Dindigul District Temples

PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Aivar Malai	Jains' Bas-reliefs and Vattezhuthu Inscriptions
Aivar Malai	Draupadi Amman & Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple
Kalamedu	Sri Ravimangalanathar Temple
Nilakottai	Sri Ahobila Lakshmi Narasimma Perumal Temple
Nilakottai, Kovilmedu	Sri Malleeswarar Temple

Ayirai Malai / Ivar Malai / Gugaikoil Chinna Ivar Malai, The remains of Jainism in Kongu Mandalam, near Udumalpet, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.

10^th September 2017.

This Ayirai malai is about 1400 feet above mean sea level without vegetation. Now, the hill is called Ivar Malai. There is a pond with sweet water in the middle of the hill.  As per the legend, the Panchapandavar stayed here during their vanavasam, hence called Ivar Malai. The hill was praised by many poets in the Sangam literature, Pathitrupathu. Once, this place was busy with the activities of the Jain monks and students.

 

The Ayirai Malai has the longest cave, 140 feet long and 15 feet high. It was said that there were many beds for the Jain monks. At the entrance of the cave top, there are 16 Jain Tirthankaras reliefs with Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions with the names of the person who was responsible for making these reliefs. The inscriptions belong to the 09^th and 10^th centuries. Some of the Tirthankaras are Achanandhi, Indrasenar, Mallisena of Veerasangam, and Avvanandhi. It is worth noting that there is a lady also. It was understood that a big educational institution was functioning here between the 08^th and 10^th centuries. Some of the students from Pandiya Nadu also took training at Ayirai Malai Jain’s institution.

The Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions also helped historians to arrive at the year of Varaguna Pandian's 8^th year of rule as 870 CE and his start of rule as 862 CE.

THE PRESENT CONDITION

The beds used by the Jain monks were concreted in the name of renovation, and there is no bed now. The Iyaki (might be) is being worshiped as Draupadi Amman, and new statues like Nagars, Hanuman, and Men & Women in worshiping postures were also installed. There must be some rock art on the ceiling of the cave, but the ceiling was completely covered with ash and soot from the fire used for cooking pongal for the Throwpathi Amman.

The Ayirai Malai is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE: CLICK HERE

Varaguna Pandya's inscription - The Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions helped historians to arrive at the year of Varaguna Pandian's 8^th year rule as 870 CE and his start of rule as 862 CE.

 Jain's beds are completely concrete 

 Jain beds are completely concreted 

a  sweet water pond in the middle of the hill

recent additions - Hanuman

recent additions 

recent additions 

recent additions

Installed in recent years 

Installed in recent years ( a replica of the above at the base of the hill ) 

Installed during recent years

 View of the cave from a long distance

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---     

MADURAI DIST, DINDIGUL DIST AND THENI DIST TEMPLESVEL DIST

TN - DISTRICT	PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Dindigul Dist Madurai Dist	Aivar Malai Azhakar Kovil	Draupadi Amman and Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple Sri Kallazhakar Sundaraja Perumal
Madurai Dist	Keelakuyilkudi	Sri KarupannaSamy & Iyyanar
Madurai Dist	Madurai	Sri Koodal Azhakar Temple
Madurai Dist	Pazhamudir Cholai	Sri Murugan Temple
Madurai Dist	Sathuragiri	Sri Sundara Mahalingam and Sri Santhana Mahalingam
Madurai Dist	Thirumogur	Sri Kalamegaperumal Temple
Madurai Dist	Thiruparankunram	Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple
Madurai Dist	Thiruparankunram	Sri Palani Andavar temple
Madurai Dist	Thiruparankunram	Parangiri Nathar & Murugan Temple
Madurai Dist	Thiruvathavor	Sri Thirumarainathar Temple
Madurai Dist	Madurai	Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai Dist	Sellur -Thiru Aapudaiyar Koil	Aappadayar Temple
Madurai Dist	Thiruparankundram	Sathyagiriswarar Shiva Temple
Madurai Dist	Thiruvedagam	Edaganathar Temple