VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Jains and Tiruchengode Hills, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

Saturday 19 November 2016

Jains and Tiruchengode Hills, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

13^th November 2016.

After attending Sakthi’s House warming ceremony at Erode, decided to trek Tiruchengode hill through steps to see the Chozha and Pandya Period inscriptions and Jain’s beds. This Heritage group was led by Mr Srinivasan, an enthusiast and others M/s Raja, Nandha Kumar, Santhosh and Vijay and self are followed. We looked the Tiruchengode hill in different perspective. It was a news to me that the hill have the Jain beds and Chozha and Pandya period inscriptions through Mr Srinivasan. Learnt a lot through the trekking. Thanks to Mr Srinivasan.

The sacred Tiruchengode hill is dedicated to Sri Ardhanareeswarar and Sri Murugan and we know many saints visited to this temple had sung hymns & songs. But it is very hard to believe that the hill was under the control of Jain monks once may be during 6^th and 7^th century. But it is a fact that the Jain monks lived on the hill caves and left their evidences in the form of beds and the places for preparing medicines. The Jain spreads their religion through teachings and treating deceases through herbal medicines. There are two such caves available on the route from the present Shiva Ardhanareeswarar sanctum to Uchi Pillayar shrine. May have some other beds too on the other parts of the hill, if we explore. The cave near the Uchi Pillayar shrine is easily accessible with steps cut on the rock and other one very difficult to access.

The Caves has the symbols and inscriptions also. The inscriptions are in not readable condition and damaged condition. No Brahmi inscriptions are found.

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