Jainism in Tamilnadu

Historic Tamil Jain Sites

Apr 25th, 2010 by admin

A large number of stone inscriptions which are 1000s of years old paint a picture of the prevalence of Jainism (Samanam) in Tamilnadu. These are scattered throughout Tamilnadu. This post will talk about such stone inscriptions, sites they are found and related content.

Madurai:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Alagar malai	7	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Caves beds, Statue
Anamalai	9	Tamil Brahmi	1900 – 1800	Beautiful Caves, Statues and Beds
Aritappatti	2	Tamil Vattaezheuthu	1000 – 2000	Caves , Statues and Beds
Karunkaalakudi	3	Tamil Brahmi,Tamil Vattaezheuthu	2000	Caves, Statues and Beds
Chettipudavu	4	Tamil Vattaezheuthu	1100	.
Keelakuilakudi	3	Tamil Brahmi,Kannadam	2000	Ruined Temple(Jinalayam)
Keelavalvu(Panchpandavar malai)	4	Tamil Brahmi	.	.
Kongar puliyankulam	4	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Hills
Kuppalanatham	1	Tamil Brahmi,Tamil Vattaezheuthu	1100	Hills
Mankulam malai	5	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Hills
Mettupatti(Annamalai)	5	Tamil Brahmi	1100	Hills
Pechipallam	6	Tamil Vattaezheuthu	1100	Hills,Caves and Cave Beds
Thiruparankundram	4	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Caves, Beds
Thiruvathvoor	2	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Small Hill, Caves, Beds
Uthamapalayam	9	Tamil Vattaezheuthu	1100	Thirugunagiri Malai
Varichiyur	3	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Caves
Vikramangalam	6	Tamil Brahmi	2000	Hill Caves and Beds

Related Speeches, News Articles on Jain monuments in Madurai:

A Speech about Jain monuments by Sri.T.S.Sridhar IAS, Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Archaeology, Tamilnadu.
A Speech about Jina palli by Kaviko. Abdur Rahman.
Articles about “Jain Vestiges” , “Unexploited Vestiges of Jainism” in The Hindu daily.
An Article about “Jaina treasure trove in Mankulam village” in The Hindu daily.
An Interview with scholar Iravatham Mahadevan about “Tamil Brahmi Inscriptions”

Kanyakumari:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Chitharal hill (Thirucharanamalai)	9	Tamil vattazheutthu, sanskrit	1100- 1000	Jina palli (jain temple)-Ruined stage
Nagarkoil	12	Tamil Sanskrit	493 yrs	Parswanathar Statue in lord Siva temple

Articles on Jain monuments in Kanyakumari:

Thoothukudi:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Kazhukumalai	99	Vattazhutthu	1200 – 1100	Caves,Thirthnkarar statue,Beds
Perungulam	1	Tamil	100 – 900	Caves,Thirthnkarar statue,Beds
Veerasigamani	2	Tamil	1100 – 1000	Caves,Thirthnkarar statue,Beds

Articles on Jain monuments in Thoothukudi:

Stories in Stones

The Jina Images at Kallugumalai

Rock-Cut Jain Sculptures and Inscriptions in Kallugumalai

Sivagangai:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Kunnakudi	2	Tamil Brahmi	1700 – 1600	Caves

Erode:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Arachaloor	3	Tamil Brahmi	1700 – 1600	Caves
Thingaloor	3	Tamil	950 -	Pushpathanthar Jinalayam(Poomendran temple)
Vijayamangalam	8	Tamil Sanskrit	1000 -	Jain temple

Articles on Jain monuments in Erode:

Vandals’ work

Digambar Jain Temple Complex Vijayamangalam

Monumental Neglect

Coimbatore:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Thirumoorthy malai	1	Tamil	250-	Statues

Dindukal:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	Type of Site
Ayyempalayam(Iyar Malai)	14	Tamil Vatteluthu	1300 – 1100	Caves,Thirthnkarar statue
Devathoor	1	Tamil	1000 years	-
Mettupatti(Sithar Malai)	9	Tamil Brahmi	2000 years	-

Articles on Jain monuments in Dindukal:

A 1000 years old,they still charm Visitors

Mettupatti Epigraphy

Kamarajar District:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Erukkan kudi	1	Tamil vattelthu		perumpalli ruined jain temple
Kovilankulam	2	Tamil	800 years	Ampalappaswamy temple (basement only available)
Pallimadam	3	Tamil vattelethu	1200 years	once great jain mon ks lived here

Articles on Jain monuments in Kamarajar District:

An article in The Hindu

Thirunelveli:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Eruvadi	3	Tamil vatzhuethu	799 AD	Caves, beds, caves arts,Aruvalthu pattaraka Jinalayam (now this is not there)
Irattai pottai pari				Anthamil Palkunathu Athi, Idar Theerppan ena Arugan,pugal padukiran Great Ajjananthi Munivar arul palittha place
Kuttralam(pardesipari)	1	Tamil brahmi	1700-	caves
Marukal Talai(pooviludayar malai)	1	Tamil brahmi	2200- 2100	beds
Sikkikulam malai(Bakavathi koil)	2	Tamil	1254-	Niyaparipalap perumpalli (now it is not there)

Chidambaranar:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscription	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Kazhukumalai	99	vattazhutthu	1200 – 1100	caves,Thirthnkarar statue , beds

Dharmapuri:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Adhiyaman kottai	1	Tamil	800 -	ruined jain temple
Dharmapuri	4	Kannadam, Sanskrit	1100- 800	ruined jain temple
Hosur	1	Sanskrit, Tamil	871 -	ruined jain temple
Dhavalam	1	Sanskrit,Kannadam,Telugu	1200-	ruined jain temple

Ramanathapuram:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Anumanthkudi	1	Tamil	1533-	Malavanathar Jinalayam
Ilayankudi	1	Tamil		Forty eight Thousand perumaplli Jinaalyam Bagavathi Nayakkar (inru illai)

Thanjavour:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Avarani	1	Tamil	1193-	Chithirailekap perumpalli(now this is not there)
kokuoor(kooroor)	1	Tamil	1120 -	Kulothunga Chola perumpalli(now this is not there)
Maruthuvakudi	1	Tamil	1194 -	Sivan kovil culvettu – Sethi Kula Manikkaperumpalli Jinalyam Gankarula Sundarapperumpalli Jinalayam Inru illai(Now not exits)
Pallan kovil	1	Sanskrit,Tamil	536 AD	Seppedukal – Thiruparuthikundrathkku Uriya nilangal (Gift Land deed)
Ponvilanthan patti	1	Tamil	1200 -	-
Senthalai	1	Tamil	1000 -	Jianalyam(temple) ruined
Thirunageswaram	1	Tamil	907 -	Miladudaiyar palli(Jinalyam) now not exist

Thiruchirapalli:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Anbil Pillayar koil	1	Tamil	-	Thiruvidaikudiyil – about Amuthamoli perumpalli Jinalyam
Jumbhukeswaram	1	Tamil	1233 -	Amanappalli – about Kaviraja perumpalli
Pukalur	10	Tamil Brahmi	1700 – 1800	Caves, Sirpangal, Beds
Arunattar malai				Seraman’s Arul kodai
Velayuthampalayam				Cave Beds
Sivayam(Kandakppari)	1	Tamil old Letter	-	-
Thrichirapalli near Ujjipillayar kovil	4	Tamil Brahmi,Vattazheluthu,Sanskrit	1700 – 1800	Caves, beds

Articles on Jain monuments in Thiruchirapalli:

Tamil Brahmi Scripts

Chengulpet:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Anathamangalam (Jinagiri palli )	2	Tamil	400 -	Sirppangal
Arasankalani	1	Tamil	400 -	-
Kanchipuram	1	Tamil	1100 -	Kamatchi amman koilil
Karupankundram	1	Tamil Sanskrit	1200 -
Keerappakkam	1	Tamil Sanskrit	1100 -	Desavallapa Jinalayam exited were ruined
Mankadu	1	Tamil	800 -
Pudupattu	1	Tamil	Cholar period
Saravananpedu	1	Tamil	800 -	Ruined Jinalayam
Siruvakkam	1	-	-	Sirukaranapperumpalli Jinalayam
Thiruppandiyur	3	Tamil	1100 -
Thirupparthikundram	18	Tamil Sanskrit	900 -	Pallava, Chola, Vijayanagar king’s Gift is Jinakanchi

Articles on Jain monuments in Chengulpet:

South Indian Inscriptions

North Arcot:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Elankadu	1	Tamil	500 – 400	Neminathar statue This statue was brought from Thirumailai (engraved in the base of this)
Karanthai(Munigiri)	17	Tamil Sanskrit	1154 – 250	Cholar , Vijayanagar dynasty’s gift
Kilsatthamangalam(Perumal Parai)	7	Tamil	1300 – 900	Jina Alayam (Jain Temple)
Kunnathur	1	Tamil	500 -	Jina Alayam (jain Temple)
Mamandoor	1	Tamil Brahmi	1700 1600	Hills
Othalavadi	3	Tamil	729 -	Jina alayam
Panchapandavar Malai(Thiruppan Malai)	2	Tamil	1220-	Malai
Ponnur	4	Tamil	227-	Jina alayam
Puduppadi	1	Tamil	900-	IRAVI KULA Manjckka perumpalli Jinalayam(Not exits now)
Poondi	1	Tamil	700-600	Veera Veera jinalayam
Chkkaramallur	1	Tamil	240 -
Chalukkai	2	Tamil	980 -	Cholar’s Period
Seeyamangalam	2	Sanskrit	1107-	Malai(hill)
Thirakoil	6	Tamil	1000 -	big mount hill
Thirumalai	23	Tamil Sanskrit	1120-1700	Mountain Caves temple, Cave’s art painting
Vallimalai	5	Kannadam, Sanskrit	975-	Mountain caves beds, cave painting’s, carved statues
Vazhuthalankunam	1	Tamil	700-	Mountain caves beds, caves
Vedal	2	Tamil	1115-	Caves almost about 900 jain monks lived here
Velappadi	2	Tamil	700 -	Mountain – ruined jina alayam exits, jain monks foot print exits
Vilappakkam		Tamil	1050-	-

Articles on Jain monuments in North Arcot:

Renovation of Temples

Article in The Hindu

Arungundram

South Arcot:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Agaloor	2	Tamil	1200 -	mountain hill samanar important sthalam
Chola vandipuram	2	Tamil	1000-	Komadar, Padmavathi statues, caves,
Andimalai				cave beds padmavathi now call as Kali
Sithamoor	16	Tamil	888-	sithamoor koil maniya (gift land) nilangal
Dadapuram	1	Tamil	1006-	Kundavai jinalayam (now ruined)
Idayalam sithar parai	3	sanskrit, grantham,Tamil	1900-	caves
Jambai	1	Tamil brahami	1900-	caves
Koilyanoor	1	Tamil	500-	ruined jinalyam (Nainar devar perumanar koil)
Madavilakam(Rettanai)	1	Tamil	1128-
Melkudaloor	5	Tamil	911-	Mountain caves, cave beds
Olagapuram	1	Tamil		Sundara chola perumpalli jinalayam (not exist)
Olakkur	1	Tamil	1200-
Pallichandal	3	Tamil	928-	Naddar perumaplli jina alayam(not exist)
Parayanpattu	1	Tamil,Vattezhthu	1500-1400
Perumandoor	3	Tamil	866-1192
Tindivanam	1	Tamil	900-800	Statue kept in chennai musium (engraved in statue base)
Thirunathar kunru	2	Tamil Brahmi	1500-1400	57 days until fast to death(sallekanai)
Gingee Singavaram				mentioned about fasting of jain monks
Thiru Narun kondai	38	Tamil	1100-	Caves, cave beds,Jinalayam,carved statue 4800 perumpalli exited here. Inscription about perumpalli and jain math are here.
Thirupalla panthal	1	Tamil	1471	Panaipadi, ponparappu Jinalaym(not exist)
Thiruvathigai	1	Tamil	700-	Thiruvathigai jinalayam
Thondur	2	Tamil	1000-
Veedur	2	Tamil	1200-
Velur	1	Tamil
Vilzhukkam	1	Tamil

Articles on Jain monuments in South Arcot:

Mahavira bas-relief tells a story

Article in The Hindu

Early Tamil Epigraphy

Early Jain Vestiges, Tamil Nadu

Thanjavour Maratha Marvals

Epigraphy Compilation

Newfound Jain Sites

Stories in Stones

Pudukootai:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Ammasamuthiram(Alurittimalai)	4	Tamil	1216-1238	Kudakumalai caves, Aluritimalai Thiruppalli malai alwar jinalayam( not exist)
Pommai Malai	1	Tamil	763-
Malaiya koil	1	Tamil	-	Caves temple
Nartha Malai	2	Sanskrit,Krantham,Tamil	900-	Paliyili Eswarar caves temple
Sadaiyappari	1	Tamil	1217-	Mountain
Samanar Thidal(Kayampatti)	1	Tamil		Iynooruvr perumpalli and madam
Sembathoor	1	Tamil	1000-	yadchiyin pedathil ullathu
Chettipatty	1	Tamil	1000-	Samanar kundu big jain temple was there.now ruined
Sithannavasal	13	Tamil	2000-1300	Hills, caves, beds
Theni malai(Thenur malai)	2	Tamil, Sanskrit	1200-	caves, paints, beds

Chennai:

Name of the Village	No. of Stone Inscriptions	Script Type	How old	What is here?
Santhome	1	Tamil	800-700	Neminathar Jain temple was there and few statue
Chennai Museum	4	Tamil, Sanskrit,Kannada		culvert (inscreptions) in the statue of museim

Source of Information:

Jaina Inscriptions in Tamilnadu, Dr. A. Ekambara Nathan, Dr. C.K. Siva Prakasam
கல்வெட்டில் சமணம், Dr. A. Ekambara Nathan
South India History, Prof. Neela Kanta Sastry
தமிழைச் செம்மொழியாய் வளர்த்த திராவிட திகம்பர சமண தமிழ்த்துறவிகளும்,உலகிற்கு அவர்கள் வ்ழங்கிய அருள்நெறியும். Prof Dr. Kanaka Ajithadoss

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Jain Cave Temples

Mar 14th, 2010 by admin

Jain caves and Brahmi inscriptions in Madurai and surrounding areas

Tamil Virtual University an autonomous institution established by the government of Tamilnadu has a wealth of information about Jain cave temples in Tamilnadu. Here is a list of these pages each of which has a short video about each of these sites:

Jain caves in Pudukottai and surrounding areas

Another notable source Professor Subramaniyan Swaminathan talks about the Jain cave temples in Sithannavasal in these pages:

Sittannavasal Paintings (சித்தன்னவாசல் ஓவியம்)

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Thirumalai Temple:

Mar 13th, 2010 by admin

Thirumalai (in Thiruvanamalai District of Tamil Nadu, India) is an ancient Jain heritage site that has cave temples, cave paintings , sculptures and ancient Tamil inscriptions all related to Jainism. Jain monks had inhabited the caves thousands of years ago.

Read a good summary of the history of Thirumalai in tamil.

Here are some pictures of the site, temple, caves, cave paintings and deities:

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Contribution Of Jain Authors to Tamil Literature

Feb 28th, 2010 by admin

ஐம்பெருங்காப்பியம் (Among 5 Great Epic Poems):
- சிந்தாமணி(Sinthaamani)
- சிலப்பதிகாரம் (Silappathikaaram)
  - பாகம் 1 /புகார்க்காண்டம்(Part 1 – Puranakaandam)
  - பாகம் 2 /மதுரைக்காண்டம்(Part 2 – Madhuraikaandam)
  - பாகம் 3 /வஞ்சிக்காண்டம்(Part 3 – Vachikaandam)
- வளையாபதி(Valaiyaapathi)

ஐஞ்சிறுகாப்பியம் (Among the 5 small Epic Poems):
- சூளாமணி(Soolaamani)
- யசோதர காவியம்(Yasothara Kaaviyam)
- உதயண காவியம்(Udhayana Kaaviyam)
- நாககுமார காவியம்(Naakumaara Kaaviyam)
- நீலகேசி (Neelakesi)

இலக்கணம் (Grammatical works):
- யாப்பெருங்கலக் காரிகை அமிதசாகரர் இலக்கணம்(Yaaperungala Kaarigai Amirthasaakar Grammar)
- தொல்காப்பியம் தொல்காப்பியர் இலக்கணம்(Tholkaapiyam – Tholkaapiyar Grammar)
- நேமிநாதம் குணவீர பண்டிதர் இலக்கணம்(Neminaatham Kunaveera Pandithar Grammar)
- சூடாமணி நிகண்டு மண்டல புருடர் இலக்கணம்(Soodamani Nikandu Mandala Purudar Grammar)
- நன்னூல் பவநந்தி முனிவர் இலக்கணம்(Nanool Bavananthi Munivar Grammar)
  - - மற்றொரு பதிப்பு பவநந்தி முனிவர் இலக்கணம்(Another edition of Nanool Bavananthi Munivar Grammar)
- நம்பியக்கபொருள் (Nambiyakkaporul)
- யாப்பருங்கலம் (Yapparungalam)
- அவிநயம் (Avinayam)
- வெண்பா பட்டியல் (Venpapatiyial)
- இந்திரகாளியம் (Indirakaliyam)

பதினென் கீழ்க்கணக்கு (Pathinen Keezhkanakku)
- திருக்குறள்(Thirukkural)
  - ஆங்கில மொழிபெயர்ப்பு ஜி.யூ. போப் மற்றும் பலர்(English Translation of Thirukkural)
- நான்மணிக்கடிகை(Naanmanikadikai)
- திருகடுகம்(Thirukadukam)
- திணைமாலை நூற்றைம்பது(Thinaimaalai Nooraimbathu)
- நாலடியார்(Naaladiyaar)
- ஆசாரக் கோவை(Aasaara Kovai)
- இன்னா நாற்பது(Innaa Naarpathu)
- இனியவை நாற்பது(Iniyavai Naarpathu)
- களவழி நாற்பது(Kalavazhi Naarpathu)
- ஏலாதி(Eelaathi)
- பழமொழி நானூறு(Pazhamozhi Naanooru)

எட்டுத்தொகை (Ettuthogai)
- புறநானூறு(Puranaanooru)
- குறுந்தொகை(Kurunthogai)
- நற்றிணை(Narrinai)
- அறநெறிச்சாரம்(Ara neri chaaram)
- திருநூற்றந்தாதி(Thirunoorru anthaathi)
- கலிங்கத்துப்பரணி(Kalingathu Parani)
- ஆத்திசூடி(Aathichoodi)
- அருங்கலசெப்பு(Arungalaseppu)
- சிறுபஞ்சமூலம்(Sirupanchamoolam)

பிரபந்தங்கள் (Prabanthangal)
- தோத்திரத்திரட்டு(Thothirathirattu)
- திருவெம்பாவை(Thiruvembaavai)

ஜீவபந்து ஸ்ரீபால் நூல்கள் (Books written by Jeevabanthu Sripal)
- தமிழகத்தில் ஜைனம்(Jainism in Tamilnadu)
- ஆதிபகவான் வினோபாஜி(Aadhibagavaan Vinobaaji)
- ஐந்தவித்தான் யார்(Inthavithaan yaar)
- திருவள்ளுவர் வாழ்த்தும் அதிபாகவான்(Thiruvalluvar Vaazththum Aadhibagavaan)
- நிளுடைமை(Neeludaimai)
- இளங்கோவடிகள் சமயம்(Illangovadigal Samayam)
- ஜைனமும் லெனினியும் (Jainism and Lenin)
- நயினார் கோவில்(Nayinaar Kovil)
- சமணர் மலை(Samanar Malai)
- பகுதறிவியகத்தின் பழமை(Pagutharivyathan Pzahimai)
- எம்மான் கோவில்(Emmaan Kovil)
- கோலாப்பூர் (Koolaapur)
- விஜயமங்கலம்(Vijayamangalam)
- பொன்னுலநாதன்(Ponulanaathan)
- நற்காட்சி(Narkaatchi)
- ஜீவகாருண்யம்(Jeevakaaroonyam)
- சட்டம் பேசுகிறது(Sattam Pesukirathu)
- அருகபெருமான் பாடல்கள்(Aruga Peruman Paadalgal)
- மகாவீரர் வரலாறு(Mahaveer’s History)

(Source of information: See post Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr. M.Karunanidhi on Jainism and Tamil)

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Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr. M.Karunanidhi on Jainism and Tamil

Feb 15th, 2010 by admin

The honorable chief minister of Tamilnadu Dr. M. Karunanidhi is known for his mastery over the Tamil language and his deep knowledge of Tamil literature. In his foreward to the book “தமிழகத்தில் ஜைனம்” (Jainism in Tamilnadu) he talks about the contribution of Jainism to the Tamil language:

English Translation of the Foreward:

Chief Minister

23-12-1974

The Samanam religion is synonymous with love and compassion. Samanam is also known as Jainism.

Jainism an ancient religion came into existence in India hundreds of years even before the birth of Christ. It was flourishing in Tamilnadu well before Tholkappiyar’s period.

The virtuous Jains have adorned our ‘Tamil mother’ with innumerable jewels of literary works. If you remove these works of Samanars, the world of Tamil literature would wear a deserted look; such is the contribution of Jain poets to the Tamil language*. The ancient kings have also encouraged and supported these noble efforts.

A number of poets who embraced Jainism have lived in Tamilnadu. Jainism was very prevalent in Tamilnadu at some point in time in the past. A number of people voluntarily embraced the Jain religion which had the great principle that “the world was not created by anyone”.

After well researching the history of Jainism’s origin in Tamilnadu, the story of its growth and the state of its existence in the Tamil literature, Jeevabanthu T.S. Sripal has given us the book “Jainism in Tamilnadu”. His research was done in the very best way. One should not think that the author has praised Jainism because he is a Jain himself. That, Jainism is worthy of extol has been clearly communicated by a number of scholars both in India and abroad.

It is commendable that the author throughout the book quotes the views on Jainism of well-known scholars like Nobel prize winner and Indian scientist Dr. Jagadeesh Chandra Bose , German Professor Georg Bühler, Czech scholar Kamil Zvelebil , our own Tamilnadu’s Sir. R. K. Shanmugam, Tamil Thendral Thiru. V.Ka and Thiru. H.A. Krishna pillai. Yet there is one unfulfilled desire in my heart – the book is missing the great ‘Arignyar Anna’s’ favorable comments on Jainism. I hope the author Jeevabanthu Sripal will fulfill this desire in the next edition of this book.

Finally, this book “Jainism in Tamilnadu” is not only an excellent research material, but a rare book worthy of being part of the syllabi of any of Tamilnadu’s fine universities. The authors abilities are worthy of praise and applause.

M. Karunanidhi

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Jainism

Jan 23rd, 2010 by admin

Jains believe that every living being has a soul and every soul is potentially divine. They also believe in reincarnation after death. A soul can be reincarnated in any form of life. (A human being can become a worm in the next life for example). Karma is that every being determines its own fate through its thoughts, actions and deeds. Karma also plays a part in which place and form the soul takes after death. Jains also believe in the principle of ‘Live and let live’ – not just for human beings, they believe in equality of all life. I.e. however small / insignificant a being is, it has the same yearning to live as humans do and part of being a Jain is respecting its right to live peacefully.

The ‘potentially’ divine soul becomes divine when it is freed from this cycle of death and rebirth. Right faith, right knowledge and right conduct are the pathway of salvation. To free the soul from the bondage of life and death, the Jain monk follows asceticism and non-possession to the extent that a sect of Jains monks (Digambars) don’t even wear clothes. Obviously the highest form of life namely humans can practice the above and attain salvation.

There are 24 exemplary souls called as Thirthankars that have guided and revived Jainism through the ages. The most recent (24^th)of them, Mahavira is historically dated to be around the 6^th century BC. If you are interested in knowing who the 24 thirthankars are, Wikipedia has a nice table of the 24 Thirthankar.

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Tamil Jains

Jan 21st, 2010 by admin

Not many people (even within Tamilnadu), India know that Jains are indigenous Tamil population. Although there are a number of Jain families who have migrated from the north that live in Tamilnadu (especially in and around Chennai), the indigenous Tamil Jains have lived here for thousands of years. Jainism is called samanam (சமணம்) in tamil and the practitioners of the religion are called Samanar (சமணர்). The 2001 Tamilnadu census puts the number of jains in tamilnadu to be around 85000.

Origin?

Some scholars feel that Jain philosophy must have entered south India same time in 3^rd centaury. Literary sources and inscription have it the Shruthakevali Bhadrabahu came over to Shravanabelagula with a 12000 strong relinue of Jain sages when north India found it hard to negotiate with the 12 year long famine in the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. Even Chandragupta accompanied this constellation of sages. On reaching Shravanabelagula, Bhadrabahu felt his end approaching he decided stay back along with Chandragupta and he instructed the Jain saints to tour over the Chola and Pandiya domins. This information found in an inscription belonging to 6 Th or 7 Th centuries A.D, at Chandragiri (Shravanbelagula).

Some scholars feel that Jain philosophy must have entered south India same time in 3^rd centaury. But according to some other scholars Jainism must have existed in south India well before the visit of Bhadrabhu and Chandragupta. This deduction based on the following particulars:

Bharabahu would not have a big retinue if had no idea of Janis living in the southern parts of Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
The Buddhist composition ‘Mahavansha’ composed during the reign of Dhanthusena (461-479) describes the period between 5432 and 3012. It gives elaborate description of the capital of Anuradhapura while king Pandugabhaya was on throne. While giving a details list of building in the new capital, it says that a building called ‘Giri’ was constructed soly for Digambar Jain saints and that many Digambar sages lived there.
Arahanthar mandir existed on mount Udayagiri eve before Kharvela’s time. Kharavela’s inscription refers to this. Jainism had been the state religion for centuries in Kharavela’s time. Andra was then part of Kalinga. Hence it possible that Jainism entered Andra at the time of Lord Mahaveera. It must have moved over to Tamil Nadu. The Pashanothkeerna inscription and idols in arcot substantiate this. Jainism might have proceeded further to south Tamil Nadu and crossed over to Srilanka between the 5^th and 4^th century B.C.
Ammanan (a naked man) is also another significant term used in Tamil literature for a nikkanta.

So whether samanam spread from further North to Tamilnadu remains unclear.

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Jain Temples in Tamilnadu

Jan 20th, 2010 by admin

There are more than two hundred Jain Temples and fifty Jain hills in Tamilnadu:

Madurai, Thanjavur and Kanchipuram which have been the great cities of historical importance in Tamilnadu for more than 2500 years are also cities around which many of these Jain temples flourished. Here is a list of places in Tamilnadu that have Jain temples currently:

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