Bhagavan Sri Parshvanath Tirthankara Jinalaya at Thirunarungundram / Thirunarungondai, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

05^th February 2018.

அருகன் திருவடி வாழ்த்து

திருமா மகளுறை கின்றசெந்

    தாமரை யொன்றதன்மேல்

வருமா மலர்க ளிரண்டுடை

    யான்மதி போல்நிழற்றுங்

குருமா மணிக்குடை மூன்றுடை

    யான்குண நான்கமைந்த

    பெருமா னறுங்கொண்டை யென்னவல்

லார்க்கில்லை பேரிடரே

பூவும் புனலும் பொழிந்தொரு

    மூன்றுபுவ னத்தெல்லாத்

தேவும் புகழ்ந்தமை யாத்திருத்

    தீ பையிற் செய்தவத்தோர்

மேவுந் திருப்பா ழியிற்றிரு

    மேற்றிசை வீரனை யென்

நாவும்  பரவுமென் றாலென்

    சொலாரிந்த நாட்டவரே

வரந்தருந் தீபையுண் மேற்றிசை

    யானை மதியுடையோர்

நிரந்தர மாக நினைக்கிற்

    குறையே நினைந்தொருகால்

கரத்தரு சென்னிய ரானபின்

    யாவருங் கைதொழுவார்

புரத்தர ராகுவார் பூவும்

    புனலும் பொழிந்து நின்றே

….. திருமேற்றிசையந்தாதி. 

After the 50^th Ahimsa walk at Ongur, our planning was to go to Thirunarungundram / Thirunarungondai Sri Parshvanath  also called as  Sri Appandai nathar Jinalaya on a small hill. The Thirunarungundram was mentioned as Thirunarunkondai in the inscriptions and hymns sung by Appar and Sambandar (both are not the Saiva Nayanmars). This Jinalaya and the pond or the reservoir has the connection of Chozha kingdom.

ஜோதிமூன்றினு ளெழுதருதுகளறு ஜோதிதுளங்க

வெந்துயர் களைந்திடும் வளங்கெழுதுணையே

காதிவெவ்வினை புறங்கண்டகரு ணையங்கடலே

கடலின்மேல்வருங் கருங்கடல் வண்ணவொண்கதிரே

போதிநாதனே பூரணவாரணத்தலைவா

பொங்குசாமரிமாரு தத்துடனெழும்புயலே

ஆதியேதிருநறுங்கொண்டை வட திருமலை

மேலப்பனே யடியெனையுமஞ்சலென் றருளே

…. சம்பந்தர்

வந்துவந்துபிறந்துழலா மனையுமில்லை

மற்றுமினிமுலையருந்தா மாந்தரில்லை

சந்ததமுமிப்படியேநாயேனிந்தச்

சாகரதிலேமூழ்கித் தயங்கலாமோ

எந்தையேமுக்குடைக்கீழாதிநாதா யினிமையும்

பிறப்பொழிந்தீ டேற்றவேண்டும்

நந்த்துலவும் நறுங்கொண்டையரு காவுன்னை

நம்பினேன்பததை நல்குவாயே

…. அப்பர்

Moolavar: A Bas-relief of Sri Parshvanath

Some of the important details are as follows...

Sri Parshvanath is also called Appar, Appaandaar, Appandai Nathar. Devotees are also called Appa, Aandai, Nathaa (அப்பரை ஆண்ட நாதர்).

At the beginning of the steps on the right is the Virusha Tirthankara, which was brought from a village called Pavandoor. Alter and Dwajasthambam are at the entrance of the front mandapam. In the inside mandapam sannidhi for Sri Chandraprabha.

The main deity is a bas-relief of Sri Parshvanath in a standing posture between two boulders. Hands are in a hanging position. A 5-hooded snake is above the head of Sri Parshvanath. On the left, Urchavars are kept under lock and key. Vimanam was built above the boulder. There is a separate sannadhi for Saraswathi.

 Moolavar Sri Appaandainathar 

There is also a cave before the Jinalaya with beds for Jain monks. It is evidence that Jain monks stayed in this cave, and they taught and extended medicinal services also to the local villagers.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

The temple was maintained by the three rulers and their officers of the Chozha, Pandiya, and Vijayanagara periods. Rajarajan-I, Rajendran-I, and Kulothunga-I gave donations to this Jinalaya for burning perpetual lamps. (SII –VII -1011 to 1017). As per the inscriptions, this place was called Rajaraja Valanattu Thirumunaipadi Thirunarungondai, Rajaraja Vallanattu Kundrathur Nattu Thirunarungondai,  and Tirthankara was called Narpaththonnayira Perumpalli Thevar.

 

Kulothunga Chozha’s 9^th reign year inscription records the gift of Taxes from Punsei & Nansei of Enathimangalam, Thari, ThattarPattam, and all other taxes by Araisa NarayananAlapiranthan alias Veerasekara Kadavarayan.

 

During Rajaraja’s 9^th year of rule, his officer Malaiyaman Adhi Chokkan Rajakambeera Sethirayan of Kiliyur gave a donation to this temple for naivedyam.

 

The Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Konerimai Kondan period inscription records the gift of land, the paddy yielded after exempting taxes. The inscription was written by Kulothunga Chozha Gangarayan.

 

Rajaraja‘s 13^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp at the Yakshi sannidhi by Oppilathan of Kolliyur. For the same 6, kasu was gifted. This was handed over to Adhi Battarakar Pushpasenar.

 

Thirubhuvana Chakravarthi Konerimai Kondan’s period inscription records the gift of land for the celebration Vaikasi month festival and a festival called Irasakanayan Thirunal (In the name of the donor) in the Thai month.

 

Another inscription records the gift of Gold 15 Kalanju for the Keela Perumpalli (Foot Hills) by one Sridharan.

 

A much-damaged Rajaraja-I’s 10^th reign year inscription starts with mei keerthi and mentions the rectification of Kunthavai Periri, since the lands which are irrigated from the Pereri, were not yielding anything. After rectification, the yield was gifted to the Perumpalli poojas and naivedyam.

Ref

South Indian Inscriptions Volume - VII.   

 Pandya’s inscription

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the trees were grown between the two boulders, and Parshvanath was not visible. A Hunter and his wife came to the hill in search of Kabilai root, and they found it between the two boulders. While the hunter dug the Kabilai root, the crowbar hit Sri Parshvanath's feet, and blood oozed out. At the same time, he lost his eyesight. His wife cleared the area and found Sri Parshvanath. Both worshipped, and the hunter got back his eyesight. While sleeping at home, Sri Padmavathi Amman came in their dream and advised them to inform Sri Kundavai, the sister of Sri Rajaraja. Kundavai also visited the hill and worshipped Sri Parshwanath and built this temple.

A painting of Sthala puranam

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

The one-day festival of Narkatchi is celebrated in the month of Tamil Thai, and a 7-day festival is also celebrated from April to May. In addition to the festivals, devotees used to circumambulate the hill and pray to Sri Parshwanath for fulfilling their wishes.

HOW TO REACH:

The nearest city is Ulundurpet, and Thirunarungundram / Thirunarunkondai is about 10 km from Thiruvennainallur.

The town bus is available from Ulundurpet.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE JINALAYA:    CLICK HERE

The entrance arch with the first and 24^th Tirthankara's vahana Rishabam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---