Andimalai Jain Cavern Temple, Cholapandiyapuram
Andimalai
Jain Cavern Temple is located near Cholapandiyapuram or Cholavandipuram or
Cholapandipuram. The attractive feature of this village is the presence of
hillock called Andimalai with Jain caves, stone beds, inscriptions and sculptures.
There
are 25 stone beds and some of the stone pillows of the beds were carved
semicircular. The 23rd Thirthankarar of Jainism,
Parshwanathar or Parshva, Bahubali or Gomateshwara and Mahavira were
nicely carved on the rock. The rock temple formed under two slants and top
supported boulders. An inscription said these carvings were made at the behest
of Sriveli Konkaraiyar Puddhadigal.
Another
inscription was in the form of a poem: it mentions that a local chieftain,
Siddhavadavan alias Sethirayan, donated Panaipadi village for the worship of
these Jaina tirthankaras during the second regnal year (952 A.D.) of Chola
king Gandaraditya. Statues of Dharmadevi and Iyakki
were placed separately in the hill.
Shri
Koomandini stone plate carving also installed under the plain of two rocks. But
it is shifted to nearby now. The ornaments wear by the goddess and the attached
figures of two girl children, one servant maid, lion and arecanut tree on her
back indicate that it is Shri Dharmadevi Yakshi. But the local devotees consider
them as Kali (Hindu goddess).
Also two
statues of Adinathar or Rishabha taken from nearby villages are kept in the hill.
These sculptures art belongs to 13th Century AD. Adjacent to the section Shri
Padmavathi Devi stone plate sculpture is also seated. The mutilated idol may be
belongs to the ages of bas-reliefs.
Next,
six ascetic’s stone beds of 8 feet and a relief on a Rock shade are located. A
Jinar with two whisk Devars named as Shri Mahaveerar, beautifully engraved in
sitting posture also belongs to the 8-10 Century AD.
Inside a
cave, a stone seat was found which possibly for a Jain monk where he sat and teaches
the students.
