Religion and Culture of the Jains

Author(s): D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEMINAR-SECOND DAY
Madurantakam'. A range of low hills, locally called Paficapāṇḍavamalai, lies near Madurantakam in the Chingleput District, Tamilnadu. They contain some natural caverns with chiselled rock beds used by the Jain ascetics for several centuries in the first millennium A. D. On the Karuppankuņṛu rock, there are sculptures representing three Jain Tirthankaras, viz. Ādinātha, Pārśvanātha and Mahavira. An inscription on the same rock gives the name of the Jain teacher who caused the shrine to be made and was called 'the founder of the 24' (Caturviṁśati-sthāpaka). Dr. Sm. Champakalakshmi thought that the number 24 was sacred to the Jains and was often used by them to form 'Committees of Twenty-four' for religious and social purposes.
Sri R. K. Bhattacharya observed that the Hindus considered the number 24 as auspicious from early times since the Gayatri-mantra consists of 24 syllables. Prof. Sircar, Dr. S. R. Das and others pointed out that there were several numbers regarded as auspicious in our early literature. Sri R. K. Bhattacharya then wanted to know whether there is any tradition connecting the Pañcapaṇḍavas with the above-mentioned hills. Sm. Champakalakshmi answered in the negative. Dr. L. B. Keny observed that many Buddhist caves were also named after the Pañcapaṇḍavas perhaps to denote their antiquity. Dr. S. R. Das agreed with Dr. Keny and said that everywhere in India ancient sites are associated with the epic heroes. Prof. Sircar pointed out that the South Indian Kistvaens are called Panḍukuli or the Pandavas' mounds. He also pointed out that a locality at Nander to the south of the Godavari is regarded by the local people as the place where Draupadi's marriage took place. Prof. Sircar further observed that on the Kauleśvari hill near Huntergunge in the Hazaribag District in Bihar, Jain Tirthankara images engraved in relief are called the Pandava brothers by the local people.
Dr. A. K. Chatterjee then read his paper on 'Jinasena's Harivamsa'. Dr. Chatterjee pointed out that the work is similar to Somadeva's Kathāsaritsägara which is the Sanskrit translation of Gundahya's Brhatkatha. Jinasena has described
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