Jains Tirthankaras - Bas reliefs at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple at Sendalai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2019.

The visit to this Sendalai temple was a part of Kumbakonam Heritage Walk organized  by "Yaaooyaakay" - யாஊயாகே”  and "Celebrate Kanchi" on 27^th and 28^th July 2019. This place Sendalai is on the banks of river Kudamurutti, a tributary to River Kaveri.

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram was built on a upa pedam and patha bandha  adhisthana. The prastaram is of kapotha style with nasis. The walls are supported by pilasters. The koshtas / niches are formed between pilasters. The niches are empty. The front side pilasters has the reliefs of Tirthankaras in sitting posture and a Parshvanath. 

The Rajagopuram was reconstructed during Vijayanagara period. How come Jain Tirthankaras, Parshvanath bas-reliefs on the pilasters came to a Shiva Temple is not known. Historians/ researchers may give different opinion/reasons, but we are not interested to probe in to this. This article is to show that the Jain Tirthankaras on the pilasters of a Shiva Temple, Rajagopuram.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---