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two temples dedicated to Thirthankaras Vrishabdeva muni Pushpasena; and a minister of Vijayanagar King and Vardhamana.. The Jain scholar-monks such as Harihara Raya II (1377-1404), expanded the temple Acharyas Sumantha-bhadra, Akalanka, Vamana-charya by adding a larger pavilion-the Sangeetha mantapa. Pushpa-danta, Kunda-kunda and others, were highly Later additions were made by Bukka Raya II (in regarded for their piety and scholarship. Under their 1387-88) and Krishna Deva Raya (in 1518). It is also guidance a number of Jain temples and educational said; Krishna Deva Raya made a "land-grant" to the institutions (samana-palli) were established in the temple. The Trailokya-natha, thus, developed into a Tamil country, especially in its Northern regions. complex of three shrines: One for Vardhamana and
Palli is a Prakrit term, which by extension came Pushpadanta; the other for Padmaprabha and to mean, in the Tamil - Brahmi inscriptions, a Jaina Vasupujya; and the third for Parshvanatha and Dharma monastery or a temple or a rock shelter where the Devi. Each shrine has its own sanctum, ardhaJaina monks stayed and studied . Some say that the mantapa and mukha-mantapa. The temple is also a Tamil term for a school -"palli”- has its origin in the repository of a large number of icons. ancient samana-palli of the Jains).
During the 14th and 16th centuries, the ceiling of The recognition accorded to Jainism is evidenced the sangeetha - mantapa were decorated with by the fact that a sector of Kanchipuram, along the beautiful paintings, in Vijayanagar style. banks of the Palar River, was named as Jaina Kanchi. It appears Jainism was active in the Kanchipuram It is now a hamlet (Tiruparuttikunram) on the region at least till around the 16th century.. The southwest outskirt of the present-day-Kanchi, a little paintings drawn on the ceiling of the Sangeethaaway from the Pillaiyaar Palayam suburb. Jaina Kanchi mantapa during the period 14th and 16th centuries were does not ordinarily attract many tourists. Jaina Kanchi in Vijayanagar style of painting, and they depicted the is now of interest mainly because of its two temples: legends of the Thirthankaras, particularly those of one dedicated to Chandra-prabha the eighth Rishabha Deva and Vardhamana. Thirthankara; and the other dedicated to Vardhamana A narrative panel relates the story of Dharmendra, the twenty-fourth Thirthankara who is also addressed the serpent king, who offered his kingdom to the as Trailokya-natha-swami. And, the other reason of relatives of Rishabha Deva in exchange for their interest is the ancient paintings in the Vardhamana consent not to disturb the meditation of Rishabha temple.
Deva.. Such narratives were alternated with scenes The Chandra-prabha temple is the earlier and the depicting processions of elephants, horses, soldiers, smaller of the two. It was constructed during the reign standard bearers and musicians. of Parameswaravarman II, the Pallava king who came The sequence of the narratives and the court to throne in 728 AD.
scenes was broken by depiction of Sama-vasarana the According to Dr. T. N. Ramachandran, the adorable heavenly pavilion where the eligible souls Trailokya-natha-swami temple was built perhaps gather to receive divine discourse. during the end of the Pallava period; that is, in the There are a few panels that resemble the eighth-ninth century.
Krishna-Leela, the legends of Krishna. But, they in fact, Trailokya-natha-swami (Vardhamana)
depict life events of Neminatha, the twenty-second The Trailokya-natha-swami temple enjoyed the Jain Tirthankara. According to Jaina lore, Neminatha patronage of Pallava kings as also of Chola emperors was the cousin of Krishna of Srimad Bhagavatha; and Raja-raja chola II (reign ,c.1146–1173); Rajendra Il he is Krishna's counterpart in the Jain tradition. (reign , c.1163 - c. 1178 CE ) ; Kulottunga I (reign,
To Be Continued In The Next Issue 1178–1218 CE); and Raja-raja III (reign, c.1216-1246
Q00 CE) during whose periods some improvements were
76-C, Mangal Flat No. 15, 3rd Floor, made and a front pavilion (mukha mantapa) was
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, added to the sanctum. The Vijayanagar kings too
Matunga, Mumbai-400019. supported this Jain temple.
Mo: 96193/79589 / 98191 79589. During the year 1387, Irugappa, a disciple of Jaina
Email : kaminigogri@gmail.com
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