CHITHARAL JAIN MONUMENTS / CHITHARAL ROCK JAIN TEMPLE ( MALAIKOVIL ), VELLAMCODE, KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

25^th January 2020.

The visit to this Chitharal Jain Monuments at Vellamcode in Kanyakumari District was a part of Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk organized by Yaaooyaakay and Celebrate Kanchi in association with Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24^th to 26^th January 2020. This Jain monument is under the control of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. Steps are paved neatly to climb up the hill. The hill is about 400 feet high and has many natural caves. The hill has many natural caves.

As per the inscription this hill was mentioned as Thiruchcharanathu malai. This hill might have obtained this name due to the Jain monks lived here.  In one of the cave facing North – west direction Jain Tirthankaras like, Neminath, Pashvanath, Mahavir, Yakshi Padmavathy, Sithayika and Tirthankaras are chiseled in the form of bas-reliefs. The names of the persons who donated for creating these bas-reliefs are also inscribed.

On the other side, the natural cave is being used for the built up temple, with 3 sanctums, a mahamandapam and a mukha mandapam. The maha mandapa is supported with pillars and the ceiling has the Gajalakshmi panel. The Pillars has the Tirthankaras, animals, Saints, Monks,  dancers and Hindu bas-reliefs. The Pillars are supported with Lion pothyals / Capital.  Two Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the Mahamandapa.  The names of the donors are inscribed at the pedestal. The Mukha mandapa is supported with 6 pillars. The vimana above the sanctum on the rocky surfaced is found unfinished.  There is a water pond or pali in front of the temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

There are 17 inscriptions found in this temple and 12 are directly related to Jainism. The latest one belongs to Sri Moolam Thirunal, the King of Travancore. Believed that this was built during Aay Kings and 9^th Century Aay King Vikramaditya Varaguna’s inscription is the oldest one. The inscription records the gift of ornaments to Bhatari ( May be Yakshi – Bhagavathy ? ). Latter during 13^th Century this temple was converted in to Hindu Temple, but the three sanctums houses the images of Bhagavathy, Mahavir and Parshvanath.  The 1250 CE, inscription records, one Tamilpallavarayan, belongs to Kizhvembenadu donated money to this Bhagavathy Amman for conducting regular poojas. It may be concluded that this temple was a Jain Temple till 13^th Century and latter converted to Hindu temple.  The previous inscriptions do not mentions the Bhagavathy’s name.  

It was learnt that this temple was renovated a Jain Nun called Muttavalai Narayana Kurathiyar, who also offered Lamp and golden flower.  The male and female monks/ nuns are referred as Kuravar and Kurathiyar.  This is very much similar to the inscription found in Kalugumalai and also they belongs to Kottaru ( a place in Kanyakumari District ).

TIMINGS:

Visitors are allowed between between 08.00 hrs to 17.00 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Chitharal is about 9 KM from Marthandam, 40 KM from Nagercoil, 55 KM from Kanyakumari, 118 KM from Tirunelveli and 800 KM from Chennai.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Mahavir

 Bhagavathy

 Parshvanath

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---