Vilapakkam Jain Cave Temple, Vellore

Address

Vilapakkam Jain Cave Temple, Vilapakkam, Walajabhat Circle, Vellore District – 632 521

Diety

Tirthankaras

Introduction

Vilapakkam is a small town in Ranipet district of Tamilnadu. This otherwise insignificant town is known for its rock-cut shrine and Jain images above the same rock. The first modern reference is found in the North Arcot district. that the rock-cut shrine at the foot of the hill is referred as Yelu vasapadi or “seven thresholds” as six pillars at the entrance forming seven bays. On the same rock, just a short distance above this excavation, is cut a figure, some two feet square, which seems to represent Buddha or one of the Jain tirthankaras. On the southern side of the hill were mentioned two ancient inscriptions near a pool of water. Some figures were carved on the face of the hill, five among those were referred as Pandavas. However these appear to be Jain images. The place has been taken up by Muslims who had built several tombs and a small mosque.

Puranic Significance

The name Pancha Pandava Malai suggests its association with the Pandavas of the Mahabharata, however this is just an attempt to attach the antiquity of the monument to the Mahabharata period. From the inscriptions found in the village, it appears that it was a flourishing Jain center till about eleventh century CE. An inscription of the Chola king Parantaka I.