Tirumalai (Jain complex)
Encyclopedia
Tirumalai is a Jain temple and cave complex dating from at least the 9th century that is located northwest of Polur
in Tamil Nadu
, southeast India
. The complex includes three Jain caves, three temples and a 16 meter high sculpture of Neminatha thought to date from the 12th century that is the tallest Jaina image in Tamil Nadu.
An inscription found on a buried rock in front of the gopura at the base of the hill from the late 10th century refers to the site as Vaigai-malai or “the mountain of Vaigai.” Two other inscriptions found on a piece of rock at the top of the hill and buried on a piece of rock underneath the steps between the gopura and the painted cave refer to it as Vaigai-Tirumalai or “the holy mountain of Vaigai.” The name Vaigai is thus thought to be connected with Vaigavur, the historic name of the village at the base of the rock.
in the 10th century. It is one of two such sites commissioned by her, though the other site, Dadapuram, has not survived.
Polur
Polur is a largest township in Tiruvannamalai district in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It lies on the National Highway NH234. .-Geography:Polur is located at...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, southeast India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The complex includes three Jain caves, three temples and a 16 meter high sculpture of Neminatha thought to date from the 12th century that is the tallest Jaina image in Tamil Nadu.
Early site (9th-10th centuries)
The large cavern at the base of the site is thought to have been built around the 9th century. In the following century it was converted into 30 separate chambers, possibly to accommodate figures of Tirthankaras and a yakshi.An inscription found on a buried rock in front of the gopura at the base of the hill from the late 10th century refers to the site as Vaigai-malai or “the mountain of Vaigai.” Two other inscriptions found on a piece of rock at the top of the hill and buried on a piece of rock underneath the steps between the gopura and the painted cave refer to it as Vaigai-Tirumalai or “the holy mountain of Vaigai.” The name Vaigai is thus thought to be connected with Vaigavur, the historic name of the village at the base of the rock.
Kuntahavai Jinalaya Temple (10th century)
The Kunthavai Jinalaya temple is said to have been commissioned by a queen KundavaiKundavai
Kundavai was an historic name for a number of women of royal lineage connected with the Chola dynasty in southern India around the 10th century....
in the 10th century. It is one of two such sites commissioned by her, though the other site, Dadapuram, has not survived.