Sri Tirumalai Jain complex, Thiruvannamalai

Address

Sri Tirumalai Jain Complex, Arani, Thiruvannamalai Thiruvanamalai district Tamil Nadu 606907

Diety

Neminath

Introduction

Tirumalai Jain Complex is a Jain temple and cave complex dating from at least the 9 th century that is located northwest of Polur in Tamilnadusoutheast India. The complex includes 3 Jain caves, 3 Jain temples, and a 16meter high sculpture of Thirthankar Neminathar thought to date from the 12th century that is the tallest Jain image in Tamilnadu. ArihantGiri Jain Mutt is also present near Tirumalai complex.Tirumalai has been an important Jain center since ancient times. It is believed that 8,000 Jain monks who accompanied Bhadrabahu did the penance and attained nirvana here. The foorprints of four great saints – Vrishabhsenachrya, Samanatabhadracharya, Varadattachryamunivar and Sri VadeepaSimhasuri are also present here.

Puranic Significance

An inscription dating back to 1024 CE is present mentioning the name KunthavaiJinalaya temple. This inscription mentions the list conquest done by RajendraChola I and the offerings made by him to Kunthavai Jinalaya temple.Since 7 th Century AD Jains have been living in this village. Tirumalai is a small village and an important historical place for Jains. It is situated at about 4 Kms from Vadamathimangalam (a spot in Arani – Polur Road). Thirumalai Jain Complex is under the control of Archeology survey of India. Arahanthgiri Jain Mutt was established near Tirumalai in August, 1998. The Math is headed by BhattarakaDhavalakeerthi.Next, the complex has Shri MahaveerarJinalaya with Garbhagriha, Arthamandapam, Mahamandapam (with steps to reach) and Mugamandapam on the floor level. The sanctum has lime mortar idol of Shri Mahaveerar about 4 feet high on the plinth. Art of fresco paintings are located on the back of the idol.It is interesting to note that they have taken effort to paint even where ceiling is no more than two feet high. Paintings are thought to have been added to the site between the 15th – 17th centuries. Some of these still survive. Medical-pits are here for treating the people by the Jain monks.Adjacent to the paintings, just below there are carvings of AmbikaYakshi, Gommateshwara, Parshwanath and Adhinathar all belong to Chola period. The place is pretty narrow, photographing is very difficult. The View from this mountain is breath taking.

Special Features

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. This temple is situated on top of the Tirumulai hill with engraving of Mahavira flanked by two lions. This temple is partly excavated and partly built within caverons of the rock. This temple is rich in sculptures and base-relief. This temple contains the 16.25 feet (4.95 m) monolithic sculpture of Neminatha.This idol is tallest Jain idol in Tamil Nadu. There are footprints of Jain monks to commemorate their nirvana near the temple. Mahavir temple In the 16th century, a second temple for Mahavir was built to the west of the KunthavaiJinalaya BhagavanBahubali relief has bunch of hair on head and crawling vein over body. Two sisters of Brahmi and Sundari carvings are on either side. Shri Adhinathar bas-relief with Mukkudai over the head and Shamara maids are on either side in the sitting posture. Parshvanath In the 17th century, a third temple for Parshvanath was constructed. Shri ParswanatharBhagavan relief is 4 feet high carving with five-headed snake on the back in the standing posture. Kamadan, Shri Dharanendrar, and Shri Padmavathy are also in the cluster. The basreliefs belongs to 10th Century AD.