Tirumalai
Tirumalai ("holy mountain") is an important medieval Jain pilgrimage site in the north of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . The place is also known as Sri Naminatha Bhagawan Digamber Jain Hill .
location
The Jain temple complex of Tirumalai, which consists of three rock caves and two free-standing temples, is hidden in a hill made of granite blocks and at its feet about 17 km (driving distance) northeast of the town of Polur and about 20 km southwest of the town of Arani in the Tiruvannamalai district . The town of Vellore is approximately 45 km north. The small place at the foot of the hill was formerly called Vaigavur .
history
Three rock inscriptions were found on the spot that date back to the 10th century; however, there are signs and reports that the place is significantly older. The temple complex was repeatedly expanded and embellished by later foundations.
architecture
Rock temple
The three rock temples are considered the oldest parts of the complex. One of them contains a 16 m high statue of Tirthankaras Neminatha, dated to the 12th century, standing completely naked on a lotus pin . The still clearly visible wall and ceiling paintings in one of the rock temples probably date from the 16th century.
Kuntahavai Temple
The Kuntahavai Temple is the older of the two free-standing temples at the foot of the granite hill. It is considered the foundation of a princess named Kundavai . The temple, enclosed by a square wall, consists of a pillar-supported open vestibule ( mandapa ) with an adjoining cella ( garbhagriha ) . The simple reliefs on the pillars indicate a construction period under the Vijayanagar rulers, i. H. in the 15th / 16th Century, close. The lush, but rather coarse and terracotta figurative decoration of the almost “baroque” tower structure ( vimana ) fits in with it.
Mahavira temple
The temple is dedicated to Mahavira , the mythical founder of the Jain religion. Here, too, there is an apparent artistic discrepancy between the rather simple architecture of the actual temple and the lavishly designed tower structure and the gate construction ( gopuram ) .
Arahanthgiri Jain Math
In 1998 a Jain monastery (math or mutt) was founded nearby , which also feeds and houses pilgrims.
Web links
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 12 ° 34 ′ 25 ″ N , 79 ° 12 ′ 0 ″ E