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

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3^rd March 2019.

This visit to Padur Pond Tirthankara was planned on 3^rd 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 the 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 a meditating posture with two whisk bearers on both sides. Mukkudai with Ashoka Tree/ creeper leaves is shown above the head of the Tirthankara.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 PC : Saidapet Jinalaya

PC : Saidapet Jinalaya

HISTORY OF THIS TIRTHANKARA.

This Tirthankara may belong to the 08 to 10^th Century found abandoned in the northwest corner of the Padur pond. The presence of this Tirthankara is an indication that there was a Jain Temple in this place. As per the history,, Jainism flourished in the 10^th Century around Chennai and Kanchipuram.  

When the statue was upside down, the locals used it as a washing stone. This Tirthankara was identified around 2011. When Tamil Jains wished to construct a small shrine outside the Padur Pond, it was resisted by the Padur Panchayat President ( former ) Mr Chinnakutti and his people. Several attempts were made to take it outside, but all became useless. Initially, the Locals believed this statue was a “Bhooth / Demon” and now they call it Buddha. The nearby Shiva Temple priest claims that Tirthankara is a Shiva in meditating posture with angels, the Sun, and the 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---