Tirthankara, Three Tier Jain Beds and Tipu Sultan's Mosque, at Kurangu Malai, near Vellore, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd December 2018.

This visit to this Kurangu hill was a part of Vellore Heritage walk organized by the History of Vellore Facebook Group. Our last program of this heritage walk was to visit this hill. The bottom of the hill has the Jain Tirthankara and the unique three tier beds and the top of the hill has the Tippu Sultan Mosque.

TIRTHANKARA & THREE TIER JAIN BEDS.

This hill bottom has the naturally formed bubble like shelters. One of the local village boy has got a Neolithic tool in the hill area. This indicates that the natural caves has been used as a shelter during pre-historic period. The natural caves has the beds carved on the surfaces during Jains occupation. The Ground level has 7 beds, the second level has 2 beds and the top level has one bed. What was the method adopted to climb up is not known since there is no ladder or steps carved.

  

A head less Tirthankara statue is also found in front of the cave. The Tirthankara could not be identified for want of lanchanam. Samatharis / whisk bearer are faintly visible.  The beds and the Tirthankara indicates that a Jain school with a worshiping place / Jinalaya might have existed during Jain’s occupation.

HOW TO REACH:    

On the Vellore – Chennai, Mumbai National highway travel towards Melakuppam  from Puttuthakku Junction.  After 5 KM the hill at Sanarakuppam may be reached.  From the road one has to travel by foot for about a KM inside a private farm to reach the Jain Caves.

LOCATION: Lat 12 deg 55' 48.11" and Long 79 deg 13'26.33"

TIPPU SULTAN MOSQUE.

To climb up the hill there is no proper step or way. We have to  trek around the hill and one place stones are stacked to form a step.  On the top  there are two water ponds  along with a Mosque. The trace of the outer premises wall can be seen around the mosque.  Only the Mosque built with brick structure is standing without roof. The walls are not plastered.  There is a doubt that whether this Mosque was completed and used. Further research is required to find the answer.

The boy with the neolithic tool found near this Kurangu Hill

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---