The
visit to this Thirakoil Jain Temple complex was a part of the Shiva Temples and
Samanar Temples in Tiruvannamalai District Visit on 08th October
2023. The Thirakoil is a small hill in the Tiruvannamalai district, about 2.5
km from Desur. A boulder with bas-relief images of Adhinathar, Mahaveerar,
Parshvanathar, and Chandranathar, on the four sides of a boulder standing at the
entrance of the hill. The 1008 Adi
Bhagwan Temple is at the base of the hill, and "Mai Siddha Perumpalli", alias 1008
Mahaveerar Temple, is on the top of the hill. In addition to the temples, there are
two natural caves where Jain munis stayed.
SRI ADINATH DIGAMBAR JAIN TEMPLE.
Moolavar: Sri Adinatha Tirthankara
Some
of the salient special features of this temple are….
This
temple is on the foothills, facing North with two balipeedas. Acharya Sri
Poojapadars pada is on the right side after the entrance. Rishaba Nathar’s
stucco image is on the top of the mukha mandapam. Dwaraplakas are at the
entrance of the ardha mandapam. In all three, koshtas Rishabanathar’s image is in a standing posture.
A
Tirthankara’s image is on a boulder on the back side of the temple. The
Tirthankara is standing in kayotsarga posture. A prabhai is shown on his back.
The Tirthankara has with elongated earlobe. An ornamental arch is shown on the
backside. A mukkudai is missing in this image. Another Tirthankara’s image is
also in the praharam under a mandapam. The image is in highly eroded condition.
ARCHITECTURE
The
sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam, and an eka tala vesara vimanam is on the
sanctum sanctorum. Tirthankar's images are in the greeva koshtam. The mandapas
are supported with vrutha pillars and Pallava-style vettu pothyal.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
In
addition to the structural temples, there are two natural caves on this hill, and
a Jinagiri Palli existed in the Thirakoil.
This
place, Thirakoil, was called “Sri Thandapuram”, which was in Venkundra Kottam,
Ponnur Nadu.
As
per Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 22nd reign year inscription, the name of
Thandapuram was changed to “Sri Rajakesaripuram”. During his period, another “Gangasoora
Perumpalli” was also functioning along with “Mai Siddha Perumpalli”. Lands are
gifted as a Palli santham.
The
Ganga Soorappalli might have been established during Rajaraja-I’s period, and
that may be functioning in the present structural temple. The Present Adhi Bhagwan Jinalaya was the
Gangasoora Palli.
The
temple’s mukha mandapam was built by Arunmozhi Devapurathu Adaiyaran Atkondan during the 13th Century.
One
of the inscriptions records the gift of 200 sheep/goats by Chozha Thenkarai Panaiyur Nattu Nelveli
Udaiyan Eran, Nandi alias Narathonga Pallavaraiyan. From that, 2 Nazhi ghee and
10 nazhi oil are to be supplied to this Maisiddha Perumpalli. The Narathonga
Pallavaraiyan was a Nilakizhar, the donor of this endowment after the Narasimha
Pallava-II period.
Parantaka
Chozha’s 12th reign year inscription (919 CE) records the
endowment of supplying water to “Kanaka Veera Siddhadikal”, who was staying in
the Jain palli by Kanapperuman Videl Vidugu Sembothiladan.
Another 11th-century Inscription records an endowment by Sri Gangaraiyan’s
wife, Ganganaichani. The ompadai kilavi warns that those who obstruct this
endowment will get the sin of the distance of 700 katham between Gangai to Kumari.
1008 SRI MAHAVEERAR JINALAYAM.
This
Mahaveer Temple / Jinalaya is at the top of the hill. Steps to the hill are
neatly cut, and handrails are provided for safe trekking to the Temple.
Moolavar: Sri Mahaveer Tirthankara
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces East. Mahaveer Tirthankara is in the sanctum sanctorum and is in a sitting posture. Originally, the Tirthakara idol was made of stucco, and the
same was replaced with a stone idol in the 2015 renovation. The Stucco image was
installed on the back side of the sanctum sanctorum, the koshtam / niche. The other images in the kostas are Aranathar
and Kunthu Nathar
The old Moolavar - A stucco image
Aranathar and Kunthu Nathar
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists only of with sanctum sanctorum. The original temple was built
with bricks. The original temple was constructed with the sanctum sanctorum,
antarala, and mandapam. The temple measures 23 feet X 13 feet. The walls are
constructed with bricks of size 10” L x
6.5” B x 2” H. The wall thickness was 2 ft 6”.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This
temple belongs to the 06th century CE. This temple was constructed
for the Jain Saints/munis to worship and do meditation. Hence called Mai-Siddha Perumpalli.
This "Mai-Siddha Perumpalli" was functioning during the Chozha King Parantaka’s 3rd reign
year (909 CE). This was functioning before Chizha King Rajara-I’s period.
Since
the original temple was in a dilapidated condition, the present temple with
vimana was constructed. The temple measures 13’ x 13’. The steps are cut from
the base with handrails.
A
new stone idol in place of the old stucco image of the Mahavira was installed, and a maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 08th March 2015.
THE BOULDER WITH JAIN
TIRTHANKARAS SCULPTURES. JINAGIRI PALLI ( ஜினகிரி
பள்ளி )
The
boulder has the bas reliefs of Sri Adinatha, Sri Chandraprabha, Sri
Parshvanatha, and Sri Mahavira on all
four sides. These sculptures belong to the 8th-century Pallava King
Nandivarman’s (732 – 795 CE) period. ASI had erected a grill enclosure around
this boulder.
1. Adinathar,
also known as Rishabanathar's first Tirthakara image, is on the south side of the
boulder. Adhinatha is in the padmasana sitting posture on a lion throne. A thindu
is shown on his back. A prabhai and mukkudai are shown above his head. Two
chamaratharis / whisk bearers are on both sides of the Tirthankara.
2. Mahaveerar,
the 24th Tirthankara, is on
the North side of the boulder. Mahaveerar is in the padmasana sitting posture on a lion
throne. A Thindu is shown on his back. A prabhai and mukkudai are shown above
his head. Two chamaratharis whisk-beares
are on both sides of Tirthankara. There
is a niche provided for lighting oil lamps.
3. Parshvanath…
On the west side of the boulder is the Parshvanatha 23rd Tirthankara standing on a lotus flower with a five-hooded serpent canopy above his head. This Parshvanatha bas relief group
signifies the life story of Parshvanatha Tirthankara. Parshvanatha is in
kayotsarga, a standing posture. Dharanendran protects Parshvanatha, in the form
of 5 hooded snakes over his head, from the torture of Kamada. Padmavathi holds
the Vajra Umbrella above Dharanendra’s head. On the left relief signifies that Parshvanath, as Maruboothi, was killed by his brother by dropping a boulder on
his head. Below left is the Kamadan in anjali hastam, after the failure of all his
attempts to kill Parshvanatha.
பார்ஸ்வநாதரின் சிற்பத்தொகுப்பு அவருடைய முந்தைய பிறவியின் வரலாற்றை மிகவும் நேர்த்தியாக செதுக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. பார்ஸ்வநாதர் காயோத்சர்கமாக நின்ற நிலையில் காணப்படுகின்றார். தரனேந்திரன் சர்பமாக பார்ஸ்வநாதரின் தலைமீது கமடனின் துன்புறுத்தல்களில் இருந்து காக்க குடை பிடிக்க, அதற்கும் மேலே பத்மாவதி தரனேந்திரனைக்காக்க வஜ்ரகுடை பிடித்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கின்றனர். இடதுபுறம் மேலே, பார்ஸ்வநாதர், முற்பிறவியில் மறுபூதியாக பிறந்து தன் அண்ணன் கமடனால் (பாறாங்கல்லை தலை மீது போட்டு) கொல்லப்பட்டதின் நிகழ்வை நினைவு கூறும்விதமாக செதுக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. கீழே இடது புறத்தில் பார்ஸ்வநாதரின் காலருகே, கமடன் தன் எல்லா முயற்சிகளும் தோல்வியில் முடிந்த நிலையில், சரணடைந்து வணங்கும் நிலையில் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.
4. Chandranathar,
also known as Chandraprabhar, a bas relief sculpture, is on the east side of the boulder.
Chandranathar is seated in the padmasana posture on a lion throne. Prabhai and mukkudai are at the top of his
head. The Chamaradharis/whisk bearers
are on both sides of the Tirthankara. Celestial angles are near the mukkudai.
The makara arch with jumping lions/yazhi with pillars and thindu are shown on
the back of Tirthankara.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
inscriptions at Jinagiri Palli record this place as Mai Siddhappalli (.........மை சித்தப் பள்ளி).
Since the first nine characters of the Tamil word group couldn’t be deciphered,
the inscription reads it as Mai Siddhappalli (.........மை சித்தப் பள்ளி) and this name was identified by the scholars to record this temple. The word
'Palli' (பள்ளி) has
a strong association with Jainism, and the teaching places are called 'Palli'.
The
Chozha King Parakesarivarman’s inscription (ARE
277 of 1916) seen near to Adhinathar sculpture (on Jinagiri rock) records
the gift of sheep made by Eranandhi for burning a perpetual lamp in Thandapuram
Jinapalli (தண்டாபுரம் ஜீனப்பள்ளி).
The ancient name of this Jain temple was Thandapuram Jinapalli.
The
Chozha king Rajaraja-I's (1007 CE) inscription, near Parsvanathar bas relief (on
Jinagiri boulder) (ARE 277 of 1916) records the name of this hill temple as
'Gangasoora Perumpalli' (கங்கசூர பெரும்பள்ளி) located in Rajakesaripuram (இராசகேசரிபுரம்) - the other name of Thirakoil. Another Kangaraiyan Palli (கங்கரையன் பள்ளி)
also
mentioned in the inscription, which also existed along with the Gangasoora
Palli.
Another
Chozha King Parakesarivarman inscription (ARE
279 of 1916), nearer to Adhinathar
bas-relief, records the gift of paddy to
this temple by Kanakavirasithadikal.
There
is one more inscription (ARE 278 of 1916), not fully readable (on the western
side of the Jinagiri boulder ), that records the gift of gold for burning perpetual
lamps.
Ref :
2. Inscription
tablets installed at the temple.
3. Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy. Year 1916.
HOW TO REACH
The
base of the Thirakoil is about 2.7 km from Desur and can be reached by autos,
which are available at Desur.
The
place Thirakoil is about 13 km from Thellar, 17 km from Vandavasi. This Jain temple is 31 km from
Cheyyar, 42 km from Tindivanam, and 58 km from Kanchipuram.
The nearest
Railway Station is Tindivanam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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