A Wandering Heritager: JAIN TIRTHANKARAS AND TAMIL VATTEZHUTHU INSCRIPTIONS - THIRUNATHAR KUNDRU, THIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

Thursday 12 December 2019

JAIN TIRTHANKARAS AND TAMIL VATTEZHUTHU INSCRIPTIONS - THIRUNATHAR KUNDRU, THIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

17^th November 2019.

This is the second visit to this Jain monument with Tamil Vattezhuthu inscriptions was a part of Thirumukkudal Temples Visit scheduled on 16^th and 17^th of November 2019. This Jain's monument consists of two parts one is the Tamil Vattezhuthu inscriptions and the other one is the Jain Tirthankaras in the form of bas-reliefs and a vandalized Tirthankara. Proper steps are formed to climb to top of the hillock by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).

There are couple of Tamil Vattezhuthu inscriptions on the west side of the hillock, dating back to 5^th to 6^th Century BCE. These inscriptions are places where the Jain monks observed Sallekana, a prescribed practice of fast-unto-death to purge their karmas. The inscriptions says that Chandra Nandhi observed Sallekana for 57 days and passed on and the other one next says the Jain monk Isirabadarar passed on after 30 days.

The inscriptions reads as …..

ஐம்பத்தேழன
சனந் நோற்ற
சந்திர நந்தி ஆ
சிரீகரு நிசீதிகை

Chandira Nandhi Jain monk who passed away after 57 days fasting. This can also be read as ஐம்பத்து ஏழு அனசன நோற்ற சந்திர நந்தி ஆசிரிகரு நிசீதிகை. ( அனசன – உன்ணாதிருத்தல் )

The other one Reads as… முப்பது நாளன சன நோற்ற இஸிர படாரர் நிசீதிகை - The Jain monk who passed away after 30 days fasting.

The special feature of the first inscriptions is the presence of the probable root of the Tamil language letter “ஐ”.

Little above the inscriptions, there is a big boulder facing east with 24 Tirthankaras carved on the top face. The 24 Tirthankaras are carved in two rows. In addition to this there is a natural cave on the top of the hillock.

On the left side of the steps before the hillock top, there is a Tirthankara carved on a rock / boulder. The face of the Tirthankara was defaced and the boulder was broken in to two pieces. This is the extreme of the vandalism.

HOW TO REACH :

The place Thirunathar Kundru is about 3 KM from Gingee on Gingee to Singavaram main road.

Thirunathar kundru is 3 KM from Gingee, 43 KM from Tindivanam, 100 KM from Kanchipuram and 170 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Tindivanam.

LOCATION OF THIS PLACE :CLICK HERE