Jain Temples at Tirupparuthikkundram
 In
addition to its importance to the Hindus, and the Buddhists, Kanchipuram
is also an important landmark in the history of the Jains. Many of the
Pallava kings belonged to Jainism. Two of the best known ancient Jain Acharyas,
Samantabhadra and Akalanka have been associated with Kanchi.
Tirupparuthikkundram (Pronounced Tiru-paruthi-kundram), is a village on the banks of the Palar river, a little off the Pillaiyaar Palayam suburbs of Kanchipuram. In Tirupparuthikkundram stand two great monuments of Kanchipuram's ancient period of Jainism's flourishment. In addition to the existing Siva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi, this area can be termed Jina Kanchi. The two temples of the Jaina Tirthankaras were built in the Ninth Century A.D. The temples contain several fresco paintings and a grand image of Bhagwan Mahaveer. Tirthankara "Chandraprabh" an ancient Tirthankara, long before Lord Mahaveer, is the main deity in one of the temples.
Today, these temples remain mostly inaccessible to the public. They are underpublicised and unmaintained. These temples are under the charge of the Tamilnadu Archeology department. The main Vimaanam of the first temple is in a damaged state after attempts by a private trust to renovate the temple. However, due to the efforts of the local populace of the village, the interior of the temple is well maintained. The deities and other articles inside the temple are well preserved by some dedicated individuals. The second temple, as shown in the image, is in a highly deteriorated state. |
It
is believed that Simha Vishnu and his queen allotted land to the Jains
in the 5th Century AD. The Jain commentator Suranandhi had lived there
in the 10th Century. Irusappar, a Jain monk, established a musical manram
at the place. Rajaraja Cholan and Rajendra Cholan had allotted some land
to the two temples in the 10th/11th Century.