Sri Ennayiram Malai jain cave temple, Villupuram

Address

Sri Ennayiram Malai jain cave temple, Gingee road, Senji Kunnathur S.Kunthur village, Gudalore Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu 605651

Diety

Thirthankarar, Parshavanathar

Introduction

Ennayiram Malai is a jain complex located 3 kms from the Villupuram- Gingee road at Mattaparai turn to S.Kunthur village near Gudalore. It is also called as Ivar malai and Panchapandavar malai. It has historical importance for Jain beds and Cavern temple, identified as 9th Century AD or before. Another attractive feature of this village is the presence of Ennayira malai or Ennayiram hill with Jain cave and beds, which is now called as Koodalur hill. The 23rd Thirthankarar of Jainism, Parshavanathar, was nicely carved on the rock.

Puranic Significance

There are 35 stone beds, a natural cave and five Tamil inscriptions. Approximately 100 feet height and long wide rock has more than 35 stone Jain beds, had been lived by Jain sadhus in ancient times. They preached the Jain principles and also treat the ailments of the people of the surrounding villages. It is evidenced by the stone-seats and medical-pits, used for gridding herbals, on the surfaces of the rock. Five stone inscriptions belong to 9th Century AD i.e the period of King Paranthaka Chola is there. It reveals that some subsidies are granted for lighting to the nearby temples during that time. In olden days the holy place is called as Senthamangalam (in Panaiyur administration). So the cavern and the stone beds are carved before the period of inscriptions. Shri Lakshmisena Swamiji and Shri Dhavalakeerthy Swamiji and several donors / volunteers took effort for promoting this holy place. They covered the Statues with iron grill and paved flooring in front of that rock. Raising steps from the bottom to the cavern also constructed for easy approach to the holy place. And, also, mud-road was paved from the village to hill.