Royal Patronage
The ancient Tamil country was ruled by the Chera, Chola and Pandyas who are cherished in most of the Sangam classics (ancient Tamil literature). Some of the kings belonging to the Chera and Pandya dynasties and a few minor chieftains seem to have extended their patronage to Jainism.
The Irumporai kings were of a collatral branch of the Cheras, who are eulogised in Patiruppattu, one of the Sangam anthologies. Two brahmi inscriptions from Pugalur in Trichy district , provide a genelogical list of three Irumporai kings. Among them, Illamkadunko who was the grandson of Atansel Irumporai and the son of Perunkadunko, when anointed as the heir apparent, had caused and abode to be made to the revered jaina monk Senkayapan of Yarrur.
The Pandyas held their power in the southern part of the Tamil country with their capital at Madurai. Jainism seems to have flourished well under the Pandyas as evident from a cluster of hill-monastries around Madurai. Kadalanvaluti, an officer of the Pandya king Nedunjeliyan, had dedicated a monastry at Mankulam to the reputed ascetic Kaninanta. It was for the same monk, Nedunjeliyan's brother-in-law Chatikan and nephew Ilanchatikan caused some stone beds to be made.
Atiyaman Nedumananji was one of the minor chieftains who ruled over the northern part of the Kongu Nadu with Tagadur (Dharmapuri) as his capital. He is said to have dedicated a palli to the sramanas (jain monks) at Jambai in South Arcot district
(R. Nagasamy, "Asoka and the Tamil Country - A new link " Express Magazine, Dec 6,1981). This Atiyaman is praised in the Sangam works as a great hero of many battles, a patron of poets and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. But the fact that he caused to be made an abode to the Jaina monks shows his religious tolerance and reverance to this sect.A brahmi inscription from Mamandur in North Arcot district brings to light a local chieftain Kaniman hitherto unknown to the history of Tamil Nadu. He seems to have held sway over a small principality around Mamandur in the 3rd or 4th century AD. This chieftain was instrumental in dedicating a cave to the Jaina monks, and at his instance, the stone mason Chalavan cut the drip ledge on the upper part of the cave.
