10th September 2017.
This
Ayirai Malai is about 1400 feet above mean sea level, without vegetation. Now, the hill is called Ivar Malai. There is a pond with sweet water in the middle
of the hill. As per the legend, the Panchapandavar stayed here during
their vanavasam; hence it is called Ivar Malai. The hill was praised by many poets
in the Sangam literature, Pathitrupathu. Once, this place was busy with the activities of
the Jain monks and students.
The
Ayirai Malai has the longest cave, 140 feet long and 15 feet high. It was
said that there were many beds for the Jain monks. At the entrance of the cave
top, there are 16 Jain Tirthankara reliefs with Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions
with the names of the people who were responsible for making these reliefs. The
inscriptions belong to the 09th and 10th centuries.
Some of the Tirthankaras are Achanandhi, Indrasenar, Mallisena of Veerasangam, and Avvanandhi. It is worth noting that there is also a lady. It was understood
that a big educational institution was functioning here between the 08th and
10th centuries. Some of the students from Pandiya Nadu also took
training at Ayirai Malai Jain’s institution.
The
Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions also helped historians to arrive at the year of
Varaguna Pandian's 8th year of rule as 870 CE and his start of
rule as 862 CE.
THE
PRESENT CONDITION
The
beds used by the Jain monks were concreted in the name of renovation, and there
are no beds now. The Iyaki (might be) is being worshiped as Draupadi Amman, and
new statues like Nagars, Hanuman, and Men & Women in worshiping postures were
also installed. There must be some rock art on the ceiling of the cave,
but the ceiling was completely covered with ash and soot from the fire used for
cooking pongal for the Throwpathi Amman.
The Ayirai Malai is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.
LOCATION OF THE CAVE: CLICK
HERE
Varaguna Pandya's inscription - The Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions helped historians to arrive at the year of Varaguna Pandian's 8th year of rule as 870 CE and his start of rule as 862 CE.
Jain's beds are completely concrete
Jain beds are completely concrete
A sweet water pond in the middle of the hill
Recent additions - Hanuman
recent additions
recent additions
recent additions
Installed in recent years
Installed in recent years ( a replica of the above at the base of
the hill )
Installed in recent years
View of the cave from a long distance
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
No comments:
Post a Comment