JAIN TEMPLE ATOP A VERTICAL CLIFF

Buddhism and Jainism which once held sway all over India had left behind a few vestiges like the one in Chitharal for instance.
Chitharal is a tiny unpretentious village located 4 miles north east of Kuzhithurai. This antique and historically significant rock shrine was in days of yore a place of pilgrimage sacred to the Jains. It was converted into Hindu temple in 1250AD, and an image of Bhagavathy was installed.
At the summit of Tirucharanathu Malai a craggy hill in Chitharal is a natural cave formed by an overhanging rock resting upon another. The imposing ruins of this temple perched atop the hill evoke sacred and austere memories.
On the northern side of the overhanging rock is sculpted many exquisite images which are avowedly Jainistic in origin, distinguished by hanging earlobes, a tier of three umbrellas over the tonsured head, in the sitting and standing postures. The images have broad shoulders and thin waists with contemplative expressions. Between these images of Jain Theerthankaras are inscriptions in Vattezhuthu. Most of them are seemed to be the replica of the Jain Theerthankaras, namely Parsvanatha and Mahavira, inside the central shrine. The Hindus however consider this as the image of Mahavishnu.

The central shrine is divided into three chambers-one for the Goddess another for Mahavira and the third one for Parsuanatha which is in the standing posture and nude as required by the manasara.
The term Thirucharanathu malai means the hill holy to the charanas. The chudamani nighantu says that charanas are the eight class of samanas who have attained the siddhi of concealing themselves in flowers, water or sky. It also means a place where Jains lived in large groups.

On the top of the overhanging rock just above the central shrine is a brick gopuram. The three storied pagoda had images of Mahaviras. It was destroyed in lightning in 1908.

Jainism declined in the 11th century during the Chola dynasty. It is said that when Chandra Gupta Maurya along with a Jain ascetic Badrabhahu reached Sravanabalgola in 298 BC their disciples reached here to spread Jainism and chose this hillock for meditation.
Inscription on a huge rock exposed to the elements hence badly damaged throw light on the religious and cultural history of the State. There is a pond in front of the shrine down a flight of steps.

On ascending the Chitharal rock one can enjoy the charming landscape around. At a distance the jagged outline of the Western Ghats enveloped by clouds can be seen .Below gleaming pale green lakes, fields, winding rivers, clusters of pretty villages nestling amidst coconut and Palmyra plantations, the tall spires of churches, the lofty gopurams enchant us.
This spot a confluence of history and religion is an ideal place for enjoying a quiet holiday. The most greatly prized amenity granted exclusively by nature here is peacefulness.

ANOTHER JAIN MARVEL ............

Ossian is located at the edge of the Thar Desert, 65 kms north west of Jodhpur. Ossian does not figure in the regular tourist guides of India, yet this once prosperous city, boasts of temples which r amongthe earliest of all medieval temples of Rajasthan. Ruins of several temples dot the present day Ossian. The earlier temples are almost like miniature shrines, some only eight feet in height. Among these intricately carved red sandstone edifices, three are dedicated to Harihara- or the union of Vishnu and Shiva. Profusely carved from their raising plinths, pillars and right upto the very pinnacle of the spires, these temples are considered architectural masterpieces even by foreign scholars such as Percy Brown, James Burgess and Herman Goetz.

Among the oldest group of temples stands the Sun Temple, which was built in 10th century. They are often compared to the carvings of the Sun Temple of Konark
Although majority of the temples at Ossian have decayed with time and have even lost images of their deities- the one temple that remains vibrant is the shrine of Sachiyamata on a nearby hillock. Built in 1234 AD, this temple was dedicated to Durga or Mahisasura Mardini. Today it has become a very important shrine for Jains.

what does that signature mean? :roll:

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Originally Posted by VENKIRAJA

what does that signature mean? :roll:

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Unga signatue-ai vida thevale..

In Royal Malayalam language (in the language of this 'Padmanabha') signature is called "Thrukkai viLayaattam". So it is just 123456789, appdeennu viLayaadi irukkaaru..

forumhub miscellaneous section full-aa avar viLayaadiyirukkiraare..

enna vayiru erikiratha? new hubber evvalavu post pannararae entru tension irukka. etharkku marunthu kidayathu. onnum panna mudiyathu.

Jain temples at top of mountains can be seen in Kazukumalai (vettuvaan koil) in Tirunelveli district and Chittanna vasal in Pudukottai district. These are fantastic marvelous piece of works and can be considered even as world herritage. The Vettuvan koil is made of of well dig in the granite top of mountain leaving the temple inside it.

Chittannavasal paintings colors are still bright and clear. The quality of painting is uncomparable (inspired Kalki to use in his great novels)

ANOTHER TEMPLE IN TAMILNADU :thumbsup:

PUZHAL TEMPLE-Located
Two kms. from Red hills village and 15 kms. from Chennai.


This is an ancient and popular tirtha of Tamilnadu. Here a very grand image of the first Tirathankara Lord Rsabhadeva is installed. A grand statue of Lord Parsvanatha is also installed here.

This Tirtha is 1500 years old. King Koorumbar of Chola dynasty, who was a great devotee to Jina, constructed this temple.

Buddha faith was firmly established in the very centre of Malabar, in a place called sreemulavilasom. A large number of images of Buddha were found in Mavelikkara, Kunnattur, Karunagapalli, and Ambalapuzha. The story of mushikavamsa says that during the reign of Vikramarama, the sea began to encroach upon the land and almost submerged the temple of Jina. It was visited by Vallabha the nephew of Gambira, who was on his way back to his capital, from a campaign in the south against the Chola. Sreemulavilasom was on the verge of ruin, because of the inroads of the sea. It happened before 868AD. Around this time, another famous temple of Buddha –the Chudamani varma vihara(??) came into existence on the opposite coast, at Nagapattinam. Sreemulavilasom was of great celebrity is ancient times, is proved by the discovery of an image Lokeswara, by M. Foucher, in Gandhara bearing the inscription-Dakhshinapathae mulavasalokanata. If a duplicate of this was made at Gandhara it shows its sanctity, of this temple and the image. However, Sreemulavilasom submerged.