Friday 8 March 2019

Tirthankara / தீர்த்தங்கரர் in Padur pond on Old Mahabalipuram Road, Padur, Tamil Nadu.

This visit to Padur Pond Tirthankara was planned on 3rd March 2019, about 2 weeks before. When Mr. Ramanuja Moulana, the founder of Cycling Yogis called me for this visit, I readily accepted it. We met at Padur decathlon on OMR around 08.30 hrs  and he guided me to see this Tirthankara.

The Tirthankara was found submerged in the pond water up to his hip. He is in meditating posture with two whisk bearers on both sides. Mukkudai with ashoka Tree/ creeper leaves are shown above the head of the Tirthankara.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE




 PC : Saidapet Jinalaya
PC : Saidapet Jinalaya

HISTORY OF THIS TIRTHANKARA.
This Tirthankara may belongs to 08 to 10th Century found abandoned in the north west corner of the Padur pond. The presence of this Tirthankara is an indication that there was a Jains Temple in this place. As per the history Jainism was flourished in 10th Century around Chennai and Kanchipuram.  

When the statue was upside down, the locals used as a washing stone. This Tirthankara  was identified around 2011. When Tamil Jains wished to construct a small shrine out side the Padur Pond, it was resisted by the Padur Panchayat President ( former ) Mr Chinnakutti  and his people. Several attempts were made to take it out side, but all become useless. Initially the Locals believe this statue was a “Bhooth / Demon” and now they call it as Buddha. The nearby Shiva Temple priest claims that Tirthankara is a Shiva in meditating posture with angels,  sun and moon on the top. Let us pray that this Tirthankara to come out one day from this Padur pond and bless us.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

1 comment:

  1. Superb uncle! I must visit this place next time in Chennai.

    ReplyDelete