,
Tamilnadu has a plethora of Jaina vestiges in the form of cave shelters inhabited by monks, rock-cut temples, structural edifices, sculptural depictions of Tirthankaras and Säsnadēvatas, epigraphical documents, manuscripts etc. They bespeak of the glorious history of Jainas, commerncing from a few centuries before the advent of Christian era down to modern times. Recent archaeological investigations conducted in certain parts of Tamilnadu have brought to light some interesting lighic records, cave shelters and sculptures hither to unknown. These discoveries and their religious importance are chronologically dealt with in the following pages. 1. THE ABODE OF ATTIRALAT SIDDHARMALAI.
Siddharmalai near Méttupatti in Madurai district is the earliest hill-resort in Southern Tamiinadu. A huge cavern in the hillock, containing five stone beds, afforded shelter to Jaina recluses like Antai Ariti, Antai Visuvan, Antai Sēndan and Antai Kubera in the 2nd century B.C., as evidenced by brahmi inscriptions incised on their beds.'
1. Mahadevan Corpus of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, Mettuppatti, Nos-1-8
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