29th
September.
After
we landed Keeranur near Pudukkottai, Trichy Parthy one of our Facebook friend
took us first to the Jain monuments at
Nanjur near Keeranur. Jainism was
flourished once in Pudukkottai area surrounded by the small small rocky hills
with natural shelters where megalithic period human beings lived. Jainism
spreads to Pandya Nadu through Kongu nadu & Thondai Nadu from North India. During
Pandya Kings rule some of the Kings followed Jainism. Pandyas and Chozhas supported the Jainism and built Jinalaya for
their worship. All most all the rocky
hills of Madurai, Pudukottai, South Arcot, North Arcot are being occupied by
the Jain monks and beds were carved on
the rocks/ boulders by the donors. During 8th Century, revival of
Saivam and Vaishnavam started by the Thevara moovar Appar, Sundarar & Thirugnanasambandar
and Alwars, Jainism slowly lost its
importance. A very few Jinalyas are in worship now. Due to dwindling of
Jain population, old Jinalayas are not
maintained and destroyed by nature. Some of the Tirthankara statues are found
in Villages, are kept in worship by Hindus also. This post will cover
the Jain monument visited during our Pudukottai Heritage Visit.
MOSAKUDI:
This is a dilapidated
Jain Jinalaya, built during Parantaka Chozha period. After the temple
dilapidated, the sculptures are erected by the the ASI. Keeping an Yakshi in
the middle Tirthankaras are installed on both sides. On the Left may be Adinath
in standing posture with Mukkudai. On the right is also a Tirthankara without
Mukkudai. He may be a monk too. These three statues are erected in the recent
times.
HISTORY & INSCRIPTION
A Jain temple was believed to be built during Parantaka period. An inscription panel is erected in front of the dilapidated jinalaya and the details are not known. The Uthama Chozha’s ( 970 – 985 CE ) 12th year rule inscription is found on the adhisthana Kumudam. The inscription records the gift of land after purchase to the Mosakudi Jains school run by Pushpanandhi’s disciple Arambanandhi and to his disciple by Kaarikesuvan, Kaarichadayan and kaarikandan. The gifted land was a non agricultural /non cultivated land, on the south side of ( paddy ) field.
A Jain temple was believed to be built during Parantaka period. An inscription panel is erected in front of the dilapidated jinalaya and the details are not known. The Uthama Chozha’s ( 970 – 985 CE ) 12th year rule inscription is found on the adhisthana Kumudam. The inscription records the gift of land after purchase to the Mosakudi Jains school run by Pushpanandhi’s disciple Arambanandhi and to his disciple by Kaarikesuvan, Kaarichadayan and kaarikandan. The gifted land was a non agricultural /non cultivated land, on the south side of ( paddy ) field.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
NANJUR
A Tirthankara is kept along with Vishnu, Durgai, Kotravai and an inscription stone in open to sky. In Tirthankara statue mukkudai and whisk bearers / samaratharis are shown. The inscription belongs to Chozha King Rajaraja. It was told that a Chozha period Vishnu Temple and Jinalaya existed once and the statues are the remains. Now these statues are under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
MALAYADIPATTI.
On
the other side of the Malayadipatti Shiva and Vishnu Rock Cut caves, there are
two boulders one is sitting on the other. Only small square holes of 1 inch depth are provided
to climb up. 3 beds are carved on the flat surface with inscriptions belongs to
8th century. The inscription reads as “கறையுர்
ஆலங்காரிக்குப் பிச்சும் பிராந்து“, the meaning is not known. There is also a telegu
inscription and it reads as “எப்போதும்
சேவை செய்பவராய் மங்கான்”. In addition to this there is a scratch art which will be posted
separately.
TIRTHANKARAS & JAIN BEDS AT ALURUTTIMALAI.
The natural cave is facing east with two
Tirthankaras on the face of the projecting rock. The first Tirthankara is in
meditating posture. Mukkudai and samara are shown. The right side is Mahavir.
Simhas are seen on both sides. Mukkudai and samaratharis / whisk bearers are
also shown. The open floor is carved with beds.
On the slope there is a Pandya King, Sundara
Pandya’s inscription. The inscription mentions this place as “Thiruppalli” and
also it mentions the names of two
acharyas Dharmadeva and his Guru Kanaka Chandra Panditha. From this we can
conclude that a full fledged School was running in the natural cave. Also it
mentions “கடலடையாத இலங்கை கொண்ட சோழவளநாடு”,
a division of Pandya Nadu.
The Hill Aluruttimalai is also called as
Ammachatram Hills. The name alurutti, came since, enemies, prisoners are rolled down from the top of the hill, from the
vertical face as punishment.
Pandya period inscriptions
KUDUMIYAN MALAI JAIN BEDS.
On the west side of the hill there are some beds
carved for the Jain monks with 3rd Century BCE Brahmi inscriptions.
The inscriptions reads as Nazhal kottranthai paali in Tamil “நாழள்
கொற்றந்தய் ப(ளி)ய்“ - Nazhal
is referred in Sanga literature Kurunchi, as a flower, which is now called as
Pulikonrai. A person with dignity called Kottranthai of the Village Nazhal had
excavated these beds/ Paali.
ANNAVASAL TIRTHANKARA
This Tirthankara is sitting in meditating posture
under a peepaul ( piNdi maram ) tree with curved branches forms like pandal.
The kuncharas / bells are shown hanging from the pandal. On both side are whisk
bearers / smaratharis. Prabai and mukkudal are shown above the Tirthankara’s
head. A Pillow arrangement is also shown on the back of Tirthankara. The head
is found neatly chiseled like a pillar from neck. Whether this was
intentionally damaged or Tirthankara was made like this is not known. The Tirthankara statue is kept on a platform
constructed by Archaeological survey of India ( ASI ). As per the experts this
Tirthankara may belongs to 9th to 10th Century.
The Jinalaya and Tirthankaras and Ezhadipattam Jain
beds are written as a separate post.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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