The Visit to
this Sri Adinathar Digambar Jain temple was a part of “Gajaprsihta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva
temple at Vallam and Jain Temples at Ponnur and Ponnur Hills Visit”, on 22nd
October 2023. This is one of the oldest Jain temples of Tiruvannamalai District
in Tamil Nadu, Ponnur where the temple is still under worship. Ponnur was also called as Swarnapuram.
Moolavar : Sri Adinathar
Some of the
salient features of the temple are…
The temple is
facing east on raised level of about 10 feet from the ground with an access
through steps. Dwajasthambam base, Balipeedam and manasthambam are in front of
the temple. Moolavar Adhinathar is in sitting posture. Samaradharis are on both
side and mukkudai is on the top. A prarabhai is shown on back of his head and a
thindu is also shown on the back. Parshvanath is in the mukha mandapam.
In praharam,
Brahma Devar, Elephant and an Amman is
on the wall and Kund Kund Acharya, Navagrahas. Bahubali / Gomateshwara statue was erected
and the structure is under construction.
Acharya Kund Kund
Pada
CONSTRUCTION
The temple
complex was built about 10 feet above the ground level. Steps are on the north
side to climb up. The temple consists of
Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is of two tiers on a
pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, Muppattai kumudam and pattikai. The Bhitti
starts with vedika. The Pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam,
kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai and Poo mottu pothyal. The Kostas are of
sala style.
The Prastaram
consists of Valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. The
nasikudus are with Keerthi mukhas and bhutas images are at the centre. Some of
the bhutas are with thiruman on their forehead ( may be constructed during
Vijayanagaras period ). The Vimana above Bhumidesam is of vesara style.
Tirthankara’s images are in the Tala and greeva Kostas. Simhas are on the
greevam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the
inscriptions this Jain temple belongs to 13th century or even
earlier. The same may be reconstructed during Vijayanagara period.
Ref
“A book on
Reading History with the Tamil Jains : A Study on Identity memory and… Vandavasi
( Wandiwash of the Colonial Times) and Ponnur, North Arcot: 2003, by R
Umamaheswari.
R Umamaheswari
says… There were around 150 Tamil Jaina families settled here, I was informed
and population of approximately 700-1000. This seemed, by far, the largest
concentration of this community in one place that I had visited. They were all
educated, and most of them were employed in different sectors ( private and
public ). People gathered every week on a Friday evening ( I met them too, on a
Friday evening ) at the Jaina temple here. I was told that I must pay a visit
to Ponnur malai, which was not very far from Vandavasi. That was the most
frequented sacred site for the people residing in Vandavasi.
The 1256 CE, 7th
reign year of Maravarman Vikrama Pandya ( ARE 415 of 1928-1929 ). Adinatha temple
- Records that the nattavar of Vidalparru assigned taxes payable by those
settling in the paļļi viļakam of Adinatha, to provide for worship and repairs.
( Ekambaranathan 1987, p. 244)
The 1733 CE,
inscription at Adinatha temple ( ARE 415 of 1928-1929 ).
Jainas of
Svarnapura 2 Kanakagiri should take images of Parsvanatha and Jvalamalini amman
from temple of Adisvara every Sunday to Nilagiriparvata situated to the
north-west of the temple at the time of the weekly worship of Helacarya. ( Ibid.
p. 245). ( The Hill Nilagiri arvata mentioned here may be the Ponnur Hills ).
Desai writes,
Svarnapura is
evidently identical with Ponnur. The Nilagiri Hill which also figures in the
legend of Helacharya has still retained the name, being three miles away from
Ponnur. The icons of Parsvanatha and Jvalamalini mentioned in the epigraph are
probably the metallic images preserved in the temple of Adinatha to the present
day or their earlier substitute... Judging from the earlier Jaina inscriptions
found here and the tradition connecting it with Heļacharya Ponnur appears to
have been a renowned stronghold of Jainism from earlier times ( Desai,
Epigraphia Indica, XXIX, p. 202).
Sanskrit name
of Ponnur, Ep. Ind, Vol XXIX, p.199ff-'Helacarya monk of Dravida gana, native
of Hemagrama, Ponnur. Helacarya's feet carved on Nilagiri hill, north-west of
the Jaina temple'.
Believed to be
the 2nd tallest ( 24 Feet ) Bahubali statue was installed at this
temple in presence of Thirumalai Arakanthgiri Jain Math Dr Dhavala Keerthi
Bhattaraka Bhattacharya Swamigal, 0n 10th May 2023.
There is a 18th
to 19th Century inscription tablet installed at the base of the
temple.
The Pancha
kalyana Prathishta mahostava memorial keerthi sthamba was installed on the
ground level 08th June 1997 to 12th June 1997.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will
be kept opened between 05.30 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile
number +91 97914 12241 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
Ponnur is on
the south west of Vandavasi, can be approached from Vandavasi to Polur Road and
Vandavasi to Tindivanam road. 10 KM from Vandavasi, 41 KM from Tindivanam &
Acharapakkam and 133 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway
Station is Acharapakkam & Tindivanam
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
