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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Adhinathar Jain Temple, Mudalur, Thiruvannamalai

Adhinathar Jain Temple, Mudalur, Thiruvannamalai
Adhinathar Jain Temple is located in Mudalur village at about 10 Kms south east of Vandavasi town in Thiruvannamalai District. This Jinalaya was constructed by the native Jains of this village 600 years back and dedicated to Shri Adhinathar Jinar. It is a notified pilgrimage centre and referred in poems like “Adhinathar Pillai Tamil”.






The Temple
The small temple consists of all Dravidian style features of Sanctum, Ardhamandapam, Mahamandapam and Mugamandapam and others. The Temple is closed by walls on all sides with entrance at the eastern side.  The Temple has a tall Manasthampam pillar with beautiful bas relief figures of Jinars on all four directions. And an altar structure is also built adjacently. The sanctum sanctorum has a marvelous, gigantic, fully carved granite sculpture of Adhinathar of 5 feet high on the plinth.






The plinth itself is more than 3.5 feet height. This might be one of the biggest stone idols in the south Jinalayas. It was crowned by two stage Vimana shikara with padmam and a kalasha upon. Along the first stage of Vimanam, four Jinars are in sitting posture located inside the sala and the top tier has Jinars in standing posture located below the nasi position on each directions. The Ardhamandapam center platform consists of stone idol of Shri Adhinathar for daily pooja. All metal images are arranged in stepped platform on either side.





Parshwanathar Stone Statue and Chadurmugi speciman are also included in the platform. A mutilated Old Moolavar is located on the north side pedestal and Shri Brahmadevar stone sculpture on an elephant is placed on the Southside. Alloy idols of important Jinars, Navadevatha, Shruthaskandh, Mahameru, Nandeeswara model and some Yaksh, Yakshis can also be seen in the Temple.





Shri Chakreshwari Devi is housed in a separate small temple with Vimana in the north-east corner of the corridor facing south. Shri Chakreshwari Devi stone sculpture is in sitting posture with twelve arms. The top Vimana has four goddess mortar idols on each direction. And a shrine also built for Shri Kshetrabalagar, a demi-god, in the corridor.





Festivals
Regular poojas and rituals are conducted at the appropriate time. All Jain festivals are celebrated on the relevant dates.
Contact
Adhinathar Jain Temple,
Mudalur, Thiruvannamalai District
Mobile: +91 9442055390
Connectivity
Mudalur is located at about10 Kms south east from Vandavasi town. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thindivanam (25 Kms). Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.

References