Question

Thiruparthikundram, Sittannavasal, and Chitharalmalai temple are closely connected with Jainism – how?

Answer 1

1. Thiruparthikundram

1. It is located in the suburbs of Kanchipuram.
2. The Jain Temple here in a standing example of the existence of Jainism in Kanchipuram in the ancient period.
3. Built in the 9^th Century by Pallavas, there are two Jain temples named Trilokyanatha temple and Chandra Prabha temple.
4. The suburb where these twin temples are located is called Jain Kanchi.
5. Tourists can see beautiful paintings on the ceilings of the temple.
6. The main deity Mahavira was made up of bright pink stone.
7. Temple was built out of yellow stone.
8. It has inscriptions belonging to the 9th Century.
9. Currently the temple is under the control of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.

2. SittanaVasal

1. It Sittanavasal is a small hamlet in the Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.
2. It is known for the Sittanavasal cave, a 2nd-century Jain cave complex.
3. From the 7th to 9th Century AD the village flourished as a Jain Centre.
4. The Sittanavasal cave is also known as Arivar Kovil.
5. It is a Jain monastery of the 7th Century, small in size.
6. It is noted for its fresco paintings.
7. The painting themes depict a beautiful lotus pond and figures, lilies, fish, geese, buffaloes, and elephants.
8. The cave temples has the sculpture of Jain Tirthankaras.
9. Ezhadippattam or Jaina beds is a natural cave, marked by horizontal floor space. It is laid out with well-polished rock
10. beds that were used by Jaina ascetics.

3. Chitharalmalai temple

1. The Chitharal Jain monuments is also known as Chitharal Malai kovil.
2. It is literally on the hill.
3. It is also known as Bhagawathi temple.
4. Chitharal is situated on the Thiruchanathar Malai near Chitharal Village, Kanyakumari district.
5. Chitharal hills are locally known as Chokkanthoongi Hills.
6. There are two monuments found here.
7. They were likely built by Digambara Jains in the Ninth Century when the region was under the influence of Jainism.
8. Jain influence in this region was due to king Mahendra Varma.