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Tamil Nadu
By S. Dorairaj
The Jain Tirthankara sculpture found near Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district.
The Archaeological Officer, C. Santhalingam, who located the image recently, said the sculpture was 2-foot high, showing the Tirthankara seated in `Arthapariyanka Asana'. "The oval-shaped face is slightly damaged on the left cheek and ear portion. The body is slim with well-proportionate features and a gracious look. The figure is shown as seated on a square pedestal. The circle of wisdom is present behind the head and above it the triple umbrella and branches of Ashoka tree are exquisitely carved. Each of the two attendants standing on either side is seen carrying the samaram." According to the iconographical features and style of the figure, it might be assigned to 9-10th century A.D., he said. Though Kamuthi was known for a historical fort built by the Sethupathis during the 17th century A.D., the recent explorations conducted by the personnel of the Department of Architecture had brought to light the over 10 centuries-old history of the area. Just 2 km west of Kamuthi on the Aruppukottai main road is situated a temple, where hundreds of villagers offer prayers to the deity, Vazhivitta Ayyanar, tonsuring their heads and sacrificing goats. When the Archaeological Department officers from Madurai visited the temple last year, they found two interesting `Vattezhuthu' inscriptions engraved on a slab, which dated back to 10th century AD. The inscriptions revealed the existence of a Siva temple, Arikesai Iswaram by name, at Tiruporpunam, since the early Pandya period. The shrine had lost its trace even as the modern Ayyanar temple, which had come up in its place, started gaining popularity; the name and location of the former assumed importance in its historical settings, Mr. Santhalingam said. According to him, Maravarman Arikesari, who ruled the Pandya kingdom during 650-700 A.D., was a contemporary of Tirugnanasambandar, the first among the Thevaram trio. It was Sambandar, who converted the king from Jainism to Saivism "at the instance of Queen Mangayarkarasi." The exploration of the Jain sculpture, which had been made in the proximity of the Siva shrine created in the name of King Arikesari Pandya, was of much interest to historians. "It leads us to the surmise that Jainism had flourished up to the 10th century A.D. even after the revivalist movements by Saiva saints were launched during the 7th century A.D." One more inscription datable to 10th century A.D. was already noticed here, which spoke of the activities of traders from the Karnataka region. Most of these traders were following Jainism during the early Pandya period. "By reliable evidence, it is believed that there was an ancient trade route up to Rameswaram connecting Sri Lanka and inner heartlands of the Pandya country through Kamuthi and Aruppukottai." "The present find strengthens this view as well as the prevalence of religious harmony despite the raging rivalry between Saivism and Jainism then," he said.
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