under review

Ayyanarkulam Hill Temple

From Tamil Wiki

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: அய்யனார்குளம் குன்றுப்பள்ளி

Ayyanarkulam Jain Monument

Ayyanarkulam is a small village in the Ambasamudram Taluk in what used to be Tirunelveli district, and is now Tenkasi district. Here, in the natural caverns situated in the Rajaparai Hill, Samana (Jain) rock beds and Tamil Brahmi inscriptions can be found. Tamil Brahmi inscriptions can also be found nearby in another hill called Nilapparai.

Rajaparai Cave Temple

The temple was made in the Rajaparai for the Jain monks to stay in the rainy season. To prevent the water from getting in, a long channel has been cut in the entrance.

The name of the person who had the rock beds for the Jain monks constructed is inscribed in stone here. It is a Tamil Brahmi inscription dating back to first century CE. The inscription is written in three lines in this cavern.

Rajaparai Cavern
The Inscription
  1. Palli Seivithaan[1]
  2. Kadikai (Ko)vin magan
  3. Perunkootran

One can understand from this inscription that Perunkootran, son of Kadikai king had this temple built.

Nilapparai Cave Temple

On the opposite side of Rajaparai, there is a tall rock shaped like a round pedestal. On top of this rock, a rock bed has been carved out, along with an inscription from the first century CE. The name of the person who made the rock suitable for Jain monks has been inscribed on it as follows:

Rajaparai Tamil Brahmi Inscription
The Inscription
  1. Gunaavin Ilango
  2. Seipitha Pali

From this we are able to learn that Gunaavin Ilango had this temple built.

Rajaparai Cave Art

Few paintings have been discovered by the Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir[2]’ group on the Rajaparai hill. Gandhirajan and Balabharathi, researchers who research and document cave art have confirmed that these paintings are from the Great Stone Age and those are a new discovery.

References

Jainism in South India – Puthiya Thinnai

  1. One who had the temple built. Palli means place of worship. Seivithaan means one who had something done.
  2. "All towns are ours, everyone is kin." is the first line of a famous Sangam Tamil poem. The line is considered a declaration of universal brotherhood.


✅Finalised Page