Tirumalai (Jain complex)

Tirumalai (lit. "the holy mountain"; also later Arhasugiri, lit. "the excellent mountain of the Arha[t]"; Tamil Engunavirai-Tirumalai, lit. "the holy mountain of the Arhar")[1] is a Jain temple and cave complex dating from at least the 9th century that is located northwest of Polur in Tamil Nadu, southeast India. The complex includes 3 Jain caves, 2 Jain temples and a 16-meter-high (52 ft) sculpture of Tirthankara Neminatha thought to date from the 12th century that is the tallest Jain image in Tamil Nadu.[2]

Tirumalai
  • Engunavirai-Tirumalai (Tamil)
  • Arhasugiri
Tirumalai Jain temple hill
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityNeminath
FestivalsMahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationTiruvannaamalai, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu
Location within Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates12.22°N 79.07°E / 12.22; 79.07
Architecture
Date established9th century
Temple(s)2
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Early site
Tirumalai Jain temple - cave structure

The large cavern at the base of the site is thought to have been built around the 9th century. In the 10th century it was converted into 30 separate chambers, possibly to accommodate figures of Tirthankaras and a yakshi.

An inscription found on a buried rock in front of the gopura at the base of the hill from the late 10th century refers to the site as Vaigai-malai or “the mountain of Vaigai.” Two other inscriptions found on a piece of rock at the top of the hill and buried on a piece of rock underneath the steps between the gopura and the painted cave refer to it as Vaigai-Tirumalai or “the holy mountain of Vaigai.” The name Vaigai is thus thought to be connected with Vaigavur, the historic name of the village at the base of the rock.[1]

Jain temples

Kuntahavai Jain Temple

The Kunthavai Jinalaya temple is a 10th-century Jain temple, said to have been commissioned by queen Kundavai. It is one of two such sites commissioned by her, though the other site, Dadapuram, has not survived.[3]

Mahavir Temple

In the 16th century, a second temple for Mahavir was built to the west of the Kunthavai Jinalaya.[4][2]

Paintings
Painting depicting Samavasarana

Paintings are thought to have been added to the site between the 15th-17th centuries. Some of these still survive.

How to Reach

This place can be reached via Arani, the nearest town. This place is located on the Arani to Polur, Thiruvannamalai Road.

Nearby

Arahanthgiri Jain Math is a Jain Matha that was established near the site in August, 1998.[5]

  • The 16 meter statue of Neminath, the tallest Jain sculpture in Tamil Nadu.
  • Detailed carvings at Tirumalai
  • The 16th-century temple dedicated to Mahaveera.
  • The Mahavira temple front view
  • Kuntahavai Jain Temple
  • One of the few surviving figures in the painted cave.
  • Paintings on ceiling
  • Tirumalai jain temple - terrocotta sculpture

See also

References

Sources
  1. "South Indian Inscriptions, Volume I: Part II - Tamil and Grantha Inscriptions". What Is India News Service. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  2. Pal 2014, p. 134.
  3. Singh, Nagendra Kumar (2001). Encyclopedia of Jainism. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 1000.
  4. Shah 1987, p. 169.
  5. "Arihantagiri - Tirumalai". Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.

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